Ernest Rides Again (1993) User Reviews (19)

More serious than the other 'Ernest' films but just as entertaining

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 8 July 2017]

With the 'Ernest' film series, there are people who get much entertainment out of them and finds a lot of appeal in Ernest. There are also people who dislike, or even outright hate, the films and find the character annoying. Both viewpoints are understandable.

For me, while they are not great films, the 'Ernest' films are mostly silly harmless fun that don't try to be any more than they need to be, and should be taken for what they are, rather than having any stereotypical notion of what a film of a certain genre or overall ought to do. They're mostly uneven but entertaining in a guilty pleasure sort of way, and Ernest is the sort of the character one can relate to easily. The sort of character that is a well-intended serial bungler with a strong heart but always finding himself messing up.

To me, the series' fifth film 'Ernest Rides Again' is an entertaining and worthy entry, if rather uneven. It's hardly one of the worst of the series, but to me there are better films too, such as the previous three films after 'Ernest Goes to Camp' (so 'Saves Christmas', 'Goes to Jail' and 'Scared Stupid').

'Ernest Rides Again' wasn't perfect from personal opinion. The final scenes are clumsily staged and improbable, even for an 'Ernest' film, while the villains are weakly and repetitively characterised (to me Tom Butler was slumming it and didn't really pose that much of an antagonist).

Character of Abner had his moments, he is more the straight-man guy and it's in these moments where the characterisation fares best, but the film also has a brasher side that jars and doesn't fit as a partner for Ernest or in the film. Ron James does play him well all things considered. Some of the physical comedy is a little childish and rather crude which also sticks out like a sore thumb.

However, 'Ernest Rides Again' is one of the better-looking 'Ernest' films. Loved the colourful locations and the photography is nowhere near as cheap and hasty as it can be. The soundtrack is nostalgic and energetic, and there are some very funny (if not particularly, but pretty much deliberately so, sophisticated) lines and wonderfully manic gags, anything with the cannon being among the highlights.

Another thing that 'Ernest Rides Again' does better than most other 'Ernest' films is that there is more story here and generally, apart from at the end, it takes itself more seriously, with more of a serious tone, which can be seen in the sincere and important (if not exactly subtle) moral. The energy levels are still high.

Jim Varney is still very funny and likable and James does quite well with a character that could have been better and more consistently written. Linda Kash is an amusing scene-stealer. It was only really with the villains where there were signs of bad acting, this said that may be just me.

Overall, entertaining if uneven. 6/10 Bethany Cox

canonization

[lee_eisenberg · 5/10 · 28 January 2013]

The final Ernest movie released in theaters is all about the cannon ride. Like the previous movies, it's an excuse for Jim Varney (who was also known as the voice of Slink in "Toy Story") to be silly in the role of the gold-hearted dimwit. I was never really a fan of the Ernest movies, but they were always good for a laugh. The cannon ride in "Ernest Rides Again" is entertaining enough. The rest of the movie doesn't quite equal it, though. Ever since Varney died, I've wondered if he felt content only being known as the lovable, buffoonish hick. Sure, it left him with a cult following, but wouldn't he have wanted something more than that? Anyway, this movie is nice, cheap entertainment.

Worthy Ernest sequel

[FiendishDramaturgy · 6/10 · 24 March 2007]

This is the third best in the Ernest line, second to Ernest Scared Stupid.

It was odd that they went this route with an Ernest film. It almost seemed like they were trying to take Worrell too seriously, and in some places, this film comes off as rough and crude, rather than funny. In spite of that, the story is interesting...intriguing even, but the supporting character, the professor, is a detriment to this work. His interpretation of the character, or maybe even the character itself, is too brash and harsh to fall into the usual Ernest formula, thereby derailing what should have been the best Ernest movie of the line.

I always hoped Varney's Ernest would attempt something more substantive like this again, but alas! it is not to be. RIP Jim Varney. You are sorely missed by those of us who loved you.

It rates a 6.2/10 from...

the Fiend :.

Pure Cinematic Genius

[DeezNutz-2 · 29 March 1999]

This film really exposes William Akers as the cinematic genius that he is. While on the surface the story of goofy Ernest may see superficial and desultory, Akers manages to delicately weave a thought provoking and life-changing story that tugs at your heart while keeping you at the edge of your seat.

