Customer Reviews

Ernest Saves Christmas

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It amazes me how much this movie has been passed over in the annals of Christmas classics. It is one of my family's personal favorites. For starters, it has some of the most beautiful opening credits I've seen in a Christmas film - gorgeous Norman Rockwell illustrations of Santa Claus mixed with classic accapella music.

For those of you that love Ernest, this is his hands down his very best film. Unlike his other films, he is not the central character here. He is definitely an important player, but the story centers around an aging, forgetful Santa Claus looking for a predecessor. Most of the film is centered around Santa's efforts to convince the man he's sure is suited for the job that he truly is Claus. Ernest, in his glorious innocence, is a believer from the beginning, and a sidekick runaway picked up part way through the film is his polar opposite.

Jim Varney really shows his comedy chops in this movie by whipping out just about ever character he's ever played. The snake man is my personal favorite and has me in tears from laughing every time. He pretty much pulls out the funniest stuff he's ever done and puts it all here in one movie. The cheese is thick, but it's high quality cheese, and Jim Varney takes his comedy seriously and treats it with respect, which is what makes this movie work.

Some of the funniest scenes are played by two regulars in Varney films, working here as airport luggage and crate workers who receive some unusual crates from the north pole.

As all Ernest movies, ESC is as endearing and touching as it is humorous - perhaps more so than any other Ernest film. On top of that, this probably had the largest budget of any Ernest film ever made and it shows. Some of the effects toward the end of the film as Ernest is racing around in Santa's sled are truly stunning and a real joy to watch.

Vern is here in full force in this film, and the scene with him is the funniest Vern scene ever made. Ernest really makes a mess of things for the poor guy as usual.

In short, this Christmas classic is unlike any other. It is not Christmas in my house without this light hearted and good natured comedy. Enjoy the season in a whole new way with Vern and Ernest. Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas, know what I mean Vern?

What a shame this is unavailable...our tape is so worn out and almost unwatchable. Okay...it's corny and silly and, hey, it's Ernest! More important, it's clean...even Grandma can watch! "Ernest Saves Christmas" really does have a good message/moral... This is one of the few movies my three teenagers, my husband and I will sit down and watch together and everyone enjoys during the holiday season. Please make this one available again! I know this would have been a hit on Christmas morning...oh well. Maybe next year.

YES - I AM AN ERNEST FAN! ISN'T EVERYONE?

Like most everyone who reviews Ernest films, I am an Ernest fan -- but I wasn't always. Then, in 1990, I just happened to stumble onto "Ernest Goes To Jail" via its opening -- "Ernest versus the Rug Shampooer"! It did not matter that it was on a marble floor, this was classic ERNEST -- knowwhutImean?!

HOW DOES ERNEST SAVE CHRISTMAS?

DON'T ASK!

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

Santa Claus [Douglas Seale -- the Sultan from Disney's Aladdin] has to retire as he can't remember all the things he must any longer. He held on one year too many because he just loved the job as any true Santa would, but he has now resorted to taking notes, and as he points out, you just can't do the job that way. Christmas is indeed in jeopardy.

Santa shows up in Orlando, right before Christmas Eve, as his choice of successor is there. Ernest is the cab driver that picks up Santa, which is how they became acquainted. The new Santa, a washed-up kiddie-show host in Orlando, Joe Carruthers [Oliver Clark], must be enpowered by the old Santa, before he can take his place. Unfortunately, he (Joe) has to believe it first, and that's only where the trouble begins!

Along the way, the real Santa ends up in jail on Christmas Eve and it's up to Ernest P. Worrall (Jim Varney) to bust him out and save Christmas. Ernest gets help from a gaggle of supporting characters, a handful of which he plays himself, including a slick-talking attorney from the governor's office.

WHO IS "MISTER SANTOS"?

What gets everything all messed up for Santa and the whole world is Joe's agent Marty [Robert Lesser], who wants Joe to take a film role on a Christmas "slasher" film titled "Christmas Slay". Naturally, Santa is strongly opposed and he is still waiting to speak privately with Joe about the Santa position. At this point, Marty tells the police that Santa is actually a holiday nut-job whose real name is Mr. Santos. Yes, you heard right -- MISTER SANTOS -- a Santa impersonator! Next thing, Santa [AKA: MR. SANTOS] is in jail on Christmas Eve!

Now, only Ernest can save Christmas -- knowwhutImean?

ALONG THE WAY:

There is a good deal of silliness and sappiness along the way, and it is all good clean fun for the whole family, which can't be said for many films today. Sure, new ground is not broken here, but Christmas is not new. Nevertheless, this clean-fun sort of sentimental silliness is pretty fresh and, given a strong Ernest influence, quite different from the typical holiday fare.

BOTTOM LINE:

This is an essential Ernest flick and this is a classic in a traditional sense too-- an Ernest sense and a solid cinematic effort in its own right. knowwhutImean?

ABOUT THE DVD:

This is a very good WIDESCREEN transfer with NO FEATURES unless you consider scene selection a feature.

