Sadly Over-hyped

Pretty Good

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Move over Indiana Jones. Here comes Ernest P. Worrell, our underdog hero. Let me start out by saying this: 'Critics-Schmitics'. Don't let the nay saying critics and reviewers dissuade you from picking up this classic movie. No disrespect, but they obviously don't have a humorous bone in their bodies and don't know how to remove the stick from their butts. I love the Ernest genre and can be biased about Jim Varney but even if I didn't like some of the other Ernest movies, this is a true gem. This is like a live action cartoon and Varney is his own cartoon character. As he once said, "Oh, I guess I would be if I weren't just THAT close to being an actual cartoon." Listen to me and the other positive reviews. This was very well written and very well acted and consistent. The opening song is wonderful and describes Ernest to a T. You've got a 5 ton historical cannon named, "Goliath", lots of gun fire, a healthy dose of slapstick by the master himself, Varney, who voices a plethora of characters in top notch form. You have Dr. Abner Melon(Ron James and the 'Vern' of the movie), a meek history professor who is uptight, but thanks to Ernest, learns to loosen up and enjoy an adventure. There is Nan Melon(Linda Kash), Abner's annoying, and overbearing wife and two pesky salesman that finish each other's sentences with perfect timing. Tom Butler(Dr. Radnor T. Glencliff), who has played in various Lifetime movies as a lawyer and all around 'good guy', has the villainous role in this one and is great. He will stop at nothing, even to the point of killing Ernest to get at 'Goliath' and the crown jewels. Comedy ensues as Ernest is the one to find 'Goliath' and takes it for a wild ride everywhere a cannon should not be going. Varney and James play well off each other and this movie couldn't have been cast any better. But unlike other Ernest movies, Ernest seems to have a bit of a higher intellect in this one while still being that lovable hayseed we all know. Even if you're not a big fan of the Ernest genre, I urge you to give this one a chance and form your own opinions because, unlike the reviews of some critics, this movie definitely has merit. Not only did Varney bring back slapstick, he did it even better and was/is still one of the best at this brand of humor. As with all Ernest movies, this is free of vulgarity and filth but still a great ride, 'KnoWhutImean?'

I have always loved Varney's Ernest character. None of his movies are real pieces of movie magic. They are mere catalysts for Ernest to show his comedy ability. I believe that Ernest Goes to Camp and Jail are the best "movie" movies of the series but my favorite for general comedy is Rides Again because of the small asides that Ernest goes into during the film. I have no doubt that these movies are incredibly annoying if you are not a fan of Ernest but I love the subtle, unrelated to plot, funny without the movie, similar to sketch humor moments in Rides Again that shows some of the best Varney humor. "Blasting caps, that'll scare them, a brain is terrible thing to waste, map, map, where's the map, oh come now don't tell me you've lost that bloody map, oh no sir, that maps around here somewheres" all done in three different pirate voices.

This ranks among my most favorite of "Ernest" movies. The bumbling janitor Ernest P. Worrel (Jim Varney)and his wishy-washy, history-professor friend, Abner Melon (Ron James), stumble upon an old revolutionary-war cannon known as "Goliath," that Abner has been searching for his whole life. Unbeknownst to them, other people are also interested in the cannon because it contains the crown jewels of England: a history professor and Abner's boss, who moonlights as a crime boss, and an British secret agent who wants to recover the jewels for England.As the other reviewer stated, "Ernest Rides Again" is a bit more serious in plot, but it is filled with laughs nevertheless, especially in the scenes where Varney plays against straight-man Ron James. Don't miss the hilarious canon "chase" scenes! The relative seriousness of the plot makes the laughs that much funnier. Definitely a "must see," especially for those who have never seen an "Ernest" movie!

I was one of the few people who watched this move in the theaters, and to say the least, I was disappointed. Granted, the series went back to a more believable story and a more subtle production design after the faults of Ernest Goes to Jail and Ernest Scared Stupid. But then again, this should have been a clear indication this series should have ended. But lo and behold, Hollywood had to further defile Jim Varney in this haphazard effort. And of note, where the heck was Bobby in this film!