Ernest Vai para a Escola

So, I have grown up with the Ernest series (especially movies like Ernest Scared Stupid and Ernest Saves Christmas). Ernest Goes To School was the first of the final four films notable for being released directly-to-video, and boy, does that move start showing how stale the series got.

Ernest is a janior for a high school, however, due to a rule change by the shool board who is planning to close it down and merge all schools into one. With the rule being all school system employees must have a high school diploma, Ernest must either resign or go back to school as he does not have one due to not completing high school. So now, he has to go back to complete twelfth grade in order to keep his job. Usual antics follow, along with a plot by a villain against the school.

While it still has some of the Ernest charm, sadly, the move to direct-to-video would harm this movie. While Jim Varney still does a good job as Ernest, the film suffers from the same-old, same old. If you seen the past Ernest films, this is basically the same movie, but with a different setting and plot. Some of the jokes are hit-or-miss, and the acting for the other character is horrendous. This movie is the start of the Ernest films beginning to show how stale the poor guy has gotten (as he would have three more movies after this, each one being worst).

People, let's not get carried away praising this movie. I, too, have been known to enjoy the "Ernest" films, but this one was weak, at best. First and foremost, it had the production quality of a "Saved by the Bell" season finale. It's almost embarrassing to watch some of the gags and the canned music that accompanies it. No, check that, it IS embarrassing to witness many parts of this movie. That football game at the end of the movie existed so far outside the known laws of physics that no gag contained within that sequence could be funny; it could only come across as desperate. Sorry, Jim Varney, rest in peace. But seriously dude, what made it ok for you to do this movie?

If you like Ernest movies then you will like this one. It is the same slapstick style comedy with your favorite character. I think I out grew this a while back though b/c I was not entirely impressed. That is about all I can say about this film.

Ernest P. Worrell isn't just a man, but an icon. And to think, through all of his travails, he never had a high school diploma. While this film kind of embodies the childish nature of my favorite facial contortionist, this was nothing more than a silly "B" movie. Why couldn't anybody stop beating this concept on the head and let the series die for crying out loud! I've gone through enough pain experiencing the downfall of one of the most likable movie characters of all time, why couldn't they just let it be. The humanity!

Rejoice, you fans of Ernest P. Worrell as "Ernest Goes to School" is finally on DVD. Released recently in Ernest's Wacky Adventures Vol. 2, you can now add this to your collection.

In this film, we find Ernest going back to school to graduate, if he can. Sarah Chalke (of "Roseanne" and "Scrubs" fame) also stars as Maisy, a girl that befriends Ernest.

If the film seems a little off compared to the other abundance of Ernest films, it is because the director of those, John R. Cherry, did not direct this particular entry. Coke Sams directs this sequel, he produced many of the other Ernest films.