I have seen the film many times and each time I am reminded what an amazingly durable and lasting work it is. It endures because of the underlying meaning - a man is faced with the choice of being a responsible person or simply following his emotional whims.

There is an Ernest in all of us.

10 out of 10!!

not the best ernest film but not the worst either.

[movieman-1408 · 2/10 · 13 September 2022]

Not as funny as camp scared stupid jail or the christmas one but much better than some of the later ones in thearmy school and africa. The opening theme song was funny has funny bits n some funny lines love the line where he says im one just step away from being a cartoon charector. I missed huch and bobby n he on the cannon for too long. But its funny enough to please ernest fand and i am one as a child of the 80s i grew up with ernest. Its somewhere in the middle of the ernest films better than not as funny as some. If havent seen an ernest film before i would not say satrt with start with this one. Id say start with t christmas and scared stupid. I miss jim varney. I wonder what hed doing if he were alive.

A strange edition to the epic series

[Agent10 · 5/10 · 22 May 2002]

I was one of the few people who watched this move in the theaters, and to say the least, I was disappointed. Granted, the series went back to a more believable story and a more subtle production design after the faults of Ernest Goes to Jail and Ernest Scared Stupid. But then again, this should have been a clear indication this series should have ended. But lo and behold, Hollywood had to further defile Jim Varney in this haphazard effort. And of note, where the heck was Bobby in this film!

We Don't Watch Ernest Movies for the Movie

[phlowtey · 7/10 · 8 July 2006]

I have always loved Varney's Ernest character. None of his movies are real pieces of movie magic. They are mere catalysts for Ernest to show his comedy ability. I believe that Ernest Goes to Camp and Jail are the best "movie" movies of the series but my favorite for general comedy is Rides Again because of the small asides that Ernest goes into during the film. I have no doubt that these movies are incredibly annoying if you are not a fan of Ernest but I love the subtle, unrelated to plot, funny without the movie, similar to sketch humor moments in Rides Again that shows some of the best Varney humor. "Blasting caps, that'll scare them, a brain is terrible thing to waste, map, map, where's the map, oh come now don't tell me you've lost that bloody map, oh no sir, that maps around here somewheres" all done in three different pirate voices.

One Of Varney's Best In ''Ernest' Series

[ccthemovieman-1 · 8/10 · 7 June 2006]

This was probably one of the better "Ernest" movies in that it moves fast which means it's pretty entertaining without being too stupid, as some of Jim Varney movies were. However, even this you can except a lot of "stupid" but some of that is part of Varney's charm as the lovable "Ernest P. Worrell," a man he made famous first with TV commercials and then with a handful of inane-but- Innocent comedies.

This 100-minute film would have much better chopped to 80 or 85 because there are some legitimate laugh-out-loud scenes. Varney does a lot of impressions, some of which are very good. The two nerdy salesmen in here are also funny. As with all the "Ernest" films, there is nothing really offensive in here. Today, this could almost be rated "G."

Excellent "Ernest" film.

[dootuss · 7 October 2002]

"Ernest Rides Again" is yet another great installment of the "Ernest" movie franchise. With this film, the plot is much more solid, and more serious than the plots of past "Ernest" films, but that doesn't mean it's not a funny movie. The movie is funny, and enjoyable. Jim Varney once again does a great job as lovable knuckle head Ernest P. Worrell, and Ernest's sidekick Abner is OK. The movie overall is excellent, so if you're a die-hard "Ernest" fan, and haven't seen this installment yet, then check this out, and be impressed.

"There once was a man named Worrell-Ernest P. Worrell"

[bug76 · 10/10 · 9 May 2011]

