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Ernest Goes to Camp

  • 19871987
  • PGPG
  • 1h 32m
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
12K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Jim Varney in Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
Ernest, a lovable loser who works as a summer camp handyman and dreams of becoming a guidance councilor, must find a way to inspire a group of juvenile delinquents as well as stop a shady strip mining company from closing the camp.
Play trailer0:17
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Comedy
  • Family
Ernest, a lovable loser who works as a summer camp handyman and dreams of becoming a guidance councilor, must find a way to inspire a group of juvenile delinquents as well as stop a shady st... Read allErnest, a lovable loser who works as a summer camp handyman and dreams of becoming a guidance councilor, must find a way to inspire a group of juvenile delinquents as well as stop a shady strip mining company from closing the camp.Ernest, a lovable loser who works as a summer camp handyman and dreams of becoming a guidance councilor, must find a way to inspire a group of juvenile delinquents as well as stop a shady strip mining company from closing the camp.
IMDb RATING
5.4/10
12K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John R. Cherry III
  • Writers
    • John R. Cherry III(screenplay by)
    • Coke Sams(screenplay by)
    • Glenn Petach(additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Jim Varney
    • Victoria Racimo
    • John Vernon
Top credits
  • Director
    • John R. Cherry III
  • Writers
    • John R. Cherry III(screenplay by)
    • Coke Sams(screenplay by)
    • Glenn Petach(additional dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Jim Varney
    • Victoria Racimo
    • John Vernon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 52User reviews
    • 15Critic reviews
    • 24Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 0:17
    Official Trailer

    Photos132

    Jim Varney in Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
    Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
    Iron Eyes Cody in Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
    Jim Varney in Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
    Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
    Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
    Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
    Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
    Jim Varney in Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
    Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
    Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)
    Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jim Varney
    Jim Varney
    • Ernest P. Worrellas Ernest P. Worrell
    Victoria Racimo
    Victoria Racimo
    • Nurse St. Cloudas Nurse St. Cloud
    John Vernon
    John Vernon
    • Sherman Kraderas Sherman Krader
    Iron Eyes Cody
    Iron Eyes Cody
    • Old Indian Chiefas Old Indian Chief
    Lyle Alzado
    Lyle Alzado
    • Bronk Stinson (Foreman)as Bronk Stinson (Foreman)
    Gailard Sartain
    Gailard Sartain
    • Jakeas Jake
    Daniel Butler
    • Eddieas Eddie
    Patrick Day
    Patrick Day
    • Bobby Wayneas Bobby Wayne
    Scott Menville
    Scott Menville
    • Crutchfieldas Crutchfield
    Jacob Vargas
    Jacob Vargas
    • Bubba Vargasas Bubba Vargas
    Danny Capri
    • Dannyas Danny
    Hakeem Abdul-Samad
    Hakeem Abdul-Samad
    • Moustafa Hakeem Jonesas Moustafa Hakeem Jones
    Todd Loyd
    • Chip Ozgoodas Chip Ozgood
    Andrew Woodworth
    • Penningtonas Pennington
    Richard Speight Jr.
    Richard Speight Jr.
    • Brooksas Brooks
    Jeffrey Buckner Ford
    • Attorney Elliott Blatzas Attorney Elliott Blatz
    • (as Buck Ford)
    Larry Black
    • Mr. Tiptonas Mr. Tipton
    Eddy Schumacher
    • Counselor Stennisas Counselor Stennis
    • Director
      • John R. Cherry III
    • Writers
      • John R. Cherry III(screenplay by)
      • Coke Sams(screenplay by)
      • Glenn Petach(additional dialogue)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Jim Varney himself sang the song "Gee I'm Glad It's Raining" in a single take. Reportedly, when he finished performing the song, there wasn't a single dry eye on set.
    • Goofs
      When Ernest is fighting the foreman, at one point his hat is knocked off his head, but it is back on in the next shot.
    • Quotes

      [Ernest is getting his shots and is in pain]

      Ernest P. Worrell: I did it! I took the Lindbergh baby! I am Josef Mengele! Aaahhh!

    • Crazy credits
      An additional scene during the credits features Jake finally coming up with the "quintessential" eggs erroneous and feeding it to Eddie. Eddie turns into a classical singer singing "Quando Condo" and Jake eats some eggs erroneous for himself.
    • Alternate versions
      The version that aired on NBC's The Wonderful World of Disney is divided into two parts, with part 2 starting with Ernest talking to his turtle. The closing credits of this version are also different, airing with the Kamp Kikakee logo painted on a wooden post in the background and the instrumental theme/Indian chant that aired during the start of the movie.
    • Connections
      Featured in Nostalgia Critic: Ernest Saves Christmas (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      GEE I'M GLAD IT'S RAININ'
      Lyrics by Alice Keister

      Music by Shane Keister and Alice Keister

      Performed by Jim Varney

    User reviews52

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    A pleasant distraction
    Ernest's summer camp adventure is actually his second feature-length adventure after he began life in TV commercials (not a lot of people know he actually starred in Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam the year before), and it's fairly standard mid-80s family fare.

    The clumsy handyman (played, by the late, ever appealing Jim Varney) gets a job as a counselor for delinquent kids who are having trouble fitting in with the more privileged lot. Through pain and pranks he manages to build their confidence. A very tacked-on subplot about an evil businessman wanting scam the Indian camp owner in order to mine the area into oblivion builds to a moderately entertaining climax as Ernest and the kids revolt.

    It reminded me a lot of Meatballs and Bushwhacked (both better films) and while it's shot for the big screen (in lovely anamorphic Panavision) John Cherry still directs like it's for TV, and clearly should have done more takes and rehearsals. I doubt kids will notice or care, but it gives the film the rushed feel of a TV production.

    Worth watching, if only just once.
    helpful•2
    0
    • CuriosityKilledShawn
    • Jul 8, 2011

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 22, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Chaos im Camp
    • Filming locations
      • Montgomery Bell State Park, Burns, Tennessee, USA
    • Production companies
      • Emshell Producers
      • Silver Screen Partners III
      • Touchstone Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $23,509,382
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $6,171,957
      • May 25, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $23,509,382
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 32 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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