Ernest Saves Christmas (1988) (Movie Review)

   Back when I was a little kid, I was obsessed with comedies, and just loved laughing at the silliest of things. The long-standing screw-ball character named Ernest P. Worrell, played by the late Jim Varney, was one of those generational comedy mascots who took on a life of his own, and one that I was drawn to at a young age. The character started as an advertising mascot, promoting a number of products. 

The characters popularity led to a long running series of movies, some theatrical, while others were straight to home video. One of his very first theatrical outings was the 1988 Christmas comedy titled “Ernest Saves Christmas”, and straight to the point … this was my favorite of his movies by far. I felt that even though I adored the Ernest character in general, he could also get exhausting when he’s the center of attention. For his Christmas outing, there’s a happy balance between his over-the-top-antics, and a genuinely heartfelt Christmas story that could have probably worked on its own … yet, is all the more special with the character present, and never over-stepping the spot-light.

   As we begin, it’s revealed that Christmas is Ernest’s favorite time of year, and while working as a cab driver, he picks up a most unexpected passenger … the jolly one himself. Yes, Santa Claus has arrived in town, and is seeking a replacement in the form of a children’s entertainer named Joe, who just needs to find the confidence in himself to carry Santa’s mantel. Along for the adventure is a beautiful young teenager named Harmony Starr, who’s run away from home, and has her own emotional ties to both Kris Kringle and what he stands for. Thus, this colorful trio of characters set-off on their journey to save Christmas, keep the mantel of Santa going, with many looney set-pieces, hammy discusses, a race against the clock, and misunderstandings ensuing along the way. Without question, this Ernest movie has my favorite ensemble of characters, with this lead trio acting as the pillars that support the film.  

   To get right to the point … this movie features one of my all-time favorite Santa’s ever put to film … like, top three easy. No joke, the Santa Claus in this film played by the late Douglas Seale is an absolute gem. 

It’s perhaps the most joyful Santa Claus of all time, and by that, I mean he’s an instant joy to watch. When he’s on screen, I just feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Every time he chuckles, or gives a simplistic, yet heart-felt speech, it can make anyone’s small heart grow three sizes. It’s one of those performances where I never see an actor delivering memorized lines, it genuinely feels like Santa, right there in the flesh. He doesn’t even have any of the traditional hallmarks of the character, as he never wears the iconic red suit, and doesn’t even do a proper “Ho-ho-ho” … yet, he just has this warm presence, which fills me with the holiday spirit every time I watch this. Also, I feel the best jokes of the movie revolve around him. There comes a moment when Santa is arrested, placed in the slammer with a number of cut-throat criminals … and within minutes, this Santa has them all singing Christmas carols together. My favorite scene of the whole film is when the crook’s stand-up for Santa, and say “He’s the real thing”, as it’s both funny and kind of touching.

   As for Ernest, he’s admittedly more of a secondary character, could have honestly been removed, and it wouldn’t have altered this story of Santa looking for a replacement. This is the make-or-break deal of the film, as some fans may be put-off by Ernest being more of an extra in his own film, while other viewers who might see the character as annoying, may be able to put-up with him, and focus more on Santa. 

For me personally, I prefer the whole story revolving around Santa, but I still enjoy having Ernest present, and I still feel like I get my fix with his goofy hallmarks. His best scene that feels like classic Ernest is when he brings a tree over to his friend Vern’s house, and basically makes a mess of the place. In a unique presentation, we never see the face of his friend Vern, leaving us to guise his reaction to this domino effect of destruction Ernest is unintentionally causing. We also have Ernest adorning several discuses through the film, including an old lady, and a snake wrangler. Watching Ernest take-on multiple personalities is always a highlight, and the different discusses are a clever way to weave them into the narrative. The Snake Wrangler discuss has an especially funny pay-off, in which he ends up getting what he asked for … a truck full of snakes.

    Noelle Parker plays the teenage runaway who calls herself Harmony Starr, and she’s the third pillar that supports this movie. 

On paper, she could have easily been your basic angsty teenage stereotype, but she has both the energy and personality to keep-up with Ernest, and enough of an emotional side to make a convincing bond with Santa. She also adds some needed dry hummer to balance off Ernest's more over-the-top moments. With that said, the young actress has great chemistry with Jim Varney, especially when they both discuss themselves as Government officials in an effort to get Santa out of prison. I get the impression that all the actors were having a lot of fun with this film, which always carries over to me when I watch this movie.

