Ernest Goes to Jail

Name: Ernest Goes to Jail
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Family
Released: April 6, 1990
Duration: 81 min
Rating: 40
Cast: Barbara Tyson, Barry Scott, Bill Byrge, Charles Napier, Dan Leegant

1990

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Mixed or average reviews based on 11 Critic Reviews

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: April 6, 1990 | PG

Starring: Barbara Tyson, Barry Scott, Bill Byrge, Charles Napier, Dan Leegant, Gailard Sartain, Jackie Welch, Jim Conrad, Jim Varney, Randall 'Tex' Cobb

Summary: Bumbling Ernest P. Worrell is assigned to jury duty, where a crooked lawyer notices a resemblance with crime boss Mr. Nash, and arranges a switch. Nash assumes Ernest's job as a bank employee, while Ernest undergoes Nash's sentence to the electric chair. But instead of killing him, the electrocution gives Ernest superhuman powers, enablingBumbling Ernest P. Worrell is assigned to jury duty, where a crooked lawyer notices a resemblance with crime boss Mr. Nash, and arranges a switch. Nash assumes Ernest's job as a bank employee, while Ernest undergoes Nash's sentence to the electric chair. But instead of killing him, the electrocution gives Ernest superhuman powers, enabling him to escape from jail and foil Nash's attempt to rob the bank.… Expand

Director: John R. Cherry III

Genre(s): Comedy, Crime, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 81 min

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Critic Reviews

Empire William Thomas

Kids will love it but adults may find it just too silly to sit through. Read full review

Michael Upchurch

Last week, it was Ninja Turtles. This week, it's Ernest. And Ernest, quite frankly, is an improvement. It's more colorful, cartoonish, imaginative. And it feels like a movie, not just an advertising ploy. [07 Apr 1990, p.C5]

Mick LaSalle

Ernest Goes to Jail is a cute picture, good for what it is, which isn't much, but that's OK. [07 Apr 1990, p.C3]

Rita Kempley

Ernest Goes to Jail is directed by John Cherry, the adman who created the character. And hard as it is to admit it, Cherry is getting better -- better at making endearing an annoying pea-brained pitchman. Read full review

Caryn James

Ernest Goes to Jail so resembles a high-spirited cartoon that it is likely to be more amusing to children and less painfully obnoxious for parents than its predecessors. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

This is the kind of film most of us don't really want to admit we've seen, let alone laughed at. Nevertheless, Ernest Goes To Jail gives Varney fans more or less what they expect, and they keep coming back for more. Read full review

Ryan Murphy

The film is never arresting, though it's arrestable -- throw it in the clink and throw away the key. [13 Apr 1990, p.G11]

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evokings

Jul 3, 2021

Out of all the earnest films this was, the most entertaining, because earnest has to contend with an equal and he is played by jim varney!, that's right jim varney plays the good guy and the bad guy in this movie, and proves Jim Varney had talent as an actor its a silly fun movie worth aOut of all the earnest films this was, the most entertaining, because earnest has to contend with an equal and he is played by jim varney!, that's right jim varney plays the good guy and the bad guy in this movie, and proves Jim Varney had talent as an actor its a silly fun movie worth a watch for sure.… Expand

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