Also see Jim Varney: A Legacy of Laughter
Originally titled Stormin’ Ernest, this marks the slapstick saga’s final chapter. It’s especially poignant given that Varney’s longtime friend, collaborator and director John Cherry steps in front of the camera as Ernest’s buddy Ben. Nowadays, Worrell’s dodging golf balls at the local range, but dreams of driving the "big rigs" like Ben and other "army people." Naturally, just as Ernest joins the reserves, a golf-obsessed Arizian madman invades neighboring Karifistan with the fiendish intent of luring American "infidels" within range of his, gulp, Pluton missile. Thankfully he and his ilk are so inept that ERNEST can foil this scheme with the aid of an orphan boy (Christo Davids) and a comely cub reporter looking to make it big (Hayley Tyson). Mixed among Ernest’s delirious desert antics is a sharp satire of America’s first "As-seen-on-TV" war with General Rodney Lincoln and his aide (Jeff Pillars and Duke Ernsberger) spending "Operation Sand Trap" obsessed by giving rousing press briefings and arranging potentially heroic photo ops. CineSchlockers will also be amused by the running ode to 007’s Ernst Blofled right down to the fluffy white pussy.
Divided between Ernest Goes to Africa and Ernest in the Army are two-part stabs at Ernest Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (30 mins) featuring about 100 classic commercials certain to elate fans and Your World as I See It (30 mins) with Varney’s over-educated Astor Clement introducing colorful members of the Worrell clan who wax philosophic about as much as their shallow gene pool will allow.
Notables: Two YouKnowWhutIMean?s. Four pratfalls. Titlest air attack. Puking. Jellyfish to the face. Exploding outhouse. Nose hair clipping. Pancake to the brainpan. Gratuitous John Wayne impression.
Quotables: Ernest can’t believe his luck, "What about boot camp?! What about tough GIs? Grueling work!? The breaking down of one’s self-esteem with strong language, insults and the clever use of profanity!?" And Mr. Worrell’s final nugget of sage advice, "STICK BY YOUR BUDDY!!!"
Time codes: Mr. Cherry joins the picture (4:32). Sergeant Glory briefs the troops (10:14). Varney channels O’Toole’s Lawrence of Arabia (29:28). Ernest + Electric Fence = Hilarity (59:15). A touching reunion (1:20:44).