ERNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS. Directed by John Cherry; written by B. Kline and Ed Turner, produced by Stacy Williams and Doug Claybourne for Touchstone. Starring Jim Varney, Douglas Seale, Oliver Clark and Noelle Parker. Rated PG.
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Now, it's not just the charitable spirit of the season that makes me say this. You know, not wanting to hurt anybody's feelings and all that. I really like this movie! I certainly didn't expect to. But I finally caved in to my kids' demands to see it, after successfully avoiding the pleas to see Varney's earlier epic, Ernest Goes to Camp.
Sure, Ernest Saves Christmas is sentimental and silly, but it's not as completely ridiculous as one familiar with Varney's "Hey! Vern!" commercials might expect.
For one thing, it's not exclusively Varney's show. His scenes are brief enough and evenly parceled out. So they're effective, and not too hard on those over eight in the audience.
Another reason for its success is the wholesome and traditional, yet original, nature of the story. The current Santa, you see, has been working long enough and needs to find a new recruit to take over the reins, as it were. That's the only way the magical powers necessary to do the job can be recharged.
But in spite of having his reindeer and sleigh shipped in air freight, and knowing exactly who he wants to tap for the job, he runs into difficulties dealing with urban society and modern cynicism.
Ernest Saves Christmas has plenty of laughs for the younger set, and a few for their older escorts as well. And not a one, to the surprise and delight of beleaguered parents, is off-color. This accomplishment alone would make the movie notable.
But its sweet tone and well-paced humor make it enjoyable as well. It's a good way to get into the holiday spirit!
December 14, 1988