Ernest Goes to Camp (1987)

Ernest P. Worrell, America's lanky, lovable know-it-all (played to perfection by comedian "Hey, Vern! KnoWhutImean?" Jim Varney), stars as the hero of this frenetic, side-splitting comedy. The handyman at Kamp Kikakee, Ernest achieves his greatest ambition and becomes a camp counselor to a gang of juvenile delinquents from the Midstate Boys Detention Center! Not only must Mr. Advice-for-every-possible-occasion wrangle the wayward youths, but he has to save the camp from the ruthless clutches of a giant mining company too. Comic pandemonium ensues in the laugh riot of the summer season ... or any ol' time!

ernest goes to camp

This is a really good movie a real classic. The version i bought though was the wrong region so i was dissapointed with the purchase but don`t let that stop you from buying the dvd. its excellent. June 18, 2008

A top film for the kids -- dad will like it too

This really is just a slapstick fun film with every possible element that will make kids love it. The secondary benefit is that it has enough of a decent plot to keep mom and dad watching it too.

The late Iron Eyes Cody, the co-star of the film, was simply super in this flick. Most adults will remember him as the Indian in the anti-littering TV Public Service Announcement campaign, where he was the Indian with the tear dripping from his eye.

I was acquainted with Iron pretty well and most film buffs didn't know that he broke his leg in the middle of the production of this film, (jumped off a pick-up truck badly), so they had to finish by shooting the remaining scenes of him from the waist up! It doesn't effect the film at all, really, but it's interesting to know as you watch.

And, yes, I agree with others here that this is the best of the "Ernest Films". December 17, 2007

My favorite Ernest Movie!

Ernest P. Worrell Camp Counselor. Instead of talking to Vern, Ernest works at a Camp where he is the handy man and quickly turns into a counselor because of the camps shortage (see the movie for your question of how and why). If you like Jim Varney's sense of humor and his Ewwwwwwweeewwwwwwww (watch and see the look on his face when he sees a toilet in need of help). Trouble seems to find him and while he tries to get troubled youths from a nearby detention center to win their respect, be their friend and help them as well, Ernest finds himself in a "quarry" of trouble later on. John Vernon, Iron Eyes Cody, and Lyle Alzado co-star. July 27, 2007

Weak and Severely Out-dated humor

Ernest Goes to Camp is basically the story of the cult favorite Ernest getting stuck with a bunch of juveniles as a camp counselor when at the same time the camp is being threatened by a Mining Company looking to destroy it to search for valuable land minerals.
Basically it's the same ol' underdog-hated-and-loser-at-everything-but-becomes-our-hero-let's save-the-camp! movie we've all seen ten bazillion times.

Ernest's jokes are so few and far between in this film and so pathetically weak when they DO happen that the filmmakers had to go as far as using the 2 dumb and cooky camp cooks to try and fill in comedic relief because their star has been given such an absymal script. If this film was PRIMARILY about those cooks (who get like only THREE scenes) this probably would've been at least a 3 or 4 star movie.
The film tries very hard to be serious, trying to make us see the "softer" and "more human" side of Ernest but just ends up making a 90 minute movie into what feels like a three-hour drag fest. Give me COMEDY from Ernest! NOT drama!
What makes Ernest funny as all his fans know is that he is NOT supposed to be made out to be an insecure and sensitive underdog-everyman. He's gentle but insane, and his usual over-the-top stupidity is simply never used in this film. Add this to the constant slap-stick humor that's ridiculously outdated, a horrendously emotionless soundtrack, movie cliches so tired and weak only a 2 year old would find them intriguing, and juvenile special effects and you've got probably one of the worst comedies ever created. There is nothing worse than a bad comedy. Watching a comedy with Ernest and not laughing is like watching an Arny or Van Damme movie without a single explosion, fist fight or gun shot.

Everyone giving this film 4 and 5 star reviews probably remember seeing this from when they were just kids. I'd ask all these people to watch it again now that they're mature movie goers and see if you still feel the same way. I myself loved this movie when I was like 8, but now as a grown 25 yr old movie buff, this is simply a waste of time. May 10, 2007

Jim Varney, Master of Silly Humor, KnowwhatImean?

Years ago, when the kids were little and this movie was new, we rented it from the video store on a whim. I ended up laughing so hard I nearly wet my pants. Varney's brand of silly humor has a level of sophistication to it that draws you in and makes it fun for all ages. This was, perhaps, his best known and best work that began the "Earnest Goes to..." phenomena and kept us in stitches so many years. December 26, 2006

More reviews at Amazon.com ...