Jim Varney is wonderful in this movie!

I have to agree with "Jennifer",
an earlier reviewer, that Jim Varney makes this movie work. Now Buddy Ebsen was marvelous in the role, but he never could have brought the romantic quality to Jed that Jim did; there is a scene where he and Ellie May's tutor are waltzing to Hank William's I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry that mesmerizes.

Jim brought to the film a quiet dignity along with charm; he was a perfect "Jed Clampett". From what I read in a letter written by a close friend of his since childhood, Jim Varney was astoundingly similar to Jed- just as humble, but Jim, himself, was very well educated, exceptionally intelligent, and had an extraordinary memory. He was a "walking encyclopedia" on many topics, including the San Andreas (earthquake) Fault in the Los Angeles area! Jim said of himself he was a "Hill William" because he had indoor plumbing! LOL

While I'm at it I want to add more about the wonderful, beautiful Jim Varney:
Most don't know he was bi-polar and suffered far-too-many years from terrible depression- which finally was ameliorated by the appropriate medicine. It is a tragedy that we would lose him to such a horrid disease when he had finally pulled out of these terrible episodes. Nevertheless this man found the time and the stamina to be involved with Make-a-Wish Foundation and visit and reply to hundreds of terminally-ill children who loved him as "Ernest". He was a truly kind and caring man. Jim also liked to sing and write songs, and wrote some poetry. I read one short, touching one.

Back to the movie:
The opening scene of the splendor of the Ozarks where a soul-touching theme plays took my breath away and put a lump in my throat. Even when the music switches mode it still is vastly moving. I hated for it to end, and when Granny is "treating" a "patient", since it was a bit crude I put the mute button on for a couple of seconds so the mood of the background music wouldn't be broken.

The casting was virtually perfect: Granny (Cloris Leachman) and Ms Jane (Lili Tomlin) were fantastic; one has to view the film a few times to appreciate how much so. Cousin Pearl actually looked like she could be the daughter of the original one (Bea Benadaret). I am a fan of Dabney Coleman, and he was an even better, more interesting Mr. Drysdale, IMO than the original.
I will admit I found Diedrich Bader's "Jethro" somewhat irritating, however, and it was hard to see why Ms Jane would be taken with him, which was not the case with Max Baer Jr. who played the role with genius (Max Baer is in reality, quite the sophisticate).

There are some great country-western songs included in the score, btw.

Jim, you were a wonderful person and brought laughter and happiness to so many children, as well to us adults. I so wish I would have had the opportunity to have known you. I heard that towards the end you had worries that you might be forgotten; that will never happen! I pray that in God's good time that I will get to meet you on the Other Side; it will be an honor. I am so glad that your relationship with the Lord was so important to you. I came to Him around the same time you did, in the 70's.

God bless you, and Paradise is just a little bit better because you are gracing it!







Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8