Jim Varney Movies
Gangling, Kentucky-born actor Jim Varney cut his professional teeth at Virginia's Barter Theater, a summer-stock concern specializing in vintage American melodramas. At his funniest when playing it totally straight, Varney was hired as a comedy-ensemble member of the 1976 TV variety series The Johnny Cash Show. He went on to play Evel Knievel-takeoff Virgil Sims in Norman Lear's syndicated talk show spoofs Fernwood 2-Night (1977) and America 2-Night (1978). He was also seen as Seaman Broom on Operation Petticoat (1977), in another ensemble play on the ill-fated Pink Lady (1980), as host of the 1982-1983 season of the country-western syndie Pop! Goes the Country, and as Evan Earp, a very distant descendant of Wyatt, on The Rousters. While this multitude of TV credits was impressive enough, Varney's true claim to fame rested in his dozens of commercial appearances, first as Sgt. Glory in a series of public service spots for the Southern Dairy Commission, then as dimwitted hayseed Ernest P. Worrell ("Hey, Vern!" "KnowhutImean?") in a variety of ads aimed at regional markets. Varney parlayed the Ernest character into a handful of videocassettes (many of these highlighted by profanity-peppered outtakes), a Saturday morning TV kiddie show titled Hey, Vern, It's Ernest (1988-1989), and seemingly endless series of low-budget, lowbrow film comedies bearing such titles as Ernest Goes to Camp (1987), Ernest Saves Christmas (1988), and Ernest: Scared Stupid (1989). Outside of his by-now standard characterization, Jim Varney was quite effectively cast as mountain patriarch Jed Clampett in the 1993 film version of the old TV sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies. His biggest-profile role came with the 1995 blockbuster animated film Toy Story, which found Varney cast as Slinky Dog. Varney reprised the role for the 1999 sequel Toy Story 2, and shortly before the release of the second film, Varney revealed he had been battling life-threatening lung cancer since August 1998. Late in 1999, he had experienced a remission from the cancer, but this was to be short-lived. His final battle lasted barely a couple of months after the sequel's release, with Varney succumbing to the disease in February 2000 at the age of 50. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
When Santa Claus decides to retire, he appoints a washed-up kiddie show host (Douglas Seale) to take his place. Along the way, the real Santa ends up in the slammer on Christmas Eve, and it's up to goonish, glad-handing Ernest P. Worrall (Jim Varney) to bust him out. Varney plays a handful of supporting characters, including a slick-talking attorney. This film was followed by Ernest Goes to Jail. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Varney, Douglas Seale, (more)
Ernest (Jim Varney) gets a job as a fix-it man at a summer camp for troubled boys, but what he really wants to be is a counselor. This juvenile comedy, filled with potty humor and slapstick, chronicles his campaign to get a promotion. A consummate bungler, he ends up causing all kinds of comical chaos. Fortunately, he also ends up helping many of the campers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Varney, Victoria Racimo, (more)
- 1986
- PG
This comedy is a showcase for Jim Varney (of "Hey Vern! It's your old buddy Ernest!" fame) who plays several different roles, including Laughin' Jack, Dr. Otto, Guy Dandy, and others. Dr. Otto is a crazed and evil scientist intent on becoming a world dictator. One of his plans is to send the global economy into oblivion and towards that goal, he invents an appearance-altering device that allows him to assume any guise he chooses. His only nemesis is an inept anti-hero who looks like he could hardly tie his shoes, let alone outmaneuver anyone who can think and walk at the same time. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Varney, Myke R. Mueller, (more)
- 1986
Actor Jim Varney essays his fabled "Ernest P. Worrell" character in this video collection. It will be recalled that Ernest is the grinning, goonish protagonist of many a regional television commercial, hawking everything from convenience stores to newly created UHF TV outlets. Forever chattering away at his unseen buddy "Vern," the garrulous Ernest buffoonishly sings the praises of the product of the moment. Some audience members may have run screaming from their seats, but others stuck around long enough for the Ernest character to become one of the most potent and profitable advertising tools of the 1980s. Ernest Film Festival spotlights some of the best of Varney's local TV spots, as well as a few amusing (and extremely profane) out-takes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Varney
- 1985
Jim Varney, also known as commercial spokesman/village idiot Ernest P. Worrell, stars in Hey Vern! It's My Family Album! Speaking at the top of his lungs to the unseen Vern (actually he's talking to "us"), Ernest introduces several of his less illustrious ancestors. If nothing else, this 57-minute video allows the talented Varney to exhibit his range and versatility. In fact, he's funnier in these other guises than he is as Ernest. In the tradition of Jim Varney's earlier video collections, Hey Vern manages to include a few hilariously embarrassing outtakes. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Varney
- 1983
If you like Jim Varney's doltish character Ernest P. Worrel, then you'll love this anthology comprised of Ernest's best commercials and as a special bonus, a series of skits chronicling Ernest's colorful family history. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Varney
- 1978
While Mel (Vic Tayback) takes a snooze in the storeroom, Alice (Linda Lavin) is left alone to man (or woman) the counter on a Saturday night. Unfortunately, this is the same evening that the diner is visited by a nervous young man with a gun in his hand and larceny in his heart. The holdup man is placed by Steve Franken, best remembered as the pompous "Chatsworth Osborne Jr." on Dobie Gillis; and seen in the role of Milo is Jim Varney, several years before he gained national fame as his goonish alter ego "Ernest P. Worrall". ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1977
Life in the Pink is the syndication title of the pilot film for the TV series Operation Petticoat. Based on the 1959 movie of the same name, the series detailed the adventures of a jerry-built submarine in World War II. In the pilot, the sub's crew rescues five Army nurses from a remote Pacific isle. The ladies return the favor by virtually taking over the sub, eventually painting it pink. While this TV movie does not follow the film version scene for scene, it resurrects some of the earlier picture's best gags, including the torpedoing of a jeep. John Astin both directed this film and starred as the sub commander. Way down the cast list as a nurse was Jamie Lee Curtis, daughter of Tony Curtis, who costarred with Cary Grant in the original Operation Petticoat. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
