Just to make things clear, am not an Ernest detractor and actually consider most of the films imperfect but fun in a guilty pleasure sort of way. Watched 'Ernest Goes to School' with the same mindset as watching the previous five films (all better) and, while not terrible, still consider it one of the weaker 'Ernest' films.'Ernest Goes to School' is certainly not without its redeeming qualities. The school setting is nicely rendered with a fun vibe, while the music is affectionate and full of breezy energy without being too loud. It's hard still not to relate to Ernest, the sort of character that is a well-intended serial bungler with a strong heart but always finding himself messing up.Jim Varney does do a good job with what he has, he is enjoying himself and is a likable presence even though he overdoes it slightly in the mannerisms. Some of the dialogue while not exactly sophisticated is funny and there are a few scenes that raise a laugh, especially the music room scene.However, too much of the humour is too childish, crude, overdone and recycled. Even for someone very quick to defend Ernest and his previous films, the dumbness was overkill and there is not a shred of originality or sharp timing. The football scene is pretty embarrassing.The story lacks the lively pacing to make up for its paper-thinness, the direction is close to inept and the film is one of the cheaper-looking films in the series (we're talking amateur cheap here). Of the cast only Varney works. The rest are either barely trying or annoy the heck out of you, the younger cast members do grate.Overall, one of the weaker 'Ernest' films and one of the more difficult ones to defend. 5/10 with sincere apologies. Bethany Cox

I watched this movie and honestly, it was pure torture. From reading the summary, I thought it might be really interesting, so I kept watching in the hopes that the movie might redeem itself. No such luck! It is not at all funny. The football scene was so incredibly stupid and desperate. All the gags and pranks were so beyond the real-world laws that they were just plain boring. Jim Varney's facial expressions nauseated me. I almost cried during the whole movie - it was about as funny as a horror movie, and just as scary. I think the only movie that can compare to this one in terms of being purely horrible is 'Shark Boy and Lava Girl' and even that is better than this. I would not recommend this movie to anyone, except as punishment.

I'd never heard of this movie before but after watching Next Friday tonite I figured what the hell.This is one of the funniest movie's I've ever seen. The music room scene had me crying in laughter. Varney was a comedic genius but you actually have to possess a sense of humor to get it. Any dink that doesnt think this movie is funny must have run out of Vaseline. 9/10

I have never written a comment before on this website. But after watching "Ernest Goes to School" I just have to. The reason is that this is the worst movie I have ever seen in my life!! I did not find one funny joke, the acting was terrible, and the whole thing was extremly poorly done. Many times these kind of flims can be funny, in the wrong way, ( A bit like Australian Soaps) but this is just beyond it. After halfway through I surrendered and switched it off. You would think that if someone is going to make a movie you assume that some effort would be put in to it. Because if you don't then a steaming piece of tured called "Ernest Goes to School" is made.