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.

Director:

John R. Cherry III (as John Cherry)

Writers:

John R. Cherry III (screenplay) (as John Cherry), Coke Sams (screenplay)

Stars:

Jim Varney, Victoria Racimo, John Vernon

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

At the beginning Ernest gets a shot by Miss. St.cloud then they get a group of kids from a institution. Then Ernest becomes a camp counselor. Later on Ernest gets bit by fire ants at a picnic with Nurse St.cloud and the Chief which is Miss. St.clouds Grandfather. Then The Chief is tricked into selling the camp by Krader Mining company. Then Ernest gets beat up and Miss. St.cloud patches him up. Then he saves Kamp Kikike which is where they live and they become a year round camp.

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Plot Keywords:

slapstick comedy | handyman | summer camp | montage | rivalry | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Family

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 May 1987 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Trilha do Bravo

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$3,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,171,957, 25 May 1987, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$23,509,382

Company Credits

Production Co:

Emshell Producers,Silver Screen Partners III,Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

It is the final appearance of Iron Eyes Cody, though he speaks an indigenous tribal language rather than American English in this film.

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Goofs

When the ladder falls over backwards with Ernest in the beginning, you can see he jumps off screen before it hits the ground. You also see that he wasn't very high off the ground. Maybe 3-4 feet.

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Quotes

Ernest P. Worrell: And then, he thought he heard it, and that's when Vernon turned around and looked in his rear window... and there, staring back at him was the hook man!
[laughs sinsterly]
Ernest P. Worrell: So, he stomps on the gas, and he tore out of there, and the next day, Vernon went to get in his car, and there, hanging on the rear view mirror, was the hook!
Crutchfield: I thought it was supposed to be on the door handle.
Ernest P. Worrell: Well yeah it was, but then Vernon hung it on the rear view mirror like dice and baby shoes.

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Alternate Versions

In the Touchstone DVD re-release, the credits have been re-digitized from the old red font to a new, fancier one.

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Connections

Follows The Ernest Film Festival (1986)

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Soundtracks

LOST WITHOUT LOVE
Lyrics by Alice Keister
Music by Shane Keister
Performed by W.T. Davidson

User Reviews

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!