Jim Varney was a genius. It’s a hill I’ll die on. If you grew up in the eighties or nineties, you probably remember the rubber-faced man in the denim vest who couldn't stop getting his fingers stuck in things. But looking back at Earnest Goes to Camp, it’s weirdly obvious that we weren’t just watching a live-action cartoon. We were watching a surprisingly soulful movie about an underdog who genuinely cared about a bunch of juvenile delinquents.
People like to dunk on the "Ernest" franchise. They see the 0% or 10% ratings on some review aggregators and assume it’s all low-brow trash. They're wrong. While the sequels eventually leaned a bit too hard into the "Vern" gimmick, this 1987 debut for Touchstone Pictures—yes, Disney’s "grown-up" label—actually has a backbone. It’s a movie about land rights, tribal heritage, and the idea that even the "broken" kids deserve a champion.
The Weird Alchemy of Jim Varney
You can’t talk about Earnest Goes to Camp without talking about the sheer physicality of Jim Varney. The man was a Shakespearean-trained actor. Seriously. He could recite the classics, but he chose to make a living by pretending to be a lovable dimwit who got electrocuted by a lawnmower.
The character of Ernest P. Worrell didn’t start in Hollywood. He started in local commercials for everything from dairy products to gas companies. He was a marketing tool. But when director John Cherry decided to take him to the big screen, they didn't just make a ninety-minute commercial. They gave him a job as a maintenance man at Camp Kikakee.
Ernest is the "marge," the guy at the bottom of the totem pole. He wants to be a counselor. He wants to help. But he’s relegated to fixing toilets and getting bullied by the "real" counselors. There is something deeply relatable about that. Everyone has felt like the Ernest of their workplace at some point—the person who tries too hard and gets laughed at for their sincerity.
The Second Chance Boys
The plot kicks off when a group of kids from a juvenile detention center—the "Second Chance" boys—are sent to Kikakee. They’re tough. They’re mean. They’ve been rejected by everyone. Naturally, nobody wants to lead them. Enter Ernest.
What’s fascinating is how the movie treats these kids. In a modern film, they’d be walking cliches of "urban youth." Here, they’re just kids who have been told they are garbage. When Ernest steps up to be their counselor, he doesn't do it because he’s a hero. He does it because he doesn't see them as "bad." He sees them as his friends.
That Scene With the Song
If you want to know why this movie sticks in the collective memory of Gen X and Millennials, you have to talk about "Gee I’m Glad It’s Raining."
It’s raining. Obviously. Ernest is sitting alone, feeling like a failure because he couldn't protect the kids or the camp. He starts singing this melancholy, quiet ballad. It’s not a joke. There’s no slapstick. No one falls down a flight of stairs. It is a moment of pure, unadulterated pathos.
Varney’s voice is gravelly and sweet. It’s the kind of moment that catches you off guard. You came for the scene where he gets bitten by a badger, but you stayed for the man crying in the rain. That’s the "Ernest" magic. It’s the juxtaposition of the ridiculous and the real.
The Bad Guys and the Mining Plot
Every eighties movie needed a corporate villain. Here, we have Krader, played by John Vernon. Vernon was basically the king of playing the cold-hearted authority figure (think Dean Wormer in Animal House). He wants the camp because there’s "petro-shale" under the ground.
He tries to trick Chief St. Cloud into signing away the land. This is where the movie gets surprisingly heavy. It deals with the exploitation of Indigenous people and the way corporate entities use "legal" paperwork to steal heritage. Sure, the resolution involves Ernest flying a motorized parachute and dropping explosive eggs, but the stakes are grounded in a very real kind of greed.
The Action Finale is Pure Chaos
The third act of Earnest Goes to Camp is a masterclass in low-budget stunt work and practical effects. Since the camp doesn't have weapons to fight off the construction crew, they use what they have: camp supplies.
- Parachuting turtles.
- High-velocity eggs.
- Tomato sauce cannons.
- Total, utter mayhem.
It’s basically Home Alone but in the woods and three years before Home Alone existed. There’s a specific joy in watching the "bad guys" get dismantled by a group of kids and a guy who thinks he’s a brave warrior.