   Oliver Clark plays Joe, who’s tasked with being the new Santa, and he dose his job fine, with a decent character arc carrying him though the film. The antagonist of the picture comes in the form of Joe’s Agent, who wants the guy to act in B-list monster movies. Later in the film, we get two helper Elves from the North Pole, who also join in the mission to save the holiday. There’s also a running sub-plot involving two goofy Storage Agents named Chuck and Bobby, who are stuck looking after Santa’s enchanted Reindeer. These two are actually hold-over characters from the Ernest films, and while their typically a highlight, I honestly never found them or their situation all that funny in this film. Also, while I’m no expert on enchanted Reindeer … I don’t think they climb on the ceiling like Spider-Man, that always seemed a little odd to me.    

   John Cherry returned to direct this film after directing the previous “Ernest Goes to Camp”, and would continue to direct all the rest of Ernest’s theatrical outings, and most of his direct to video films. As such, he and Jim Varney’s Ernest were inseparable, which is why I admire his direction of “Ernest Saves Christmas”, as he puts focus on the holiday first, and the insane, live-action-cartoon world of Ernest second. For example, the movie opens with one of my favorite opening credit sequences of any Christmas movie I’ve ever seen. We get this montage of iconic Norman Rockwell Christmas paintings, along with the original Santa Coke adds, and all while this gentle choir sings Christmas carols over the credits. Needless to say, it instantly creates this warm holiday atmosphere, which is sustained through most of the film, even with the looney nature of Ernest present.

   I also like that, despite being such a Santa centered picture, the film still keeps select visuals of the holidays Kristian origins present through the film. Ernests cab has a bumper to keep Christ in Christmas, and the resolution at the end is set at a children’s museum, with the Nativity of Christ in the background. It’s also interesting how many of the plot points in this film revolving around Santa would resurface in further Christmas movies over the decade. The concept of Santa needing to pass the torch to a new young Santa would be explored again in films like “Arthur Christmas” and Tim Allen’s “The Santa Clause” series. Heck, even Santa getting arrested carried over into Tim Allen’s first film. Also, the climax to “Ernest Saves Christmas” features our hero’s riding Santa’s sleigh, which goes out of control, and gets the lethal attention of military forces … as such, it’s hard not to think of the climax to Tim Burton's “The Nightmare Before Christmas” while watching this finale.   

   In the end, “Ernest Saves Christmas” doesn’t have too much for adults, and is mainly for kids between five and ten, but as far as those standards are concerned ... I still have a big, loving, nostalgic, soft-spot for this film. It may not be the smartest, or most subtle Christmas comedy, but it undeniably has a heart at the center, and for me balances out. While this isn’t one of my absolute favorite Christmas movies, I’d still say about every five or so years, I’ll feel drawn back to watching this film, and enjoying it, every silly step of the way. From the Norman Rockwell inspired opening credits, to the late Douglas Seale's infectiously lovable portrayal of Santa … this film just cares this magical air that puts me in the holiday spirit. Oh … it’s still a ridiculous movie for sure, with a looney character chewing the scenery, but for me, there’s just a fine blend of wacky antics and wholesome holiday charms to make it a small … but genuinely favorable film to occasionally re-watch for the holidays. 

 Thanks for reading my review of the 1988 comedy “Ernest Saves Christmas” … and continue to enjoy both the movies, and holiday specials you Love!

 

My Top 10 Favorite Adaptions of A Christmas Carol

 Of all the classic Christmas tails that we frequently return to every year, it’s the novel “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens that has always stood out as my own personal favorite. It's a story of redemption, remorse, regret and the beauty of life all in one beautiful package. Mr. Scrooge of course is the meanest and greediest man alive, who thinks little of his fellow man. Yet, one magical Christmas Eve, he’s visited by four ghosts, who take him on a journey through the past, present and future, to see what made him such a miser, and to see if he can reform. 

It’s just a timeless tale, and part of the appeal is seeing how many different film and television productions bring their own unique spin to the story. There are probably just as many adaptions of this book as there are stars in the night sky, and this year … I wanted to count down my own personal Top 10 favorite adaptions. I’m not trying to make any kind of official list, as these aren’t arranged by objective quality, but simply by how each left their impression on me as a fan. With that said, here are my own personal Top 10 Favorite Movie or TV adaptions of the Charlies Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol”.

