Ernest Goes to Splash Mountain (1989)
An exciting mock documentary produced for the opening of the Splash Mountain attraction at Disneyland. Ernest Goes To Splash Mountain chronicles the adventures of Ernest P. Worrell who trains as America's first "Splashtranaut" destined to become the very first person to conquer the mountain. Ralph Story, veteran news anchor and his team are determined to cover the momentous event by every angle possible.
Introduction"Ernest Goes to Splash Mountain" is a roughly 40-minute television special that was released in 1989. It acts as a prolonged ad for the Disneyland tourist attraction Splash Mountain, featuring the lovable character Ernest P. Worrell, played by Jim Varney. The film was directed by John R. Cherry III, the innovative mind behind the Ernest series.
Plot OverviewIn the film, Ernest has been picked as the first individual to check the new Disneyland ride, Splash Mountain. The property of the film is that Ernest is a custodian at a TV station who gets picked to test the ride due to the fact that of randomized computer selection. It was rather clear that this was a stunt as Ernest is set up to fail. He is seen facing the news of being selected for such a scary trip full of dangerous drops and gets swept up in a media occasion-- something that includes a large dosage of humor to the film.
Throughout the film, Ernest's worry of the trip is highlighted with various comic recommendations about its height and frightening drops, playing into Ernest's particular slapstick humor. Accompanied by unlucky filler content such as interviews with bystanders and commentary from professionals, the thriller builds around Ernest's uneasiness towards the extreme trip, increasing his fears.
Merger of Fiction and AdvertisementThe motion picture's essence lies in its special mix of fiction and marketing. As an advertising tool for the Splash Mountain ride, the film artistically utilizes the beloved comedic character Ernest P. Worrell to convey the enjoyment, worry, and satisfaction one can experience from the ride. The accumulation of Ernest's anxiety serves as an ideal exposition to the trip's excitement. It stresses the trip's record-breaking size and mind-blowing drops that all play into creating a sense of excitement and anticipation for the actual ride at Disneyland.
Ernest's Antics and ClimaxErnest's comical shenanigans, unforgettable catchphrases, and slapstick humor control the film. As Ernest prepares to undertake the trip, his hilarious responses just intensify his fear, producing laughter for the audience. The movie ends with a remarkable climax; Ernest trips Splash mountain and overcomes his fear. This was a great strategy to market the trip as safe yet awesome eventually.
Conclusion and Reception"Ernest Goes to Splash Mountain" proved to be a reliable marketing tool for Disneyland and the Splash Mountain ride. It artistically merged the enjoyment of the theme park ride with the loveable, comedic character Ernest P. Worrell and his funny adventures. The movie was well-accepted and valued by fans both of Ernest and Splash Mountain alike for its humor and imagination in promoting the trip. Its blend of fiction with ad while keeping the essence of funny is why the film held exceptional significance in the Ernest movie series.
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