Ernest Rides Again

Last updated

Ernest Rides Again
Ernest Rides Again.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by John Cherry
Screenplay by
  • John Cherry
  • William M. Akers
Produced byStacy Williams
Starring
Cinematography David Geddes
Edited byCraig Bassett
Music by
  • Bruce Arntson
  • Kirby Shelstad
Production
company
Distributed byEmshell Producers Group, Inc.
Release date
  • November 12, 1993 (1993-11-12)
Running time
99 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3 million [2]
Box office$1.4 million [3]

Ernest Rides Again is a 1993 American comedy film written and directed by John Cherry. It stars Jim Varney, Ron K. James, Linda Kash and Tom Butler . It is the sixth film to feature the character Ernest P. Worrell and the fifth film in the Ernest series, after Ernest Scared Stupid (1991). The plot follows Ernest and a history professor as they discover a long-lost Revolutionary War cannon and must protect it from others who want the precious jewels hidden inside.

Contents

It was released on November 11, 1993. It grossed $1.4 million and was the last in the series to be theatrically released. The next film in the series, Ernest Goes to School was released in June 1994.

Plot

Ernest P. Worrell is working as a janitor at a local college, and discovers an antique metal plate near a construction site. Ernest shows it to Dr. Abner Melon, a university professor who believes that it came from a giant Revolutionary War cannon called "Goliath". Dr. Abner Melon had previously been ridiculed by his peers for theorizing that the real Crown Jewels of England were stolen during the Revolutionary War and were actually hidden inside the long-lost cannon.

They begin to search for the artifact near the construction site and eventually locate it inside an abandoned mine. They are ambushed by historical antiquity collector and Dr. Abner Melon's colleague Dr. Radnor T. Glencliff whom they then lead on a harrowing chase through the countryside. Things become more complicated for them when British authorities hear about the incident and send a team of secret agents after them to retrieve the jewels. Dr. Abner Melon's wife, Nan, on the other hand is only after him and Ernest for the jewels. While everyone is hot on their trail, Ernest develops a deep friendship with Dr. Abner Melon. After crashing the cannon into a forest, Ernest locates the jewels, not in its barrel as the legend describes but in the gunpowder kegs. After putting the crown on his head, he finds himself unable to get it off. Dr. Radnor T. Glencliff shows up, abducts him, and takes him to his clinic in an attempt to surgically remove it and kill him at the same time. Dr. Abner Melon meets up with Nan and convinces her that Ernest changed his life.

While at the clinic, Ernest manages to escape from the surgery room and lead Dr. Radnor T. Glencliff on a chase through the building. When he has nowhere else to hide, he and Dr. Radnor T. Glencliff have one last fight to get the crown before Dr. Abner Melon arrives. At the last minute, Dr. Radnor T. Glencliff takes an axe off of the wall and attempts to behead Ernest. Just as he is moments away from death, Dr. Abner Melon bursts through the door and hits Dr. Radnor T. Glencliff over the head with the same antique metal plate Ernest found, knocking him out. Ernest realizes that Dr. Abner Melon has saved his life and they both realize that they have gone from being acquaintances to friends. At the same time, British authorities arrive and explain to Ernest that the crown must be taken back to its rightful home. He explains that it will not come off his head and the authorities declare that whoever wears it is King of England. Dr. Abner Melon removes it for him by tricking him about what is on his shirt, flicking him in the face. It causes it to fall off his head.

Cast

Release

Ernest Rides Again was theatrically released in the United States on November 12, 1993. [1] It was the first to be independently financed and released through John Cherry's company, Emshell Producers, after Touchstone Pictures and Buena Vista Pictures opted not to renew their deal. It was the last to be released theatrically as all future films would be released direct-to-video. [1]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 14% of 7 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 3.8/10. [4] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 28 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews. [5]

Box office

The film opened to $905,010 in 1,190 theaters and grossed $1.4 million, making it the lowest grossing film in the Ernest series. [3] [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Varney</span> American actor (1949–2000)

James Albert Varney Jr. was an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his comedic role as Ernest P. Worrell, for which he won a Daytime Emmy Award, as well as appearing in films and numerous television commercial advertising campaigns. He played Jed Clampett in a film adaptation of The Beverly Hillbillies (1993) and also covered a song for the film titled "Hot Rod Lincoln". He voiced Slinky Dog in the first two films of the Toy Story franchise (1995–1999). He died of lung cancer on February 10, 2000, leaving two posthumous releases, Daddy and Them and Atlantis: The Lost Empire.

<i>Ernest Saves Christmas</i> 1988 film by John Cherry

Ernest Saves Christmas is a 1988 American Christmas comedy film directed by John Cherry from a screenplay by B. Kline and Ed Turner. It stars Jim Varney, Oliver Clark, Noelle Parker and Douglas Seale. It is the third film to feature the character Ernest P. Worrell and the second film in the Ernest series, after Ernest Goes to Camp (1987). The film chronicles Ernest's attempt to help find a replacement for an aging Santa Claus.

<i>Alex Haleys Queen</i> American TV series or program

Alex Haley's Queen is a 1993 American television miniseries that aired in three installments on February 14, 16, and 18 on CBS. The miniseries is an adaptation of the 1993 novel Queen: The Story of an American Family, by Alex Haley and David Stevens. The novel is based on the life of Queen Jackson Haley, Haley's paternal grandmother. Alex Haley died in February 1992 before completing the novel. It was later finished by David Stevens and published in 1993. Stevens also wrote the screenplay for the miniseries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ernest P. Worrell</span> Fictional character

Ernest P. Worrell is a fictional character that was portrayed by American actor Jim Varney in a series of television commercials and then later in a television series and a series of feature films.

