THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, June 11, 1996 TAG: 9606110051
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E7 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Videomatic
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Craig Shapiro
LENGTH: 105 lines
TEAM VIDEOMATIC is usually a go-with-the-flow, roll-with-the-punch, any-cliche-will-do bunch. Today is different. Today we feel frisky. So we're going to say something that may well wuin, uh, ruin, our credibility, such as it is.
We get a great big hoot out of Ernest P. Worrell.
Ever since he mugged his way through those car dealer and milk spots, we've been fans - and we'd rather eat beets than watch commercials. His Saturday-morning show, ``Hey Vern, It's Ernest,'' was the hippest half-hour since ``Pee-wee's Playhouse.'' We taped each episode, then got a pal to transfer them from Beta to VHS.
Don't even ask about Ernest's movies, not before we tell you what got us to thinking about him in the first place.
Jim Varney, the rubber-faced actor who plays Ernest P. Worrell (yes, it is obvious, but the Newspaper Code requires that we identify him), turns 47 on Saturday. And seeing as how Videomatites will be celebrating with a marathon, we thought we'd throw in our two-cents.
See how it works? There's always a method.
Anyway, four films should do nicely:
``Ernest Goes to Jail'' (1990). Ernest the juror ends up switching places with a look-a-like crime boss. Varney's rapid-fire impersonations are a stitch.
``Ernest Goes to Camp'' (1987). Ernest the counselor rallies his misfits to stop a crooked builder. Best scene: Ernest gets a shot.
``Ernest Scared Stupid'' (1991). Ernest unleashes a demon then has to save the townsfolk from a 200-year-old curse. Good booger jokes.
``Ernest Saves Christmas'' (1988). Ernest helps recruit a new Santa when St. Nick hangs up his boots. A touch on the sappy side.
John Cherry, who's worked with Varney since their ad days, directed each film, so he's right on pace with the star's undeniably sharp comic timing. The talented Gailard Sartain (``The Grifters,'' ``Mississippi Burning'') appears in ``Jail'' and ``Camp.''
The other common denominator: sophomoric humor. No one's saying ``Ernest'' flix are high art; they're cheap laughs. And since when is that bad? After a tiring, uninspiring day, it's good for what ails you.
Knowwhutwemean?
Robyn Redux
Humphrey Bogart originated the role played by Harrison Ford in the remake of ``Sabrina.'' That's all the reason I need to write about my favorite Bogie picture, 1950's little-seen ``In a Lonely Place.'' (Nice segue, huh?)
The movie features Bogie as a Hollywood screenwriter whose violent temper makes it increasingly difficult for his girlfriend (sultry Gloria Grahame) to believe he is innocent of the brutal murder of which he is accused.
Bogart and Grahame are a noir buff's dream couple, and their snappy repartee is quoted often in ``Hard-Boiled,'' a book of great lines from noir classics. My favorite is when Grahame rebuffs Bogart's first romantic advance: ``I said I liked it,'' she says of his face. ``I didn't say I wanted to kiss it.'' Gotta remember that one!
``In a Lonely Place'' may be hard to dig up, but it's a gem worth finding.
TOP TAPES (in Billboard):
Sales: ``Jumanji,'' ``Waiting to Exhale,'' ``The Aristocats,'' ``Babe,'' ``Playboy: 1996 Playmate of the Year''
Rentals: ``Seven,'' ``The Money Train,'' ``Jumanji,'' ``Waiting to Exhale,'' ``The American President''
The Couch Report
``Sabrina'' (Paramount, 1995). Julia Ormond is no Audrey Hepburn, but she's convincing, and gorgeous, as the naive chauffeur's daughter who blossoms in Paris, then is courted by two wealthy brothers on her return home. Harrison Ford, no stranger to romantic-comedy (``Working Girl''), is the serious Linus, a role played by Humphrey Bogart in 1954. Talk-show host/car salesman Greg Kinnear holds his own as the fun-loving David - the William Holden role. Directed by Sydney Pollack, it's quite engaging. Videomatic says: B
(CAST: Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond, Greg Kinnear. RATED: PG, nothing offensive; 127 mins.)
``Two If by Sea'' (Warner, 1995). If Sandra Bullock hadn't done ``Speed'' or ``While You Were Sleeping,'' this romantic-comedy would've stayed on the shelf. Denis Leary, pretty good in ``The Ref,'' is on shaky ground. He's a petty thief; she's his girl, and she wants him to settle down. Not only are the leads mismatched, the story is completely predictable. Videomatic says: D-
(CAST: Denis Leary, Sandra Bullock, Yaphet Kotto. RATED: R for language; 98 mins.)
``Lawnmower Man 2: Jobe's War'' (New Line, 1995). Trouble's a-brewin' when Matt Frewer and Patrick Bergin carry a film. In this cheapo sequel, Frewer is used by a corporate snake to build a computher chip that means world domination. Bergin is the designer who must stop him. Bad FX. Bad acting. You don't know whether to get angry or laugh. Videomatic says: F
(CAST: Patrick Bergin, Matt Frewer, Austin O'Brien. RATED: PG-13 for language, cartoonish violence; 92 mins.)
Also: ``Bio-Dome,'' the rumored Pauly Shore-Stephen Baldwin comedy (R); Steve Martin and Diane Keaton in ``Father of the Bride Part II,'' the sequel to take-a-wild-guess (PG); Harvey Keitel and Roseanne in ``Blue in the Face,'' the lighter follow-up to ``Smoke'' (R); ``Sugartime,'' about the affair between mobster Sam Giancana and singer Phyllis McGuire (R); broody Jason Patric in the drama, ``The Journey of August King'' (PG-13), and ``A Boy Called Hate,'' a thriller with Scott Caan (R). ILLUSTRATION: BUENA VISTA
Jim Varney's rapid-fire impersonations are hilarious in ``Ernest
Goes to Jail.''
PARAMOUNT PICTURES
Julia Ormond and Harrison Ford star in the engaging romantic comedy
``Sabrina.'' by CNB