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 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 others 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, liv-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 quire 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 “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!