"A reminder [that] movies don't always have to be deep or artful to be enjoyable. Sometimes all you need is fun and a short nostalgia fix." - Ryan Cracknell, Movie Views
Behold! The most underrated movie of the holiday season, Ernest Saves Christmas. I've never quite understood why it always seems to be left out. I could be wrong but it's been years since I've even seen it (or any Ernest movies for that matter) on television. Especially since this flick holds up to be much stronger than all of the others.
Instead of talking about the plot of this film, I would rather take the time to remember the man who created Ernest P. Worrell: Jim Varney. As he was known mostly from his work as this character, Jim also played Jed Clampett in the 1993 movie Beverly Hillbillies, and provided the voice of Slinky Dog in Toy Story. Varney had the job of making many kids of the '80s and early '90s laugh. Today his humor is certainly outdated but it's all about the nostalgia.
In August of 1998, Jim developed a terrible cough while filming Treehouse Hostage. Since the location of the set took place in a colder climate, he figured the weather probably had something to do with his illness. The cough started getting worse and Varney eventually found blood in his handkerchief long after production had completed. After being a chain smoker for several years, he had developed lung cancer.
Varney immediately quit smoking upon his diagnosis and became an advocate of anti-smoking commercials and ads as Ernest. He continued to work and act in movies even though the cancer was getting worse. Jim fought hard against his disease and went under several treatments of chemotherapy. Unfortunately the treatment wasn't enough to stop the cancer from spreading.
February 10th, 2000 around 4:45am, James Albert Varney, Jr. was pronounced dead in his home of White House, Tennessee, a suburb just north of Nashville. He was buried in Lexington Cemetery, located in his home state of Kentucky.
(I was unable to find a trailer on YouTube, so I'll just leave you with this scene.)
ROTTEN TOMATOES RATING: 38%
People either love or hate Ernest and I personally love him for nostalgic reasons. If you didn't grow up watching these movies then you'll probably hate this selection. If you had the same great experience with Ernest as I did as a child, join me in a toast of remembrance. Thank you for all the memories and laughs, Jim, you are greatly missed!
- Colby.
JAMES ALBERT VARNEY, JR.
JUNE 15TH, 1949 - FEBRUARY 10TH, 2000
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