Ernest Goes to Camp

With the passing of comedian Jim Varney 24 years ago, his legacy as Ernest P. Worrell is being forgotten from pop culture’s memory. Which is sad because Ernest was maybe one of the most sensible slapstick characters that we saw on screen. He was insistently positive, known for pratfalls, stuck on overacting, willing to put on different disguises, and filled with catchphrases like “Know whadda mean, Vern?”

Varney created the character in 1980 for commercials, eventually bringing him to his first starring role in 1987, “Ernest Goes to Camp.” Made for an insufficient $3 million, the film became an unexpected box office success and made in over seven times its budget and started a nine-film series that went into the 1990s.

The movie starts at Camp Kikakee, where Ernest is a repair man who wants one thing: to become a camp counselor in his own way. That’s a problem because basically no one respects him. However, when a group of children come to the camp as part of a program, Ernest gets his opportunity to lead, which he does in his own awkward, crazy way. Syp said in his review, “These kids are supposed to be super-tough, but it’s the ’80s, so at best they’re caricatures of what writers thought tough kids might look or sound like.” They aren’t very nice to Ernest in the beginning but his sincerity eventually makes him likable.

Syp admitted, “And I can see why, because Ernest is exactly the kind of camp counselor you’d actually want in your cabin. As I was watching this, I was thinking of how he really is doing a great job.” He genuinely cares for the students, is extremely patient with them, and is always entertaining to watch – especially when he makes a mistake. Which he does a lot.

There’s some other stuff that occurs also. Movie tropes want an evil corporation trying to buy or steal the camp lands for their own use, a runaway golf cart that makes occasional appearances, two camp cooks, played by Gailard Sartain and Daniel Butler, that make the most horrid food kids don’t want to eat, and a little friendly rivalry between social groups.

It’s not classy humor but there’s a lot of energy spent here to get jokes on the screen – and a lot of that depends on Varney’s acting. Syp credited, “He’s like your bizarre uncle that always has a nonsensical story on hand and a willingness to teach you something he has little idea how to do himself.” Varney is just funny as he goes on with his various lessons and plans. You might think you’re too classy to laugh at him initially. Syp reassured, “But trust me, after a while, you’ll be chuckling even as you’re rolling your eyes. He doesn’t let any imaginary pride get in the way of being a comedian, and that actually opens the field up more than you’d think.”

With so many summer camp hints soaking this whole film and a sincere amount of laughter, “Ernest Goes to Camp” is a classic that holds up a lot better than one would think, even if it’s not professional filmmaking.

I was familiar with this character when I saw commercials of him back in the 90s and maybe saw one part of a movie as a child, but I never watched any of his movies until now. I do say this is a funny movie and you can enjoy it, so check it out wherever you can find it. You will see what you have been missing out on.

Tomorrow I will be looking at one of the other Ernest film in “Disney Month 2024.”