The stunts were dangerous, too. Varney did a lot of his own physical work. When you see him spinning around or taking a hit, that’s usually him. There’s a tactile feel to the comedy that you just don't get with modern CGI-heavy slapstick. When a ladder falls on Ernest, you feel the weight of it.
Why it Ranks Among 80s Classics
We talk about The Goonies. We talk about Back to the Future. Why don't we talk about Ernest?
Maybe it’s because the brand became "diluted" later. Ernest Goes to Jail was funny. Ernest Scared Stupid is a Halloween masterpiece (the trolls are genuinely terrifying). But after that, the quality dipped. Straight-to-video releases like Ernest Goes to Africa or Ernest in the Army lost the heart that the first few films had.
But Earnest Goes to Camp remains the pure version of the character. It’s the version where he wasn't just a caricature; he was a person. A weird, loud, clumsy person, but a person nonetheless.
The Chief St. Cloud Connection
Irony is everywhere in movies today, but this film is remarkably earnest (pun intended). Irony says "I’m too cool to care about this." This movie cares so much it hurts.
The relationship between Ernest and Chief St. Cloud is the emotional anchor. The Chief doesn't speak English (or pretends not to), and his granddaughter translates. He sees something in Ernest that no one else sees—a "brave" heart.
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The ending, where the Chief finally acknowledges Ernest, isn't played for a laugh. It’s a genuine moment of respect. For a movie that features a scene where a man eats a "hot" pepper and turns into a human fire-breather, that level of respect for the characters is pretty rare.
Real-World Impact and Legacy
Believe it or not, this movie was a massive financial success. It cost about $3 million to make and raked in over $23 million at the box office. That’s a huge return on investment. It proved that there was a massive audience for "clean" family comedy that didn't talk down to kids.
It also launched a franchise that lasted over a decade. Varney became a household name. He eventually voiced Slinky Dog in Toy Story, bringing that same "loyal-to-a-fault" energy to the Pixar universe.
Fact-Checking the Common Myths
You might hear that the movie was filmed at a real summer camp. It was. Most of it was shot at Montgomery Bell State Park in Burns, Tennessee. If you go there today, you can still find some of the locations.
Another myth: Jim Varney hated the character. Total nonsense. Varney loved Ernest. He loved the fans. He was known for being incredibly kind on set, often staying late to sign autographs for every single kid who showed up. He knew what the character meant to people who felt like outsiders.
How to Revisit the Film Today
If you’re going to watch Earnest Goes to Camp now, you have to turn off your "cringe" radar. Yeah, some of the jokes are dated. Yeah, the "petro-shale" plot is a bit thin. But look at the craft.
Look at the way Varney uses his face like it’s made of putty. Look at the timing of the "parachuting turtles" sequence. There is a precision to the comedy that is actually very difficult to pull off. It’s "dumb" humor written by very smart people.
Actionable Takeaways for the Modern Viewer
If you want to introduce your kids to this, or just revisit it yourself, here is how to get the most out of it:
- Watch for the physical comedy beats. Notice how Varney uses his whole body, not just his face. It’s a lost art form in the era of digital editing.
- Listen to the soundtrack. The score is surprisingly epic for a movie about a camp counselor.
- Pay attention to the Second Chance boys. Their arc is actually quite moving, especially their transformation from bullies to protectors of the camp.
- Research Jim Varney's other work. Check out his stand-up or his performances as other characters like Auntie Nelda. It will give you a deeper appreciation for his range.
Earnest Goes to Camp isn't just a relic of the eighties. It’s a reminder that being "earnest" is actually a superpower. In a world that’s increasingly cynical, there’s something genuinely refreshing about a guy who just wants to do a good job and make sure the kids are okay. KnowhutImean?
Go find a copy. It’s usually streaming on various platforms or available in those "4-Movie Collection" DVDs you find in the bargain bin. It’s worth the ninety minutes. You might find yourself humming "Gee I'm Glad It's Raining" long after the credits roll.
Next Steps for the Ernest Fan: * Locate the original 1980s commercials on YouTube to see the character's evolution from a pitchman to a movie star.
- Compare the practical effects of the Kikakee battle to modern CGI comedies to see how "real" weight impacts humor.
- Track down the soundtrack; the music of Kikakee has a cult following for a reason.