Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)

Director:

John R. Cherry III

Writers:

John R. Cherry III (screenplay) and
Coke Sams (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

22 May 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Comedy

Plot:

A group of juvenile criminals is sent for vacation to Kamp Kikakee. The clumsy Ernest has to care for them...

Plot Keywords:

Mining | Juvenile Delinquent | Box Office Hit | Based On Commercial | Goofy Holler

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jim Varney	...	Ernest P. Worrell
Victoria Racimo	...	Nurse St. Cloud
John Vernon	...	Sherman Krader
Iron Eyes Cody	...	Old Indian 'Chief St. Cloud'
Lyle Alzado	...	Bronk Stinson (Foreman)
Gailard Sartain	...	Jake (Chef #1)
Daniel Butler	...	Eddie (Chef #2)
Patrick Day	...	Bobby Wayne
Scott Menville	...	Crutchfield
Jacob Vargas	...	Butch 'Bubba' Vargas
Danny Capri	...	Danny
Hakeem Abdul-Samad	...	Moustafa 'Moose' Hakeem Jones
Todd Loyd	...	Chip Ozgood
Andrew Woodworth	...	Pennington
Richard Speight Jr.	...	Brooks

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Company:

Emshell Producers

Trivia:

The middle initial in Ernest P. Worrell fittingly stands for "Powertools".

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ernest first meets the "second chance boys", the boy with the yellow shirt's sunglasses disappear and reappear between shots.

Quotes:

Nurse St. Cloud: You will have great wealth if you let these men own the land.
[Chief responds]
Nurse St. Cloud: He says, who can own a tree? Who can own a rock? Only the Great Spirit. Mister Black, these grounds are the homes to our ancient Indian ceremonial grounds, my grandfather and I are the last of our tribe.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Reba: The Two Girl Theory (#4.3)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

WE'RE GONNA WIN THIS ONE

One of the best summer camp movie ever!

Wacky and undeniably funny, the Ernest movies are one of a kind. No other movie series can capture the same level of fun slapstick hijinks and goofiness of the Ernest series, not even the POLICE ACADEMY movies.

When I first saw this movie, I didn't think much of it. I didn't think it was a bad movie, but I didn't think that it was a good movie either. However, after seeing the movie a second time, I grew to appreciate the crazy antics of Ernest and he instantly became one of my favorite movie characters.

It is in ERNEST GOES TO CAMP that Ernest is at his best. The movie contains some hilarious scenes between Ernest and the campers, which help make this one of the best summer camp movies ever. Jim Varney, possibly the most underrated actor of the 1990s, was able to create such a unique and interesting character with this movie that it is really hard to dislike Ernest. There is a little Ernest in us all. Rest in peace, Jim Varney. Your legacy lives on!