 

#10 “The Stingiest Man in Town” (1978)

Rankin and Basses produced a number of classic Christmas specials including “Frosty the Snow Man”, “Rudolph the Red-Noised Reindeer”, and for their twelfth holiday offering, they decided to throw their hat into the ringer with an adaption of “A Christmas Carol”. Their 1978 animated musical titled “The Stingiest Man in Town” was actually a remake a live-action TV musical of the same name … which had varying results, yet is still quite special, and it’s honestly one of the more underrated tellings of the story.

 The character designs in this special remind me of the studio's animated version of “The Hobbit”, and while it’s kind of cheap looking, it’s also very ambitious with its visuals and imaginative ideas. Honestly, even though it’s not the best animated, this version still packs some distinct imagery that help it stand apart in my mind from other versions of the classic tale. It’s also a rare version to spot-light other staples of the holiday, like a song dedicated to Santa, as well as a beautifully animated song focusing on the nativity of Christ. The cast all around is decent, with Walter Matthau being a passable Scrooge. While many key scenes (mainly the encounter with the future) are regrettably trimmed down, this special still packs all the right emotional punches one would expect from any version. In general, I’m glad Rankin and Bass gave us their own unique animated version.

 

#9 “A Christmas Carol” (1997)

From one animated adaption to another, this late 90’s production frequently gets lost in the shuffle of admittedly better versions … but I have a soft spot for it … mainly for the novelty of Tim Curry as Scrooge. He’s one of those talents who just feels like he was born to play the role at some point.

At his side are other noteworthy talents, including Whoopi Goldberg and Ed Asner. There are also some original details, including a pet dog for Scrooge, and other familiar scenes like Scrooges childhood in the orphanage, and his breakup with his girlfriend are nicely expanded on in this version. While the animation is direct-to-video quality, it once again is really trying with everything it’s got, and many scenes have a distinctly memorable look. Lastly, the film features eight original songs, which are perfectly pleasant to listen to. All around, this one may not exactly be one of the absolute greats, but once again, I feel this one deserves some attention, and it always leaves me feeling great inside, like any adaption. It really goes to show the strength of a good story, when there can be so many renditions, and still feel special, although this version certainly has the advantage of original songs, and the always dependable Tim Curry.

 

#8 “Scrooge” [A Christmas Carol] (1951)

Of all the Scrooges past, present and yet to come, they will all be riding the coat tails of one Alistair Sims in the iconic role. 

This is it, the one that’s frequently cited as not only the absolute best film adaption, but maybe even superior to the book itself. While staying faithful to the source, this film dives deeper into the character of Scrooge, adds new compelling layers to his back story, and leading the charge is Alistair Sims who absolutely shines in the lead role. While I have my own personal favorite portrayal of Scrooge, this is unmistakably a performance for the history books. There’s no other way to describe it, Alister Sims is just chillingly good in the role, and the main reason that this film stands above its 1938 predecessor … at least in terms of popularity. Without question, this classic earns its crown, but I’d also be lying if I said I liked it more than the next seven entries. Still a great classic, worth looking into, but it’s just never been one that I’ve made a tradition of re-watching for the Christmas season, at least in the same way others have.

 

#7 “The Muppet Christmas Carol” (1992)

For me, and many kids from my generation, we were first introduced to the Dickens Classic in the early 1990's through this classic Muppet picture. While I’ve never called this the absolute greatest version, it’s still infectiously lovable, as well as the one I have the most childhood nostalgia for, and it just leaves me smiling from ear to ear every time I watch it. 

Kermit the Frog and his band of Muppets are a special group of characters that I actually find myself loving more as an adult then I did as a kid, and they really are the appeal that makes this film stand out. There’s just something fun about seeing all these lovable Muppets in these iconic roles, as well as unique interpretations of the Christmas Ghost characters. In general, it’s so refreshing to look back on a film that didn’t overutilized CGI, and instead created this magical world full of practical effects, wonderful sets, and it just feels timeless in its own right. Michael Caine in my view, along with a decent performance, is the absolute best-looking Scrooge, as he just has that perfect image, presence and when reading the book, he’s usually the one I think about in the role. All around, despite featuring puppets, this is still a warm and humble holiday offering, which for me has only gotten better with age. 

 

#6 “A Christmas Carol” (2009)

 

As one of the more recent film versions of the Dickens classic, audiences may have been a little too familiar with this story to really get submersed in its message. Never the less, it’s dazzling visuals, holiday charms and unrestrained haunting atmosphere make it worth experiencing all over again. I’ve also loved Jim Carry my whole life, and for me, this was his last truly great character performance before he quietly disappeared from the big screen. The music is another great highlight, especially with Andrea Bocelli's song "God Bless Us Everyone", which stands as my personal favorite Christmas song. While far from perfect, this version has stuck with me through the years, and is a satisfying send-off for Robert Zemeckis animated Christmas productions.  

