Ernest Goes to Africa

I saw this film when it came out in '97. I was in third grade at the time and was attracted to a new Ernest adventure. Even at age nine, I found it an unfunny, complete waste of time. I wasn't a hard kid to please- nine year olds usually aren't, but it was a bad sign when lovable and hilarious Jim Varney as Ernest P. Whorrol couldn't get much of a reaction of me.

Last Thanksgiving, I was looking through the TV guide and found that "Ernest Goes to Africa" was on USA at two in the morning. It was a lonely, secluded slot and I decided to give it some company. Then fifteen, I just wanted a smile and an hour and half of entertainment. My judgement hadn't changed in five years and I constantly flipped channels, but for whatever reason this one had me coming back.

You see, there is some kind of odd magic about this film that drew me in for some reason. Maybe it's Varney's presence...maybe its the wonder of generic, late night USA, but whatever it is, I would actually recommend watching "Ernest Goes to Africa".

The story is predictably trite. Owing oh so much to `Raiders of the Lost Ark' the plot involves the theft of priceless jewels, the Eyes of Agolie, being stolen from a worshipping tribe by ruthless archaeologist Mr. Thompson. They inadvertently end up at a flea market where Ernest finds them and makes a yo-yo out of them. (Quick criticism, these jewels look completely like plastic…it seems like director John Cherry III didn't even try). With Ernest's beloved Rene, a waitress who is `sick of hometown ordinary ‘shmoes', he is kidnapped out of suspicion and ends up fleeing Thompson and his goons in a series of scenes that become more and more unwatchable in a downward spiral.

There are some honestly terrible scenes that will no doubt repel you. It starts off on the wrong foot with a desperate opener where Varney tries and tries with his large amount of comedic skill to bring out laughs with his reactions to different African artifacts, but the scene fatally doesn't work. Jim is brilliant at Ernest, but in this unrelated beginning he feels like some goofy friend trying to bring out a laugh when your in a mood incapable of letting you smile.

The film has even more to complain about. It is shot on a pretty cheap-looking video that may turn you off right off the bat. It seems every actor present besides Varney is either a bad one, or just an irritating one- especially Linda Kash as Rene. The traditional Ernest gags like the cranky granny have finally become tried thanks to Cherry's dull direction this time. He has a noticeable boundary between live-action cartoon and adventure film, and it is painful when frequently crossed. This is by any definition an uneven film due to this boundary.

OK enough smushing this film; that is too easy of a task. Liking it is a hard one, but I challenge you to attempt it. This film has a great asset: how much fun it is to hate it. If you don't feel the compelling magic I felt to watch it, then I recommend it for this pleasurable bashing, even if you are not a cynic.

The bottom line here, `Ernest Goes to Africa' starts of catastrophic, flattens even more in the middle and has an unpredictably unsatisfying ending, but if this comedic adventure isn't somehow an escape from boring old life, then I don't know what is. I recommend renting this bad film, staying up late, and letting it take you out of your head for an hour and a half.

I saw this on WAM last night and had to see it. As another viewer said, there were flashes of pure brilliance so in contrast with the bad plot. Basically all the Ernest humor was really good. Anything having to do with Africa was bad. Sometimes, it wasn't clear whether the filmmakers knew the difference between Africa and India, as Indian accents abounded. Jamie Bartlett was also an excellent villain. Somehow seeing him yell the standard, "You fools!" at his henchmen gave a kind of satisfaction you don't normally get from a B-movie villain. Regardless, it was an Ernest movie, thus stupid by definition. If you like Varney's characters (Ernest/Hey You/etc[you shouldn't know about all of them]) then you should definitely see this movie.

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.

ERNEST GOES TO AFRICA is the BEST ERNEST movie since ERNEST GOES TO JAIL. I mean, Each ERNEST flick was worth watching just to see the multi-talented Jim Varney playing loveable goofball ERNEST P. WORRELL... but when it comes to the most laughs, AFRICA is one of the best. Perhaps one of the funniest moments I have ever seen in an ERNEST flick was in this one where he walks up to an African tribe with the woman he longs for and says, "Let me take care of this, You have to know how to talk to these people!" He then proceeds to talk some Ernest Jibberish for a few seconds until the tribe leader knocks him out with his cane! Simply Hilarious!!! Even the very opening of the film where ERNEST mimics a bunch of Animals with his rubberface and funny voices will have you laughing from the get-go! I sure am gonna miss seeing any new goofy hijinx for our good buddy ERNEST. Star, Jim Varney was sadly taken from this lifetime too early at the age of 50 due to Lung Cancer. Thankfully his performances will Live on Forever on DVD! I think John Cherry and Coke Sams need to make the 10th and Final ERNEST Film: ERNEST GOES TO HEAVEN which would be a bio-pic about the real life of the man who played our good buddy Ernest. God Bless ya Jim!

I hate that this will be the last Ernest film ever made by Jim Varney. I hate that we will never get to hear him talk to Vern, his ornery and uptight (and invisible) neighbor. I hate that people hate this flick, but it's not as bad as they say.

Ernest attempts to win the heart of a pretty waitress by gifting her with an artifact, which unbeknownst to Ernest holds Magickal powers.

This is truly funny, and an Ernest classic. Face it. They only say they hate it because it strays a bit from the classic Ernest formula.

This film is quite endearing, as much so as the best of them.

It rates a 6.4/10 from...

the Fiend :.