- 1991movierewind
Episode #132: Ernest Scared Stupid
Listen to Episode 132 of the Podcast here while you enjoy the show notes.
SUMMARY - In Ernest Scared Stupid, Ernest P. Worrel (Played by Jim Varney) is helping the local kids build a treehouse when he accidentally unleashes a child-stealing troll that was captured by his ancestors long ago. The troll needs to take five kids by midnight on Halloween and it’s up to Ernest to lead the charge in stopping it.
Screenplay by Charles Gale and Coke Sams; Directed by John R. Cherry III; and released on October 11,1991.
FILM DISCUSSION
The movie starts off with a simple, but incredibly fun & effective credits sequence of Ernest mugging to camera over old horror footage.
This film is very 90s and we wonder if it's a great introduction to the character or not.
There are a couple of scenes where we get rapid cuts through his arsenal of other characters
The film features a lot of children actors, including a few good performances from our leads
And Rimshot is also great as a highly intelligent dog buddy to Ernest.
The creature design is fantastic and when you see other trolls, each one has its own personality and style
The biggest downside is the plot itself and it starts to drag at times.
There are a couple of recurring jokes and there were moments where we still legitimately laughed at what is definitely meant to be geared towards children, rather than the whole family.
The final climax was interesting for a while, but also starts to get a little stale over time
Oh, and you can't forget about Eartha Kitt as the witch-like character that helps Ernest and the kids.
Awards Talk: None to speak of this time around.
TRUE CRIME & POP CULTURE
This week our true crime, as it were, centers around the Anita Hill testimony at the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearing
If you weren't watching that, here's what was on TV
On the music side, we also discussed Shay Astar's Singing Career
RANKINGS & RATINGS
Nikki 1-5 star scale - 2 out of 5
Jon 0-4 star scale - 3 out of 4
Would you watch it again? - There's a lot to like in this movie, but the pacing was way off and it would have been better served as a one-hour TV special. So, while we might watch it again at some point (especially if there was some sort of marathon), we want to revisit earlier Ernest movies first or other Jim Varney movies.
If you want to watch Ernest Scared Stupid, as of this recording in September 2023, it’s available on Hoopla, (No longer free with ads on YouTube already), Digital Rental, VHS, DVD. Check your local listings.
NEXT EPISODE & WHERE TO FIND US
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Join us next time for The Rapture available on Digital Rental, VHS, DVD
