Ernest Saves Christmas

  • Review Date: December 19, 2011
  • PG
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 2002
Review

Common Sense Media says

Goofy holiday movie is OK fun for families, knowwhatImean?
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this 1988 movie starring actor Jim Varney's oddball alter ego is short on both strong content and Christmas cheer, but his trademark slapstick humor will keep a range of ages entertained nonetheless. Young kids may be confused by the storyline, which centers on an aging Santa (who's not dressed in the traditional red, so as to blend in) seeking out his replacement for the job, so it likely will raise more questions about the St. Nick legend than it's worth. Older kids and tweens will have more patience for Ernest's particular brand of comedy, and they'll be able to recognize the heartening story surrounding a runaway's journey back home. This movie is a fun blast from the past for parents for whom Ernest is a recognizable face from their formative years, and they'll probably spot the blatant product placement (Coca-Cola, Nissan, Bic) more easily than will their kids because of their familiarity with the ads of the time.

  • Educational value0
    The movie intends to entertain rather than to educate.
  • Positive messages1
    There's an underlying theme of redemption and forgiveness surrounding a teen's coming to terms with her family troubles, but the movie aims more to entertain audiences than to evoke any hearty messages.
  • Positive role models1
    Despite his idiosyncrasies, Ernest means well and strives to do the right thing, and he's got holiday spirit to spare.
  • Violence & scariness1
    There's nothing violent to the content, but there are some near-misses between cars on the freeway and peril as Ernest loses control of Santa's sleigh. In one scene, a man is crushed by a large crate and remains stuck to it when it's raised. A man wields a prop gun in a movie scene, and Ernest suffers some snake bites in another.
  • Sexy stuff0
    Not applicable.
  • Language0
    In one instance, a man cries "Son of a . . . " but doesn't finish the phrase.
  • Consumerism3
    Strategically placed brand names grace billboards, car tops, and items the characters hold and include Coca-Cola, Nissan, Bud Light, Bic pens, and FTD.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking0
    No use of the products, but the Bud Light name is visible on a billboard.
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What's the story?

ERNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS stars Jim Varney as Ernest P. Worrell, a well-meaning but mishap-prone cab driver who's in for a big surprise when he picks up Santa Claus (Douglas Seale) from the Orlando airport. Santa's in town to find a replacement for his job, and he's got his sights set on a local TV personality named Joe Carruthers (Oliver Clark), but things don't go as planned when he offers him the position. One thing leads to another, and Santa lands in the slammer, so it falls on Ernest and a runaway teen named Harmony Starr (Noelle Parker) to break him out so he can persuade Joe to take over the position. Fate seems to be working against him as time ticks down to their Christmas Eve deadline, and it's tough to tell if there will be enough Christmas spirit left to set everything straight in time.

Is it any good?

 

Varney's simple-minded alter ego was a mainstay during the '80s and '90s, when Ernest entertained his fans in numerous movies, commercials, and a short-lived TV show. Your kids probably won't know who he is, but they might recognize his voice from the first two Toy Story movies, for which he provided the voice of Slinky Dog. Whether you love or hate his slapstick-style humor, rubbery facial expressions, and litany of misinterpreted quotes ("What we have here is a failure to accumulate"), it's impossible not to be struck by what's obviously lacking in this holiday comedy: iffy content. With no sex, violence, or language to speak of, which makes Ernest Saves Christmas a fairly safe, if not exactly heartwarming, option for families.

What will stand out most to parents is the movie's unabashed brand placement that gives air time to deep-pocketed players like Coca-Cola (whose products Varney/Ernest promoted throughout his career), Nissan, Bic, and, briefly, Bud Light. It's not frequent enough to be distasteful, but there's no denying the movie's motivation in including them in such an unavoidable way.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about comedy. How have the style and tone of comedy changed over time? What kinds of topics are subject to humor now that weren't decades ago? Does this change reflect a more lenient cultural view on certain issues or something else?

  • Teens: Do you enjoy holiday movies in general? What are some of your favorites? Do you think this movie is attempting to teach a lesson, or is it meant solely for entertainment? Does entertainment always have to have a point?

  • Did you notice any advertising throughout this movie? Does it seem like the rules about promoting products in TV shows and movies has changed over the years? Should there be different guidelines for advertising in shows aimed at adults and those aimed at kids?

This review was written by Emily Ashby

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This review was written by Emily Ashby
Topics:holidays
Studio:Touchstone Pictures
Director:John R. Cherry III
Cast:Douglas Seale, Jim Varney, Noelle Parker
Genre:Comedy
Run time:91 minutes
DVD release date:September 3, 2002
MPAA rating:PG
This review was written by Emily Ashby
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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