Ernest geht zum Militär

As usual, Ernest's movies don't ever come close to winning an Oscar, but it's just sweet and innocent comedy. Your children should really love this movie...and all the rest of his movies.

"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 ****

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.

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 :.

This is the last of the many Ernest movies and I'm surprised that the only one I saw before was "Ernest Saves Christmas". It's kind of a shame as that was probably the best in the whole series. The Ernest P. Warrell character started out doing commercials and they made a lot movie series out of him. As you might have guessed, it's really hard to stretch a character that was funny in a few commercials into an entire length of movies. Even sketch comedy doesn't work as badly as that. It's mostly just nothing but childish jokes.

It was actually weird to see a 1998 movie about fighting in the Middle East. It actually makes me weirdly nostalgic for that time period pre 911 when there wasn't really a major threat like communism or terrorism. I guess there was still warfare and there always will be. The kid and woman character in the film honestly don't do that bad of a job. Ernest would have been funny as like a side character but to make entire movies focused on him is annoying. At least we got that great Santa. *1/2