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

Ernest P. Worrell isn't just a man, but an icon. And to think, through all of his travails, he never had a high school diploma. While this film kind of embodies the childish nature of my favorite facial contortionist, this was nothing more than a silly "B" movie. Why couldn't anybody stop beating this concept on the head and let the series die for crying out loud! I've gone through enough pain experiencing the downfall of one of the most likable movie characters of all time, why couldn't they just let it be. The humanity!

So, I have grown up with the Ernest series (especially movies like Ernest Scared Stupid and Ernest Saves Christmas). Ernest Goes To School was the first of the final four films notable for being released directly-to-video, and boy, does that move start showing how stale the series got.

Ernest is a janior for a high school, however, due to a rule change by the shool board who is planning to close it down and merge all schools into one. With the rule being all school system employees must have a high school diploma, Ernest must either resign or go back to school as he does not have one due to not completing high school. So now, he has to go back to complete twelfth grade in order to keep his job. Usual antics follow, along with a plot by a villain against the school.

While it still has some of the Ernest charm, sadly, the move to direct-to-video would harm this movie. While Jim Varney still does a good job as Ernest, the film suffers from the same-old, same old. If you seen the past Ernest films, this is basically the same movie, but with a different setting and plot. Some of the jokes are hit-or-miss, and the acting for the other character is horrendous. This movie is the start of the Ernest films beginning to show how stale the poor guy has gotten (as he would have three more movies after this, each one being worst).