 

 #5 “A Christmas Carol: The Musical” (2004)

Here's yet another version of “A Christmas Carol” that may not exactly be remembered as one of the greats, but it’s absolutely a personal favorite of mine. Adapting the Charles Dickens classic into a musical was a very clever idea, giving audiences a fresh take on a popular story. While there have been several musical renditions of “A Christmas Carol” in the past, this is my personal favorite of all the musical adaptions by far. Visually, this one also gets me in the spirit of Christmas more than most other versions, and again, I absolutely adore the songs. Truthfully, it might just be my favorite collection of songs in a single Christmas outing. Some of these songs have even stuck with me as staples of the Dickens tale. It might just be a little too corny and over the top for some viewers ... which is perfectly understandable ... but for my own personal delight, I just can’t help pulling this one out every year.   

 

#4 “The Man Who Invented Christmas” (2017)

While we all know the story of Scrooge … what about the man behind the classic story and character. 

Well, in this severely underrated 2017 picture, we explore the personal journey Charles Dickens took to create his beloved novel … and just in time for Christmas. The style is very similar to the 2004 movie “Finding Neverland”, in that we take a dive into the imagination and influence on the authors creation, and we see how various people he encounters become the inspiration for his characters. The late Christopher Plumer shines as Scrooge, but the real star of this film is Dan Stevens as Charles Dickens. His performance half the time feels larger than life, and brings to mind Tom Hulce’s portrayal of “Amadeus”. If you’re a fan of the story, do check this film out, as it gives the immortal, time tested tale of Scrooge miraculous new life, and unique perception from the creative mind of the author. With its engaging lead performance, and heart felt vision, it makes for yet another great holiday staple.  

 

#3 “A Christmas Carol” (1999)

This may not be number one, but it is the version that’s stuck with me the most for two simple reasons. For one, this was my first real movie version of “A Christmas Carol” I ever saw, which didn’t involve colorful cartoon characters or Muppets. As such, it’s the version that made me fall in love with this story, and really appreciate what a wonderful and timeless tale this truly is. There’s so much quality in a premise that revolves around looking back on who we once were … comparing it to what we are now … and who we hope to be in the future. The second reason this version has stuck with me is Sir Patrick Stewart in the role of Mr. Scrooge. He is my personal favorite Scrooge, as he just nails ever emotion perfectly … even when acting over the top. While this version isn't the objective classic ... it's still my personal classic I always think back on. 

  

#2 “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” (1983)

In truth, this was one of the very first specials that introduced me to the Dickens classic at a young age, and what a great way for kids to be exposed to its incredible source material. It’s basically the strait forward telling of “A Christmas Carol”, but animated, and with all the classic Disney characters in the principal roles. Seeing Scrooge McDuck in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge is about as fitting as they get, and all the other famous Disney characters fit right in with the other roles. It gives children a fresh perspective of the characters from the book, and allows us to fully appreciate seeing them in later live-action renditions. I especially love how this special is only 30 minutes long, and it still captures the atmosphere, tone, emotion, and spirit of its source beautifully. Bottom line, if you have kids that have never even heard of “A Christmas Carol”, this is a great version to introduce them to it.

 

Before I reveal my Number One favorite, here are some quick Honorable Mentions ... 

"Scrooge" (1970)

"A Christmas Carol" (1938)

"Mr. Magoo's A Christmas Carol" (1962)

"The Real Ghostbusters: Xmas Marks the Spot" (1986)

"Spirited" (2022)

 

#1 “A Christmas Carol” (1984)

This early version of the Dickens classic still stands strong as one of the best, crafted with a firm direction, and blessed with the chemistry of George C. Scott in the leading role. 

While there have been many great versions … I think this movie is about as perfect as they get. There’s something about the details that seem to surpass most other versions. We see Scrooge looking back on not only his past, but his relation to his father, which is something rarely touched on in any version. Also, this film features my favorite ending of any version, and I’d take it a step further saying that … perhaps it’s my favorite scene from any Christmas movie. If your lost in a sea of film versions of “A Christmas Carol”, and don’t know where to start … this would be good one to begin with. Now, any version of "A Christmas Carol" is great, and worth viewing, but it’s this version from 1984 that left the biggest impact on me personally.

Thanks for reading my countdown … and continue to enjoy both the Christmas and Holiday specials you love!