Move over Indiana Jones. Here comes Ernest P. Worrell, our underdog hero. Let me start out by saying this: 'Critics-Schmitics'. Don't let the nay saying critics and reviewers dissuade you from picking up this classic movie. No disrespect, but they obviously don't have a humorous bone in their bodies and don't know how to remove the stick from their butts. I love the Ernest genre and can be biased about Jim Varney but even if I didn't like some of the other Ernest movies, this is a true gem. This is like a live action cartoon and Varney is his own cartoon character. As he once said, "Oh, I guess I would be if I weren't just THAT close to being an actual cartoon." Listen to me and the other positive reviews. This was very well written and very well acted and consistent. The opening song is wonderful and describes Ernest to a T. You've got a 5 ton historical cannon named, "Goliath", lots of gun fire, a healthy dose of slapstick by the master himself, Varney, who voices a plethora of characters in top notch form. You have Dr. Abner Melon(Ron James and the 'Vern' of the movie), a meek history professor who is uptight, but thanks to Ernest, learns to loosen up and enjoy an adventure. There is Nan Melon(Linda Kash), Abner's annoying, and overbearing wife and two pesky salesman that finish each other's sentences with perfect timing. Tom Butler(Dr. Radnor T. Glencliff), who has played in various Lifetime movies as a lawyer and all around 'good guy', has the villainous role in this one and is great. He will stop at nothing, even to the point of killing Ernest to get at 'Goliath' and the crown jewels. Comedy ensues as Ernest is the one to find 'Goliath' and takes it for a wild ride everywhere a cannon should not be going. Varney and James play well off each other and this movie couldn't have been cast any better. But unlike other Ernest movies, Ernest seems to have a bit of a higher intellect in this one while still being that lovable hayseed we all know. Even if you're not a big fan of the Ernest genre, I urge you to give this one a chance and form your own opinions because, unlike the reviews of some critics, this movie definitely has merit. Not only did Varney bring back slapstick, he did it even better and was/is still one of the best at this brand of humor. As with all Ernest movies, this is free of vulgarity and filth but still a great ride, 'KnoWhutImean?'

Believe it or not, a classic

[gohb · 10/10 · 6 November 2002]

The Ernest films are pretty much all the same: amiable, clunky, dumb, with an inspired moment every half hour or so. This is the exception. Same writers, same production company, but for some reason they decided to forget about plausibility and go straight for surrealism -- and the result is one of the funniest movies ever made. There's a story of sorts (lots of people chasing a revolutionary war cannon purported to contain the Crown Jewels of England), and a moral of sorts (don't be afraid to risk), but they're just scaffolding for the gags and shtick. The script abounds in throwaway lines that have no relation to anything else ("I haven't seen anything like this since the Bay of Pigs"), scraps of ridiculous dialogue (the history professor sees Ernest with a possibly valuable artifact: "Where did you get that?" "France." "Where in France?" "Outside Paris"), and all sorts of off-the-wall bits (the professor doing Elvis, the Mighty Workboy song). Jim Varney does a few of his standard issue klutzy-Ernest bits, but they just set the real humor in higher relief. Plus, the supporting cast is great: Tom Butler as the villain, alternately sadistic and zoned-out ("Yes...but many men died"); Ron James as the nebbishy professor ("Herpetology is not my field"); and the magnificent Linda Kash, stealing the picture as the professor's domineering wife ("Really hate that tie, dear. Really do.") I've seen this movie maybe ten times, and it gets stranger and funnier every time. If you're expecting something that makes sense, you'll be disappointed, but if you just sit back and watch the weirdness, you're in for a comic classic. 10 out of 10, no hesitation.

Funny, Great, Entertaining.

[gmda · 10/10 · 27 May 2012]

This is an excellent comedy.

Varney was just a genius at characterization. I have not seen such funny stuff packed into a movie for awhile. (And I have just watched three other Earnest movies in as many days, and this one is above the rest.) This is a very fast paced movie with lots of stuff going on. Every scene is good. The characters in this movie are great. The action is good, with few special effects, and Earnest's antics are just great, the lines he comes up with.

There is an error in the description, the Professor is not some Dimwit...he is timid and insecure, but not stupid.

It is sad that we have lost such a great talent in Varney. He did good consistent work with his parodies and characters, and I wish he was still around making more Earnest movies.

This one deserves an award of some type....how about a "Funny" award?

Another fine performance by Jim Varney as well as a great movie

[Op_Prime · 8 July 2000]

Ernest Rides Again is an excellent film. Jim Varney gives another great performance as Ernest P. Worrell, the foolish but lovable average joe. The story is much more solid and serious that the previous films. But that doesn't mean that there aren't any laughs to be had in this film. Clearly, a great Ernest movie.

Ernest Saves the Day Again!

[Nojaa · 10/10 · 29 April 2006]

This ranks among my most favorite of "Ernest" movies. The bumbling janitor Ernest P. Worrel (Jim Varney)and his wishy-washy, history-professor friend, Abner Melon (Ron James), stumble upon an old revolutionary-war cannon known as "Goliath," that Abner has been searching for his whole life. Unbeknownst to them, other people are also interested in the cannon because it contains the crown jewels of England: a history professor and Abner's boss, who moonlights as a crime boss, and an British secret agent who wants to recover the jewels for England.

