Ernest Saves Christmas
| Ernest Saves Christmas | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | John R. Cherry III |
| Produced by | Joseph Akerman |
| Screenplay by | Ed Turner B. Kline |
| Story by | Ed Turner |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Mark Snow |
| Cinematography | Peter Stein |
| Edited by | Ian D. Thomas |
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Production
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| Distributed by | Buena Vista Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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95 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $6 million |
| Box office | $28.2 million |
Ernest Saves Christmas is a 1988 Christmas comedy film directed by John R. Cherry III and starring Jim Varney. This is the first film to feature Gailard Sartain's character, Chuck along with Bill Byrge as his brother, Bobby. They made their first appearance in the television series Hey Vern, It's Ernest! which was in production at the same time as this film. It is the third film to feature the character Ernest P. Worrell, and chronicles Ernest's attempt to find a replacement for an aging Santa Claus. Unlike the other Ernest movies, Ernest Saves Christmas is the only one that does not feature a villain.
A man who claims to be Santa Claus (Douglas Seale) arrives at the Orlando International Airport in Florida. Ernest P. Worrell (Jim Varney) is working as a taxi driver. He takes a passenger to the airport, but speeds and the passenger falls out of the taxi. Ernest later picks up Santa Claus, who tells Ernest that he is on his way to inform a local celebrity named Joe Carruthers (Oliver Clark) that he has been chosen to be the new Santa Claus. Carruthers hosts a children's program named Uncle Joey's Treehouse in the Orlando area similar to Mister Rogers' Neighborhood or Captain Kangaroo with emphasis on manners and integrity with the catchphrase "They never get old. They always stay new. Those three little words, Please and Thank You".
While they are driving, a runaway teenage girl (Noelle Parker) who says she is named Harmony Starr joins Ernest and Santa in the cab. When they get to their destination, Santa possesses no legal currency (only play money), so in his giving Christmas spirit, Ernest lets him ride for free. The decision gets Ernest fired from his job. Back at the taxi garage, Ernest discovers that Santa left his magic sack behind in the cab, and Ernest begins a quest to find the old man and return it to him.
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