Ernest Goes to Jail (1990)

Ernest P. Worrell is a bank janitor sent to jail when people mistake his identity for a look-alike.

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

Of all the famously eccentric actors whom Ernest imitates at a mirror in jail, Sylvester Stallone is the only actor who was not a classic one at the time. He is the only actor who was still alive and who was still acting in movies during and after the time this movie was made.

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Goofs

When the shop vac goes up the walls and on the ceiling, huge creases are in the walls and ceiling to keep the vacuum in contact with what it is rolling up against.

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Quotes

[Ernest and the crew he's with are being forced to go into a jail cell, and Ernest is mistaking the prison he's in for his jury crew, and a guard comes up from behind him and hits him]
Ernest P. Worrell: I hope you've got a good story to tell my boss! After all, I do have a living to earn.
Mean prison guard: Now look, Nash -...
Ernest P. Worrell: My name is "Worrel, Ernest P. Worrel."
Mean prison guard: Oh, Mister Funny-Man, huh? Yeah, Mister Funny-Man. You'll think funny when you're tapping to the tune of 2-20, son!
[throws him into his cell, right next to them]
Ernest P. Worrell: That is the...

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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

Referenced in Saturday Night Live: Alec Baldwin/The B-52's (1990)

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Soundtracks

Nash Sleaze
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:

Silver Screen Partners IV, Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1