ernest saves christmas
| Ernest Saves Christmas |
IMDB 4.6/10 (1576 votes) |
| Directed by |
John R. Cherry III |
| Produced by |
Joseph Akerman |
| Written by |
Ed Turner (story)
B. Kline (screenplay)
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| Starring |
Jim Varney
Douglas Seale
Oliver Clark
Noelle Parker |
| Distributed by |
Touchstone Pictures |
| Release date(s) |
1988-11-11 (USA) |
| Running time |
95 min. |
| Country |
USA |
| Language |
English |
| Budget |
$6,000,000 (estimated) |
| Preceded by |
Ernest Goes to Camp |
| Followed by |
Ernest Goes to Jail |
| IMDb profile |
Ernest Saves Christmas is a 1988 Touchstone Pictures film directed by John R. Cherry III and starring Jim Varney. It is the third film to feature the character Ernest P. Worrell, and chronicles Ernest's attempt to find a replacement for an aging Santa Claus. The movie received an PG rating from the MPAA.
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Contents
- 1 Cast
- 2 Plot
- 3 Quotes
- 4 Trivia
- 5 References
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Cast
| Actor |
Role |
| Jim Varney |
Ernest P. Worrell, Aster Clement, Auntie Nelda |
| Douglas Seale |
Santa Claus |
| Oliver Clark |
Joe Curruthers |
| Noelle Parker |
Harmony Star, aka Pamela Trenton |
| Gailard Sartain |
Chuck (Storage Agent) |
| Bill Byrge |
Bobby (Storage Agent) |
| Billie Bird |
Mary Morrissey |
| Key Howard |
Immigration Agent |
| Jack Swanson |
Businessman |
| Patty Maloney |
Thisbe |
| Beecher Martin |
Agent Skippy |
| Barry Brazell |
Cab Passenger |
| George Kaplan |
Mr. Dills |
Plot
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.
Ernest P. Worrell (Jim Varney) is working as a taxi driver in Orlando, Florida when he picks up a man at the airport (Douglas Seale) who claims to be Santa Claus. The man tells Ernest that he is on his way to inform a local personality named Joe Curruthers (Oliver Clark) that he has been chosen to be the new Santa Claus. Carruthers hosts a children's program in the Orlando-area similar to Mister Rogers Neighborhood with emphasis on manners and integrity.
While they are driving, a runaway teenage girl (Noelle Parker) joins Ernest and Santa in the cab. When they get to their destination, Santa possesses no legal currency (only playmoney), so in his giving Christmas spirit, Ernest lets him ride for free. The decision gets Ernest fired from his job. Back at the taxi garage, Ernest discovers that Santa left his magic sack behind in the cab, and Ernest begins a quest to find the old man and return it to him.
Santa arrives at the Orlando Chilrden's Museum to talk to Joe, but is interrupted and rebuffed by Joe's agent. Santa begins to worry as he then discovers he lost his sack, and becomes more discouraged as he realizes he is becoming forgetful in his old age. Joe does not believe Santa's story and Joe's agent has Santa arrested. Ernest poses as a friend of the governor and helps Santa escape from jail. Meanwhile, Joe's agent presses Joe to quit his children's job, shave his beard, and instead land a part in a horor film titled Christmas Slay.
Santa tracks down Joe at his home, but Joe finally tells Santa, "Thanks...no thanks." Later on, however, Joe is overcome by conscience when the director of the movie wants him to use foul language.
Ernest and the girl discover the magic power of Santa's sack, and immediately the girl starts to abuse it. She steals the sack, and attempts to run away yet again. On Christmas Eve, however, her conscience prevails, and she rushes back to find Ernest and Santa and return the sack.
Eventually, Joe hunts down Santa on Christmas Eve and accepts the job. For the first year, however, Ernest gets to drive the sleigh. The film ends with, "Merry Christmas To All And To All A Good Night," followed by a sleigh dash that spells, KnowWhatIMean?, one of Ernest's catchphrases.
Spoilers end here.
Quotes
- Ernest:"I got a truckload of snakes, for them horror movie folks".
- Officer:"May I have a look in the back?"
- Ernest:"Careful now, they'll knot up on ya, especially on a day like today when it's real hot and raveling".
- Ernest (as Auntie Nelda): These steps might as well be Mount Everest.
- Repo Officer one: (whilst looking at reindeer on the roof)" yup' Them's alien goats I reckon."
Trivia
- Tagline: "A holiday comedy unlike any other!".
- This was the first major production filmed entirely in Orlando, Florida at the then-still under construction Disney-MGM Studios. Vern's house was actually a façade located on Residential Street at Disney-MGM Studios, and was part of the Backlot Tour until it was demolished in 2002.
- Several scenes were filmed in various locations in the greater Orlando area, inlcuding Orlando International Airport, Lake Eola, and the Orlando AMTRAK station.
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