Ernest Goes to Jail

As night falls over Howard County Bank and Trust, security guards Chuck (Gailard Sartain) and Bobby (Bill Byrge) engage in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, their vigilance riveted on foiling the elaborate schemes of would-be thieves. Meanwhile, Ernest P. Worrell (Jim Varney), a night custodian with a dream of becoming a bank clerk, becomes unwittingly magnetized after a mishap with a floor polisher, leaving a trail of chaos in his wake. The next day, bank president Oscar Pendlesmythe's assistant, Charlotte Sparrow (Barbara Bush Tyson), intervenes on Ernest's behalf, sparing him from termination, and Ernest finds himself swept up in a whirlwind of events.

As Ernest prepares for an evening dinner with Charlotte at a local restaurant, he takes a peculiar bath at home, using a tumble dry washing machine as his tub and a blow dryer with a force akin to a wind tunnel to style his hair. The unexpected summons that arrives in the mail - a jury duty summons - sets off a chain reaction of events that will lead Ernest down a treacherous path.

As the trial unfolds, Ernest's doppelganger, Felix Nash (Jim Varney in a dual role), is revealed, and Ernest finds himself mistakenly identified as Nash by prison officials. Convinced to accompany the jury on a tour of Dracup Maximum Security Prison, Ernest becomes embroiled in a desperate bid for survival when he's kidnapped by Nash and his accomplice, Lyle (Randall 'Tex' Cobb). Faced with the daunting prospect of a death sentence, Ernest must use all his wits to convince the authorities that he is not who they think he is.

As Ernest's boisterous demeanor attracts the attention of a vigilant prison guard, he's sternly ordered to stand at attention and remain silent. The sudden interruption sends him careening towards the cell door, his protests of identity falling on deaf ears as the guard patronizingly dubs him "Mr. Funny Man." Ernest's attempts to correct the misconception are met with hostility, earning him a hasty incarceration in front of Lyle, who watches with a mixture of concern and resignation. As Ernest is thrust towards the prison bars, he seizes the opportunity to lodge a complaint about his treatment, inadvertently striking the guard's head against the metal mesh. The commotion sparks alarm, prompting the guard to warn Ernest that he'll be sent to solitary confinement if he continues to misbehave.

As Ernest navigates the harsh realities of incarceration, he's approached by Bartlett, who reveals that Nash has assumed his identity and cautions him to maintain a stoic silence. Ernest's frustration boils over as he makes several half-hearted attempts at escape, only to be thwarted at every turn. Eventually, the warden (Charles Napier) sentences Ernest to the electric chair, but a malfunction renders the execution unsuccessful. In a stunning twist, Ernest emerges transformed, his physiology altered in such a way that he can channel lightning bolts from his fingertips – a power he dubs "Electroman." Seizing this newfound ability, Ernest blasts a hole through the main gates, poised for freedom.

However, Bartlett's determination to eliminate Ernest is foiled by Lyle, who intervenes with a swift blow to the back of Bartlett's head, allowing Ernest to escape. As Lyle elects to remain behind, citing his long history in prison and an unwavering sense that he doesn't belong outside those walls, Ernest bids him farewell before making his getaway, just as the guards move to detain Lyle.

As Ernest trudges homeward, he's met with a jarring discovery: his Pee-wee Herman-esque abode has been transformed into a sleek, modern oasis, leaving him to exclaim, "I've been the victim of a dastardly makeover - and I'm convinced Elvis himself is responsible for this egregious affront!" Meanwhile, Nash is busy concocting a daring plan to breach the bank's vault, with Charlotte and an incapacitated Chuck serving as unwitting pawns in his game. As the clock ticks down, Charlotte implores Nash not to carry out his heist, prompting him to reveal a shocking truth: he's an imposter, masquerading as the real deal. Initially skeptical, Charlotte is won over when Nash reveals that his cleaning prowess far surpasses Ernest's lackluster efforts. The unexpected arrival of Ernest sets off a chain reaction, as these two adversaries engage in a fierce battle. In a moment of desperation, Nash sends Ernest crashing into an electrified cage, rigged to drop from the ceiling for would-be robbers. As the shockwave courses through Ernest's body, he suddenly finds himself imbued with the extraordinary ability to defy gravity - and soar through the air. With the time bomb in tow, Ernest flies out of the bank's skylight, culminating in a spectacular aerial explosion that leaves all onlookers stunned. Chuck, Nash, and the authorities assume Ernest has met his maker, only for him to plummet back down onto Nash, exposing the truth: Ernest was right all along. As the dust settles, Ernest wearily declares, "I came, I saw, I got blown to smithereens," before succumbing to exhaustion.