Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam (dir. John R. Cherry III, 1986)
Largely without a plot, and clearly set up as a showcase for Varney’s various comic characters, Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam is a slick meandering sci-fi mishmash that only occasionally alludes to story or theme. Varney plays Ernest in the film’s opening scene, claiming that he has purchased a “transformation coffin” from an associate. He will use this coffin (to what end, we’ll never know) to transform himself into the evil Dr. Otto Von Schnick-ick-ick, a bizarre supervillain, equipped with his own mountain lair, team of sexy ‘80s floozies (one of whom is played by Esther Huston), his own wisecracking robot (Daniel Butler), and a dashing supervillain ensemble complete with a comically giant collar. He also has a human hand growing out of the top of his head. Odd.
Dr. Otto wants to ruin the world’s economy, and the titular Gloom Beam is a laser that can circle the globe, zapping away money, redistributing wealth, and generally causing economic chaos. He wants to the world to end. His plan is similar to that of Tyler Durden’s in Fight Club, but on a much more ambitious scale. Also he has a human hand growing out of the top of his head!
There’s a subplot about Lance having a love triangle with one of Otto’s floozies, and the floozy ends up rescuing he and Doris from a tight spot late in the film. The robot slave is amusing, and has a smiley face that changes periodically.
The entire of Dr. Otto is just weird enough to be watchable, but too meandering (and not funny enough) to be a cult classic. I kind of wish it had really just swung for the walls, and smacked us down with a larger dose of pure insanity. Also, Ernest’s role in it is small and unclear. He introduces the movie, is absent for the bulk of it, and returns at the end, implying that he had been infected by the Dr. Otto character (the hand that grows out of his head returns). It counts as the first Ernest film.
Although in 1987, Ernest was granted his first starring vehicle. It was to become a classic for young boys everywhere.
