Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- witty
- silly
- warm
- christmas morning
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a weak, slapstick-heavy family Christmas comedy despite its commercial success.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Santa travels to Orlando to identify Joe Carruthers as his successor, making the transfer of the role the story's defining magical conflict.
Ernest's foolish taxi-driver persona contrasts with his unexpected role as Santa's only dependable ally.
Jim Varney's Ernest P. Worrell drives the film through silly behavior, comic misunderstandings, and exuberant holiday chaos.
The plot places Santa, Ernest, and Harmony's holiday mission in contemporary Orlando, Florida.
Films like Ernest Saves Christmas, and why
The Santa Clause
family Christmas comedy built around a good-hearted but bumbling protagonist and escalating holiday mishaps
Miracle on 34th Street
warm children's holiday adventure involving magical Christmas mythology and a child-centered quest
The Mask
broad slapstick comedy led by an exuberant, physically comic central performer
Movie Details
- Director
- John Cherry
- Release Date
- 1988-11-11
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 5.4 / 10 (219)
Cast
- Jim Varney
- Oliver Clark
- Noelle Parker
- Gailard Sartain
- Billie Bird
- Bill Byrge
- Douglas Seale
- Robert Lesser
- Key Howard
- Jack Swanson
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Disney Plus
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Ernest Saves Christmas about?
- A lovable Orlando taxi driver teams with a runaway and an aging Santa to secure the future of Christmas through chaotic, good-natured comedy.
- What is Ernest Saves Christmas like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Ernest Saves Christmas as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.
- Is Ernest Saves Christmas violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Ernest Saves Christmas.
- What did critics think of Ernest Saves Christmas?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a weak, slapstick-heavy family Christmas comedy despite its commercial success.
- Which films are like Ernest Saves Christmas?
- Films with a similar feel include The Santa Clause, Miracle on 34th Street, and The Mask.
- How long is Ernest Saves Christmas?
- Ernest Saves Christmas runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch Ernest Saves Christmas?
- In United States, Ernest Saves Christmas streams on Disney Plus.