<i>Ernest Goes to Jail</i> 1990 film by John Cherry

Ernest Goes to Jail is a 1990 American comedy film directed by John Cherry and written by Charlie Cohen. It stars Jim Varney, Gailard Sartain, Barbara Bush, Charles Napier, Randall "Tex" Cobb, Bill Byrge, Barry Scott and Dan Leegant.

<i>Ernest Goes to Camp</i> 1987 film by John R. Cherry III

Ernest Goes to Camp is a 1987 American comedy film directed by John R. Cherry III that he co-wrote with Coke Sams. It stars Jim Varney, Victoria Racimo, Lyle Alzado, Iron Eyes Cody and John Vernon. It is the second film to feature the character Ernest P. Worrell and the first film in the Ernest series.

Thomas Butler is a Canadian television and film actor.

<i>Hey Vern, Its Ernest!</i> 1988 American childrens television program

Hey Vern, It's Ernest! is an American children's television program. It aired on Saturday mornings on CBS for one season in 1988. Each episode involved short sketches on a certain theme or scenario, featuring Ernest P. Worrell, his unseen friend Vern, and various others. The filming locations were in Nashville, Tennessee, and Burbank, California. It was a production of Ernest creator John Cherry's production company, The Emshell Producers' Group, in association with CBS, and was co-produced with DIC Enterprises. The series was later rerun on The Family Channel in the early 1990s.

<i>Ernest Scared Stupid</i> 1991 film by John Cherry

Ernest Scared Stupid is a 1991 American comedy horror film directed by John Cherry. It stars Jim Varney and Eartha Kitt. It is the fifth film to feature the character Ernest P. Worrell, and the fourth film in the Ernest series, after Ernest Goes to Jail (1990). In the film, Ernest unwittingly unleashes an evil troll upon a small town on Halloween night and helps the local children fight back.

John Robert Cherry III was an American film director and screenwriter, most notable for creating the character of Ernest P. Worrell, played by Jim Varney.

<i>Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam</i> 1985 film by John Cherry

Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam is a 1985 American science fiction comedy film starring Jim Varney. It was written and directed by John Cherry. It is the first film to feature the Ernest P. Worrell character, and has a slightly darker tone than his later films. It was shot in Fall Creek Falls State Park, Boxwell Scout Reservation, and Nashville, Tennessee.

<i>Ernest in the Army</i> 1998 film by John Cherry

Ernest in the Army is a 1998 American comedy film directed by John Cherry and starring Jim Varney. It is the tenth film to feature the character Ernest P. Worrell, the ninth and final film in the Ernest series before his death in February 2000.

<i>Slam Dunk Ernest</i> 1995 film by John Cherry

Slam Dunk Ernest is a 1995 American sports comedy film. It is the eighth film to feature the character Ernest P. Worrell, and the seventh in the Ernest series, after Ernest Goes to School (1994). It was directed and written by John Cherry and stars Jim Varney. In the film, Ernest joins his employer's basketball team and later becomes a star with the help of an angel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Kash</span> Canadian actor and film director

Daniel Joshua Kash is a Canadian actor and film director. He is known for his appearances in films such as Aliens, The Hunt for the BTK Killer, and The Path to 9/11, and in television series such as Law & Order, Orphan Black, and The Expanse.

<i>Ernest Goes to School</i> 1994 film by Coke Sams

Ernest Goes to School is a 1994 American comedy film directed and co-written by Coke Sams. It stars Jim Varney, Linda Kash and Bill Byrge. It is the seventh film to feature the character Ernest P. Worrell, and the sixth film in the Ernest series, after Ernest Rides Again (1993). It is the only Ernest film to not be directed by John Cherry and the first to not have a wide theatrical release.

<i>Ernest Goes to Africa</i> 1997 film by John Cherry

Ernest Goes to Africa is a 1997 American comedy film written and directed by John Cherry. It stars Jim Varney, Linda Kash and Jamie Bartlett. It is the ninth film to feature the character Ernest P. Worrell, and the eighth film in the Ernest series, after Slam Dunk Ernest (1995). In the film, Ernest unknowingly comes into the possession of stolen jewels and is kidnapped and brought to Africa where he must rescue the woman he loves.

Knowhutimean? Hey Vern, It's My Family Album is an anthology of comedic short subjects directed by John R. Cherry III, and released direct-to-video in 1983. It was filmed in Nashville, Tennessee. As a whole, it is the first film to feature the advertising character Ernest P. Worrell, played by Jim Varney.

<i>Pirates of the Plain</i> 1999 American film

Pirates of the Plain is a 1999 independent family adventure film, directed and written by John R. Cherry III, and starring Tim Curry and Seth Adkins.

<i>The War of the Roses</i> (film) 1989 black comedy film directed by Danny DeVito

The War of the Roses is a 1989 American satirical black comedy film based upon the 1981 novel of the same name by Warren Adler. The film follows a wealthy couple with a seemingly perfect marriage. When their marriage begins to fall apart, material possessions become the center of an outrageous and bitter divorce battle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Byrge</span> American character actor and comedian (born 1932)

Bill Byrge is an American character actor and comedian, best known for his work as Bobby in various Ernest P. Worrell projects.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Ernest Rides Again (1991)". American Film Institute . Archived from the original on December 31, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  2. ↑ Gregory, Ed (March 3, 1993). "Exchange Club treated to Cherry". The Tennessean . Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 "Ernest Rides Again". Box Office Mojo . Archived from the original on December 15, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Ernest Rides Again". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved May 30, 2024. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  5. ↑ "Ernest Rides Again". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Franchise: Ernest". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.