1988's "Ernest Saves Christmas" is a loveable children's movie that's packed with goofy gags and silly holiday humor. Of course, most of the magic is brought out by America's favorite country bumpkin, Ernest P. Worrell (Jim Varney).
After 151 years on the job, Santa Claus (Douglas Seale) moves to Orlando, Florida to retire. To keep the Christmas spirit alive, he attempts to hire a former T.V. show host named Joe Curruthers (Oliver Clark) as his replacement. Joe is chosen because of his unending devotion to making kids happy. However, Joe's money-hungry agent, Marty Brock, (Robert Lesser) offers him a chance of a lifetime; a starring role in a gruesome horror movie called "Christmas Slay." Later on, after believing that Santa isn't who he claims to be, Marty has the old man arrested and taken to prison! Even worse, Santa accidentally left his bag of toys behind! Meanwhile, Ernest is an airport taxi driver who tries to celebrate Christmas with his flabbergasted neighbor Vern...and with disastrous results! When he discovers Kris Kringle's magical bag of toys, Ernest realizes that he's the real thing! In a race against time, Ernest and a runaway teen named Harmony Star (Noelle Parker) have to bail Santa out of jail and help him fetch Joe before 7:00 pm on December 24th. Otherwise, the magic of Christmas will disappear forever! Along the way, Ernest flips pancakes onto the ceiling, crashes a chandelier on a dining room table, adapts a few cartoonish disguises (including that of the cranky Auntie Nelda), and rockets to the moon on a sleigh with 8 tiny reindeer! To make a long story short, "Ernest Saves Christmas" is fun for the whole family.

It's very heartening to know that so many people appreciate this movie. Maybe the world is not as cynical as I suspected. This is one really funny movie and one I would recommend.

The scene where Ernest delivers a Christmas tree to Vern's house has to be one of the most hilarious things I have ever seen. You REALLY need to let your guard down just once if you haven't seen this film and just laugh and marvel at the characters Jim Varney can improvise. Pour yourself some potent eggnog, I don't know. We all need this kind of therapy now and then.

Back in the 80's you could make a movie like this. Ernest was always just a kindhearted bumbler; innocent and funny. Think about some of the elements in light of today's culture. A cynical but positively stunning runaway girl just starts staying with Ernest at his house. At one point she is wearing a schoolgirl outfit with pigtails - and walks right into a prison cell past a bunch of men who pay no attention to her at all. Back in 1988 when I first saw this movie that didn't seem particularly weird at all. That was 1988 and this is now.

Just like some of the anachronisms in Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer or A Charlie Brown Christmas, you just have to kick back at Christmas time and drink a toast to better days when you watch Ernest Saves Christmas. I only hope Jim Varney knew how much people loved him.

This is by far my favorite Ernest movie, Why is this not available on DVD?

Everything about this movie is right. It has such a warm and genuine tone throughout. It is a wonderful happy story about a hero who almost makes me believe in Santa Claus again!

I have always considered this film an "unsung" family classic..it's every bit as good as other modern Christmas films such as "The Santa Clause". This is so wholesome and honest in its presentation...it just feels real! I sense that Mr. Varney really loved making this film..it is an absolute joy and unrelentingly funny! God Bless you Ernest!!

So glad to have this movie on DVD. It is truly
a great family movie and enjoyed by all.
Really gets you in the mood for the Christmas
season.

This is one of Ernests best flicks. Santa is getting old and comes to Orlando, Florida in hopes of hiring a replacement. He runs into quite a few troubles in his quest, but not to fear, because Ernest the cab driver is there to save the day. Along the way, Ernest gets to try out the old lady in the green dress again, as well as a hillbilly snake farmer.

Although the film contains no foul language, sex or violence, it still may not be appropriate for very young children, since there is some discussion in the film about whether Santa is real. Even children who have started to form their own questions concerning Santa may find the Santa Claus-replacement issue that the film is based on a little disturbing. But those caveats aside, children of all ages will enjoy this film.

When I was a kid and I first saw this movie, it was one of my favorites. Now I'm 20 and I watched it again, and I still like it. Ernest (Jim Varney) unwillingly tries to help out a retiring Santa Claus in order to save Christmas.

It takes "Ernest Saves Christmas" a long time to get to the real good parts. Until about the last 20 minutes of the movie, the story goes along at a slow pace following Santa Claus's struggle to get people to believe that he's the real Santa Claus and to try to convince the man that he wants to pass the torch to in order for him to become the next Santa Claus. However, the movie is funny, especially when Ernest finally tries his skills at driving the sleigh with the reindeer.

"Ernest Saves Christmas" isn't the funniest of the Ernest movies, but it is a good one. If you like other Ernest movies or Christmas comedies, I recommend getting "Ernest Saves Christmas."

I agree with all the people who reviewed this movie, rerelease this and Ernest Goes to Jail on video. If not for us, then do it in the memory of the dearly departed Jim Varney. I makes me sad to think that because those jerks who call themselves critics didn't like the Ernest movies they won't rerelease these works of art! And because of this Jim Varney will soon be forgoten.