Reading these reviews, it's important to know the writer's attitude toward all Ernest movies, in general. I LOVE Them. They are cheesy, slapsticky, corny, and entirely void of an interesting plot. But, they are good for a few chuckles, particularly when Ernest morphs into Astor Clement, or the Old Lady, etc. But more than that, there is a joyful warmth about them. And, they are family-friendly... not so much for teens, but for grandparents and youngsters on a Friday night.
In "Ernest Goes to Jail", the villains were nasty, but appropriate for an Ernest movie. This time, the villains are TOO sinister for an Ernest movie. It's like Ice Cream in Beer. There is no actual Graphic Violence, but what's left to the imagination is disturbing, especially for the kiddos. It feels like the violence was only limited for the budget, not for the target audience's taste.
"Ernest Goes to Africa" seemed to go out of its way (In this case, all the way to Africa) to suck the "Feel Good" out of the movie. This movie was filmed entirely in Africa... even the scenes which are set in Ohio. Somehow, I think it would've worked better to film the entire movie in Ohio, or perhaps, Florida. Other reviewers have complained about the scenery, not knowing that it's really Africa. Cheesy African scenery from America would've been easily forgiven, and probably made it more fun.
It's still good for a few laughs, but it's at the bottom of the list for me.