As the other reviewer stated, "Ernest Rides Again" is a bit more serious in plot, but it is filled with laughs nevertheless, especially in the scenes where Varney plays against straight-man Ron James. Don't miss the hilarious canon "chase" scenes! The relative seriousness of the plot makes the laughs that much funnier. Definitely a "must see," especially for those who have never seen an "Ernest" movie!

Not brilliant but distracting for kids and adults.

[bob the moo · 1 August 2002]

Ernest is a janitor at a local college who has caught the exploration bug from history professor Abner. They join together to find the lost canon which is said to contain the real crown jewels. However several other parties are interested in the jewels for their own reasons and Ernest finds himself in a real life adventure.

This is my third Ernest movie and I feared the worst. My first two (Ernest goes to school and Slam-dunk Ernest) were both lame films that put everything into one daft gimmick and had little comedy to speak of. However this is much better. It still has much of the same silly comedy but it has much more to offer both kids and adults.

First of – it has a half-decent plot. Not a good plot, but one that can stand up to being watched. Secondly – and more importantly, it's funny in a silly type of way. The film still has the daffy physical stuff as it's backbone – but at least it's not as basic as the others I've seen. On top of this it also has a handful of good lines that must be aimed at adults – lots of references to movies and lines like `I had a preconceived notion once, but then I realised it was just something I'd though of earlier'.

This may not sound good but really it's a lot better than the others. The constant movie references don't all work and some are silly but the truck fight that pays homage to Raiders of the Lost Ark is good and some of the lines are funny. One of the strengths here is that the show is not totally on Ernest himself.

Varney is usually terrible but here his Ernest is less irritating than usual. Instead he is more of a clown than usual. He is also helped by the script which makes fun of him and the way he is annoying and silly – `you need a CAT scan' one person tells him, `are you dead' one asks him after a really hard fall `no' he replies `but I might be if I wasn't this close to being a cartoon character'. This type of self awareness really helped the film. Sometime stuntman James is funny and the salesman couple are quite entertaining. Even if the baddies are weak.

OK – it's an Ernest movie, so we shouldn't expect the world. But believe me – this is much better than the other films I've seen. This will entertain children slightly but it is also amusing enough to distract adults (although it's nowhere near the adult value of Toy Story and the like). Overall I enjoyed it bbecauseI expected so little and it actually had good bits – I'd give it a 5.......which considering I gave the other two I've seen a `1' is quite good praise!

Pretty good adventure movie but the plot took a little long to start.

[elijahwaynejohn · 9/10 · 3 March 2022]

If you're someone scrolling by the YouTube library and want to have a good time, this Ernest flick will entertain you. This movie is about Ernest and a college professor finding crown jewels off a lost cannon. There are other people finding this crown for themselves too so Ernest has some competition for his journey.

I like the idea but the beginning scene where he's at a house that is in construction took a little too long and got boring quickly. Other than that, I thought it was a good film.

A Truly Awful Film.

[philip.lander · 16 August 2000]

This Film Has absolutely no redeeming points, badly acted, badly directed. So bad I can't believe they actually made more than one. If only Jim Varney spent more time acting and less time mugging to camera it might be a little more bearable. You can imagine the director shouting "this scene calls for a number 2 expression Jim!".

The "sitting on the runaway Cannon scene" is painfully predictable, with the very obvious use of stuntmen making the whole thing unwatchable, don't touch it!!!!!!

Once in a while a movie like this comes along...

[dougndebb · 10/10 · 17 January 2001]

I loved this show. I thought this show was creative, unique, very funny, and most amazing of all-clean. Jim Varney was so funny my sides ached for days after watching him. In this age it seems practically every movie I've seen that has tried to produce humour has a scene that involves a toilet and/or shows someone being kicked in the groin( I wouldn't think anyone[especially males]would think that was funny). This movie is an example of filmmakers actually having to think to produce a good, funny, screen play. The plot was turning in many interesting directions making it impossible to figure out the ending (films can get old when producers make movies with the same old plots over and over again). I throughly enjoyed this film and I hope many more people will.