Slam Dunk Ernest
| Slam Dunk Ernest | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | John R. Cherry III |
| Written by | John R. Cherry III Daniel Butler |
| Produced by | George Horie Stacy Williams |
| Starring | Jim Varney Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Jay Brazeau Louise Vallance Cylk Cozart |
| Distributed by | Emshell Producers |
Release dates | June 20, 1995 |
Running time | 93 min. |
| Country | USA |
Slam Dunk Ernest is a 1995 comedy film, and the eighth full-length feature film starring Jim Varney as Ernest P. Worrell. It was released direct-to-video, and was directed by long-time Ernest collaborator John R. Cherry III. In the movie, Ernest joins his employer's basketball team and later becomes a star with the help of an angel (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). The film received a PG rating from the MPAA for "mild language."
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Jim Varney | Ernest P. Worrell |
| Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | The Archangel of Basketball |
| Jay Brazeau | Mr. Zamiel Moloch |
| Louise Vallance | Miss Erma Terradiddle |
| Cylk Cozart | Barry Worth |
Plot
Ernest (Jim Varney) takes a job with a cleaning service, and soon seeks to join his co-workers' basketball team, "Clean Sweep", as they compete in the city league tournament. He is reluctantly accepted by the team, but given only a minor role as their cheerleader and mascot. In his despair, he is visited by an angel, played by basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and given a pair of magic shoes.
When an injury to a key player leaves the team desperate for a replacement, Ernest is given an opportunity to play. In the process, he discovers that the supernatural shoes have imbued him with super-speed and the ability to fly. Armed with these extraordinary abilities, he leads the team to a series of victories leading ultimately to a showdown with the NBA's Charlotte Hornets. As the city league tournament champions, Clean Sweep earns the right to play an exhibition contest against the Hornets, but suffers turmoil as Ernest's team-mates soon grow weary of his ball-hogging antics.
While Ernest is in the zone, and the team does nothing but sit around, Ernest decides to let the team do the work. Ernest scores the game winning point and the members of the team get drafted into the NBA.
Trivia
 | This article contains a list of miscellaneous information. |
- Many elements of the film's plot were later used in the 2002 film Like Mike, starring Lil Bow Wow.
- This motion picture was shot in Vancouver where Ernest Rides Again and Ernest Goes to School were entirely filmed. The Hornets exhibition game was shot at the Vancouver Canucks former home arena, Pacific Coliseum.
- The team they face called Kik-A-Kee is the name of the camp Ernest worked at Camp Kikakee in Ernest Goes to Camp.
