Awesomely Horrible Netflix Instant Films: Ernest Saves Christmas

The holidays may be over but that doesn't mean that we can't enjoy a good Christmas movie. But if you are looking for a GOOD Christmas movie...then this isn't it. In the 80's, inexplicably, a character created by Jim Varney named Ernest P. Worrell won the hearts of millions of Americans. He started out as an obnoxious hick that bothered his neighbor Vern in a series of soda ads. The character proved so popular that he spawned a series of movies. This one may be the worst one. Although, Ernest Scared Stupid gives it a run for its money.

In this Christmas "classic", Ernest plays a cabbie who picks up the real Santa from the airport. Why Santa is at the airport seeing as he has a sleigh pulled by flying reindeer is a mystery. He is there to pick someone to be the new Santa Claus and replace him. When Santa goes to find this new recruit, he leaves his magic sack in Ernest's cab. Ernest loses his job because he didn't charge Santa for the ride. So, now that he has nothing to do he and a teenage runaway spend the rest of the movie trying to help Santa do whatever he has to to make Christmas happen, including busting Santa out of jail. It's wacky, knowwhatImean?

I used to love the Ernest movies when I was a kid, especially Ernest Goes to Camp. I don't know why. I guess Varney somehow tapped into the zeitgeist of the 80's which apparently was a mentally challenged hillbilly with a penchant for mayhem. It was a strange time.