IMDb > Slam Dunk Ernest (1995) (V)

Slam Dunk Ernest (1995) (V) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 7 | slideshow)

Overview

User Rating:
4.2/10   807 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
John R. Cherry III
Writers (WGA):
John R. Cherry III (written by) &
Daniel Butler (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Slam Dunk Ernest on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
20 June 1995 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy | Family | Sport more
Tagline:
The Hilariously High-Scoring Comedy!
Plot:
Ernest P. Worrell becomes a basketball star after an angel bearing an uncanny resemblance to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar gives him a pair of magic sneakers. more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
User Comments:
Dull and unimaginative – even by the series' own low standards more (12 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Jim Varney ... Ernest P. Worrell
Cylk Cozart ... Barry Worth
Aaron Joseph ... Quincy Worth, Barry's Son
A.J. Bond ... Little Ernest

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar ... The Archangel of Basketball

Miguel A. Núñez Jr. ... T.J. (as Miguel A. Nunez Jr.)
Lester Barrie ... Willie

Colin Lawrence ... Tommy T.

Richard Leacock ... Walter
Jay Brazeau ... Mr. Zamiel Moloch
Douglas Newell ... Head Guard
Henry O. Watson ... Mr. Ellis
Brenda Crichlow ... Jackie Worth - Barry's Wife
Lossen Chambers ... Dr. Love (Basketball Announcer)

Charles Payne ... Opponent 1
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG for mild language.
Parents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents
Runtime:
93 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Certification:
Australia:G | UK:U | Iceland:L | USA:PG
Filming Locations:
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Company:
Emshell Producers more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
When Ernest and his team are playing against others, check out the names: Kikakee Fish (Kikakee was the name of the camp in Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)), Tulip Brothers Hardware (Tulip was the last name of Tom and Bobby in Ernest Scared Stupid (1991); they sold hardware), and Trantor Dairy (Trantor was the name of the troll in Ernest Scared Stupid (1991), who was defeated by milk). more
Goofs:
Errors in geography: The sign in the back of the stadium clearly states "Alberta", a province in Canada. more
Quotes:
Barry Worth: Listen, I made a mistake, all right? I could have played college ball, and I could have gone pro. Listen to me when I'm talkin' to you. But I messed up. I dropped out of school, and I didn't get an education and that was it.
Quincy Worth, Barry's Son: So because you messed up, I can't get the shoes?
Barry Worth: No. No. Because I messed up, you can't mess up. Thinkin' you need things you don't. You're listenin' to the wrong people, son. Well, when you're older, you'll understand.
Quincy Worth, Barry's Son: When I'm older, I'll end up just like you.
more
Movie Connections:
References Mallrats (1995) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
1 out of 6 people found the following comment useful.
Dull and unimaginative – even by the series' own low standards, 1 August 2002
Author: bob the moo from Birmingham, UK

Ernest is a janitor with a team that cleans the local mall. The rest of the janitors also play basketball in the city league as `Clean Sweep'. When Ernest saves their jobs by accepting blame for an accident they reluctantly agree to have him on their team. After losing them their next game, Ernest is dejected until an angel gives him magic shoes that make him an amazing player. However this causes friction in the team as the chance to play a NBA team looms.

I watched this Ernest movie because I like basketball and I hoped that the game action would cover me just enough to get through the film. However it didn't. The plot here is bad even by Ernest standards. The usual device of the magic shoes isn't used well – I've seen other basketball movies where a kid is blessed in some way and starts playing in the majors – but here it was all dull and unimaginative. Even things like the way the `love interest' goes from bookish newsagent to vamp in one scene with no explanation or reason – it just happens!

The background story of `effort and work over flashy shoes' is really bungled and doesn't come across well at all. The background characters becoming bitter at Ernest hogging the ball is also only played at the very end and isn't used well at all. The basketball games are very poor. Obiviously when Ernest is soaring through the air in absurd ways it's going to be, but even the actual games before he plays are careless – back passes, no 3 point line (although they still score 3's) things like that just show how shoddy it is. The actual shots of Ernest playing are also poor – they get a smile, but they clearly wanted to cut costs so the same shots of him jumping and dunking are used several times over.

Varney is unlikable. Ernest is meant to be a loveable loser we all root for – like Norman Wisdom used to play. However Varney is just plain annoying – when things happen to him you can't help but think `hope that hurt' and I never care if he comes good in the end or not! The actual team are very ethnic – like they were told to overplay the whole black thing! However some ar so-so. Cozart has to carry the moral message himself and does alright while some other faces are familiar from much better fare (Núñez Jnr), and really Abdul-Jabbar, good movie doing Airplane but what are you doing here – the fact that he is in this film is reason enough for us to pay NBA stars big wages now so that they don't come back and take bad acting jobs after they retire.

Overall this made me smile twice and that's it. I know it's for kids but this is too basic for kids. Varney's clowning isn't enough and the lame attempt to wring a message out of it is weak at best.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (12 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Slam Dunk Ernest (1995) (V)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Complete Crapola Donniebb
Favorite Part Loqieu
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
Ernest Scared Stupid Ernest Rides Again Ernest Saves Christmas Ernest Goes to Jail The Flintstones
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.