Ernest Goes to Jail (1990)

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 ... See full summary »

Director:

John R. Cherry III (as John Cherry)

Writer:

Charlie Cohen

Stars:

Jim Varney, Gailard Sartain, Bill Byrge

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jim Varney	...	Ernest P. Worrell / Mr. Felix Nash / Auntie Nelda
Gailard Sartain	...	Chuck
Bill Byrge	...	Bobby
Barbara Tyson	...	Charlotte Sparrow (as Barbara Bush)
Barry Scott	...	Rubin Bartlett
Randall 'Tex' Cobb	...	Lyle
Dan Leegant	...	Oscar Pendlesmythe
Charles Napier	...	Warden
Jim Conrad	...	Eddie
Jackie Welch	...	Judge
Melanie Wheeler	...	Prosecutor
Jeffrey Buckner Ford	...	Defense Attorney (as Buck Ford)
Daniel Butler	...	Waiter
Charlie Lamb	...	Another Con
Mac Bennett	...	Con

Storyline

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, enabling him to escape from jail and foil Nash's attempt to rob the bank.

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Plot Keywords:

jury duty | electric chair | court | electrocution | four word title | 

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Taglines:

Guilty of Maximum Fun in the First Degree!

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Family

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 April 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ernesto pierde su puesto

Filming Locations:

Tennessee, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,143,372, 8 April 1990, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$25,029,569

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gailard Sartain, Charles Napier, and Randall 'Tex' Cobb appeared on the TV series "Walker, Texas Ranger" (1993-2001), with Napier playing a prison warden on that show as he did in this film.

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Goofs

Even a crooked attorney would know better than to secretly arrange a switch between a criminal and an innocent man.

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Quotes

Ernest P. Worrell: We're sequestered. And on top of that we can't even leave! This is just great.

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Alternate Versions

When aired on TV, this movie has extra scenes not features in the home video release. Like: When Ernest get's both steel balls cuffed to his legs, he originally started with one but he pulls another stunt and the bailef makes it two; At the very end, Ernest is finally a bank clerk, his computer shorts out and he becomes magnitized once again, except nothing metal clings to him. Except the file cabinets back for a rematch; Ernest getting his last meal before going to the chair;

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Connections

Spoofs Casablanca (1942)

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Soundtracks

Doin' Time
Music and Lyrics by Bruce Arntson
Performed by Bruce Arntson

User Reviews

The best of Jim Varney

The last good Ernest movie, and the best at that. How can you not laugh at least once at this movie. The last line is a classic, as is Ernest's gangster impressions, his best moment on film. This has his best lines and is a crowning achievement among the brainless screwball comedies.