Ernest geht zum Militär

With only the vaguest semblance of a reason, Ernest is now in the Army, free to muck about in the sands of some weirdly ethnic Araby, a grotesque parody of the Persian Gulf and Somalia. He'll try to befriend an orphan lad, try to get the girl and basically hold together an uneasy mix of atrocious and overwrought acting, poorly-thought-out overlong comedy bits and a bizarre combination of stereotypes and weird, early-90's media. There's something just not right about the whole venture, but in defiance of the will of God - our just and terrible God - you'll pull through and watch the film to its inevitable conclusion. Because it's Ernest and you like Ernest.

Some say they hate this installment of the Ernest line, but let's face it...they only say that because Varney's now gone, and it's the least painful way to say, "Goodbye," to Ernest.

This isn't the best, but it's far from the worst of the line. Varney gives it his all, as he always did, and turns out a quality Ernest film for all the fans to cherish.

As unlikely as Ernest P. Worrell would be in the Army, is how funny this film really is. This is quite entertaining, and makes for an excellent addition to any Ernest collection.

It rates a 6.2/10 from...

the Fiend :.

Ten hut! Jim Varney is one of the finest comedic actors of this (or any other) generation. And not since 'Ernest Rides Again' have his gifts been as prevalent as they are in 'Ernest in the Army.' In it, Ernest plays a bumbling recruit who ends up on the front lines. The movie's biting social criticisms and dead-on satire of the 'military code' makes one laugh and think at the same time. EITA is another coup for Varney and director John Cherry, who need not be ashamed for never directing anything but Ernest movies. Don't miss this gem.

After watching Ernest Goes to Africa, I never felt another Ernest movie would come out. What a visceral surprise to see this movie on the video shelves. Moronic and only occasionally funny, I was surprised they didn't do an Ernest in Space or something like that. Jim Varney should have stepped in and said something before this movie was made. I mean, if he was that hard up for money, why couldn't he ask the loyal Ernest fans of the world to help him. A sad pitiful chapter in the life of Ernest P. Worrel.

"Ernest in the Army" should have been hilarious, but sadly, it doesn't feel like a movie about him, just an army movie that happens to have Ernest in it. It's okay, not a major letdown, but you'd think a comedy about a bumbling idiot in the Army, especially when it's Ernest P. Worrell, would be a laugh riot. That is not the case. Sure, it has some predictably funny moments, but they are few and far between. Even the army itself (as depicted in this film) just feels very ordinary. The dramatic subplot involving the black street kid is unnecessary and feels tacked-on.

** out of ****