History Film / ErnestGoesToJail

** [[spoiler:Although Lyle eventually turns on Rubin and helps Ernest escape, Lyle has obviously become acclimated to prison life, turning down Ernest's offer to come with him, saying he has no place in society and that prison is, indeed, where he belongs.]]

* NoEnding: The film ends with [[spoiler:Ernest flying Nash's bomb out of the bank high into the sky where it explodes, then he comes crashing down on top of Nash, says a final corny line, faints, and then the ending credits roll with no explanation to if Nash survived Ernest landing on top of him, if Ernest's name was cleared of Nash's wrongdoings while in Ernest's place, or if the warden faced any punishment for not noticing a deadly hardened criminal suddenly acting like a complete goofball and sending an innocent man to the chair. Ernest suddenly fainting actually led some moviegoers to believe Ernest had died.]]
** There does exist a scene that wraps up the story properly by showing that Ernest did become a bank clerk, but for whatever reason it was left on the cutting room floor.

* WhamLine: "Freeze punk! Make your play!" is this for Bobby, mainly because it's most he's ever spoken throughout the entire Ernest franchise.

* HomeMadeinventions: Ernest has a Rube Goldberg-esque way of turning on his TV, he also bathes in a modified washing machine, and dries off using a car-wash grade blow-dryer.

* ArtisticLicenseGunSafety / RecklessGunUsage: When the two security guards show off the new security system, they demonstrate it by shooting at the bulletproof glass, with one of the bank managers standing behind it.

* CelebrityParadox: While Ernest attempts to imitate Nash, he briefly impersonates Sylvester Stallone and mentions Murdock from Film/RamboFirstBloodPartII who was played by Charles Napier, the actor who plays the warden in this movie.

* TheDragon: Ruben is this for Nash, Lyle is this for Ruben.

** [[spoiler:Although Lyle eventually turns on Ruben and helps Ernest escape, Lyle has obviously become acclimated to prison life, turning down Ernest's offer to come with him, saying he has no place in society and that prison is, indeed, where he belongs.]]

* OhCrap: Ernest when his "electro-man" powers wear off, right in the middle of being confronted by an angry Ruben.

Now Nash attempts to assume the life of Ernest P. Worrell while Ernest, confused for Felix Nash, is only days from the electric chair. Can Ernest escape from prison and stop his nefarious doppelganger?

* ArtisticLicenseGunSafety / RecklessGunUsage: When the two security guards show off the new security system, they demonstrate it by shooting at the bulletproof glass, with one of the bank managers standing behind it.

* CelebrityParadox: While Ernest attempts to imitate Mr. Nash, he briefly impersonates Sylvester Stallone and mentions Murdock from Film/RamboFirstBloodPartII who was played by Charles Napier, the actor who plays the warden in this movie.
* CharacterActionTitle

* ComicallyMissingThePoint: During the climax when Ernest [[spoiler: flies through the bank's glass ceiling to carry the ticking time bomb high in the sky]], the Warden's reaction is to grumble, "He's getting away!"

* DisguisedInDrag: One of Ernest’s escape attempts. It fails because his “breasts” fall out.

* EvilDetectingDog: Rimshot is able to tell Ernest apart from Nash. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in that Nash treats him pretty coldly the first time he meets him.
* HeelFaceTurn: [[spoiler: Lyle.]]
** [[spoiler: Although Lyle eventually turns on Ruben and helps Ernest escape, Lyle has obviously become acclimated to prison life, turning down Ernest's offer to come with him, saying he has no place in society and that prison is, indeed, where he belongs.]]

* NoEnding: The film ends with [[spoiler:Ernest flying Mr. Nash's bomb out of the bank high into the sky where it explodes, then he comes crashing down on top of Mr. Nash, says a final corny line, faints, and then the ending credits roll with no explanation to if Mr. Nash survived Ernest landing on top of him, if Ernest's name was cleared of Mr. Nash's wrongdoings while in Ernest's place, or if the warden faced any punishment for not noticing a deadly hardened criminal suddenly acting like a complete goofball and sending an innocent man to the chair. Ernest suddenly fainting actually led some moviegoers to believe Ernest had died.]]

** Even though Felix never wore a cap in prison, somehow Ernest ends up with a prison-themed version of his hat when in prison. Mr. Nash can be seen putting the prison variant on shortly before he trades places with Ernest.
* SirNotAppearingInThisTrailer: Neither Nash or Reuben appear in the theatrical trailer.
* SlapStick: Whenever Ernest gets shocked, but Nash also gets bumped by the RubeGoldbergDevice frequently.

* TheVoiceless: Lyle. [[spoiler: Until the end, anyway.]]

** "Let him go," spoken by [[spoiler: Lyle.]]

* NoEnding: The film ends with [[spoiler:Ernest flying Mr. Nash's bomb out of the bank high into the sky where it explodes, then he comes crashing down on top of Mr. Nash, says a final corny line, faints, and then the ending credits roll with no explanation to if Mr. Nash survived Ernest landing on top of him, if Ernest's name was cleared of Mr. Nash's wrongdoings while in Ernest's place, or if the warden faced any punishment for not noticing a deadly hardened criminal suddenly acting like a complete goofball and sending innocent man to the chair. Ernest suddenly fainting actually led some moviegoers to believe Ernest had died.]]

* KnightOfCerebus: Nash is a convicted robber and murderer played straight in an Ernest film. He's a far cry from [[LargeHam Dr.]] [[LaughablyEvil Otto]].

** Even though Felix never wore a cap in prison, somehow Ernest ends up with a prison-themed version of his NiceHat when in prison. Mr. Nash can be seen putting the prison variant on shortly before he trades places with Ernest.

* NiceHat: Ernest's brown cap. That Felix often doesn't wear it when impersonating Ernest is an omen that things aren't what they seem.
** Even though Felix never wore a cap in prison, somehow Ernest ends up with a prison-themed version of his NiceHat when in prison.
*** Mr. Nash can be seen putting the prison variant on shortly before he trades places with Ernest.

** Even though Felix never wore a cap in prison, somehow Ernest ends up with a prison-themed version of his NiceHat when in prison.
*** Mr. Nash can be seen putting the prison variant on shortly before he trades places with Ernest.

* CelebrityParadox: While Ernest attempts to imitate Mr. Nash, he briefly impersonates Sylvester Stallone and mentions Murdock from Rambo: First Blood Part II who was played by Charles Napier, the actor who plays the warden in this movie.

* DisneyDeath: Ernest during the climax. ''Twice''.

'''''Ernest Goes to Jail''''' is a 1990 American comedy film directed by John R. Cherry III and starring Jim Varney. It's the third (technically fourth) film to feature the character Film/ErnestPWorrell.

** "Let him go," spoken by [[spoiler: Lyle.]]

* BankTeller: Ernest wants to be this.

* BankTeller: Ernest wants to be this

* {{Jerkass}}: Oscar Pendlesmythe.

* EvilDetectingDog: Rimshot is able to tell Ernest apart from Nash.

* WhamLine: "Freeze punk! Make your play!" is this for Bobby, mainly because it's most he's ever spoken throughout the entire Ernest franchise.

'''''Ernest Goes to Jail''''' is a 1990 American comedy film directed by John R. Cherry III and starring Jim Varney. It's the third (technically fourth) film to feature the character ErnestPWorrell.