Should Your Surgeon Watch Ernest Goes to Camp? Our Lives Are in His Hands

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May 12, 2025 • 24 mins

Welcome back to Trees in Space, the podcast where we boldly go where no reviewer has gone before—through every movie genre, fueled by fan opinions, questionable nostalgia, and our own hot takes. This week, hosts Jason and Nate plunge headfirst into the chaotic world of slapstick summer camps with the 1987 comedy classic "Ernest Goes to Camp," starring the one and only Jim Varney. Ever wondered what would happen if the Three Stooges all shared one body and became a well-meaning but utterly incompetent camp counselor? Spoiler alert: chaos, property damage, and questionable adult supervision abound. Join us as Jason and Nate dissect this “disasterpiece” of misfit mayhem, discuss the many stereotypes that flew under the radar in the '80s, debate whether turtles falling from the sky is a bad omen or just Monday morning, and try to figure out if sharp objects plus slapstick ever equals good life advice. Is "Ernest Goes to Camp" worthy of a mighty forest of cinematic greatness, or does it deserve to be chopped down to a lonely stump? Does it entertain the adults, or is it strictly a “put this on for your five-year-old grandkid” situation? And what’s with those recurring gags about ladders, braces, and suspiciously well-dressed delinquents? Buckle up—there’s plenty of heart, a fair bit of heroics, and a whole lot of Jim Varney getting into trouble. Plus, fan reviews, one-star zingers, and enough tangents to fill a canoe. Dive in and decide with us: is this a camp classic or just another lost marshmallow in the fire?
00:00 Ernest Goes to Camp Review
06:27 Kids' Impressive TP Build
08:20 Unexpected Movie Enjoyment
10:21 Grandfather's Intentions Uncertain
14:59 "Quiet Racism Justification"
20:24 "Revisiting 80s Comedy: Ernest"
23:11 Movie Review Debate: Share Opinions Ernest Goes to Camp,

Jim Varney, Three Stooges, slapstick comedy, 1980s movies, camp counselor, juvenile delinquents, Bad News Bears, movie review, Trees in Space podcast, movie ratings, Rotten Tomatoes, audience scores, camp setting, corporation takeover, kids' movies, movie stereotypes, representation in film, racial stereotypes, memorable movie quotes, movie gags, running jokes, vehicle scenes, Lyle Alzado, movie villains, nurse character, Native American character, emotional moments, five-star reviews, one-star reviews, camp pranks

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