Ernest Goes to Jail (1990)

Bank janitor Ernest P. Worrell is called to jury duty and soon finds himself in trouble when the lookalike defendant's attorney arranges a switch and has Ernest sent to prison in his client's place.

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. Nash / Aunt 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:

ernest p. worrell character | security guard | floor cleaner | bank | chain reaction | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Two of the prisoners are wearing Toronto Blue Jays baseball caps during Ernest's first visit at the mess hall and when he's walked to his cell.

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Goofs

When Charlotte and Ernest are in the restaurant and the spoon flies up and sticks to Ernest's shirt, the wire is visible on the spoon as he puts it back down on the table.

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Quotes

Felix Nash: This guy is better off in jail.

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Alternate Versions

An extra scene of Mr. Pendelsmythe and Nash talking before Nash breaks Mr. Pendelsmythe's golf trophy.

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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

Funny, Harmless, Silly, Stupid, Safe, etc.

This "Ernest film" is a typically silly, stupid-at-times one but still wholesome in its humor and sometimes very funny.

The best moments in here, at least the ones that made me laugh hardest, were in the bank with Jim Varney ("Ernest") and a runaway vacuum cleaner. Yes, there is a lot of juvenile humor in here, but the totally-innocent lightweight humor is fun.

Varney also does some imitations in here, and he's quite good at it. He's done this in several of his movies and it is always entertaining.

For those wondering about their young kids watching this, there is absolutely no offensive language in this movie, too. Now that's a rarity for a 1990 film.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 April 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ernest Goes to Jail

Filming Locations:

Nashville Public Library East Branch - 206 Gallatin Avenue, Nashville, Tennesee, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,143,372, 8 April 1990

Gross USA:

$25,029,569

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$25,029,569

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1