Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective refers to the 1994 Comedy starring Jim Carrey, who plays a goofy but expert pet detective who has an affinity for animals. Snowflake (a dolphin), the beloved mascot of the Miami Dolphins goes missing and Ace must bring it back to safety.

If you grew up in the 80s and 90s and you were a fan of Jim Carrey, then this movie probably holds a special place in your mind. Admittedly I do have a weak spot for Jim Carrey as well, but having watched this film again recently, I can honestly say it wasn't the masterpiece I remembered it to be.

Yes, it's a funny movie, but when you really think about the plot and setting there really isn't anything funny about it. The only thing that makes it funny is how goofy Ace is. There are a few visual gags that are 'cute', or maybe even a little 'silly', but there aren't too many laugh-out-loud moments. If it wasn't for Jim Carrey, I highly doubt that the movie would even be remembered.

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995) is basically the same movie as the first one, except that the setting is different. This time Ace is hired to go to Africa to find an albino bat in order to stop warfare between two opposing tribes (the tribes consider the bat to be sacred). Apparently, even though Ace Ventura loves animals, he hasn't taken a liking to bats. Nevertheless, he agrees to the job.

If you watch the movies back to back, you'll notice that half of Ace's lines are exactly the same as Pet Detective. In other words, the writers only re-wrote half to three-quarters of the script. They must have thought jungle = animals and therefore the perfect setting for an Ace Ventura movie, but somehow the focus seems too narrow and doesn't do much for the movie.

It was established in the first movie that Ace has an affinity for animals, but in this movie it seems a little extreme (he overreacts when he sees a lady wearing a fox around her shoulder, and when he sees Cadby's 'hunting trophies'). Not that you would expect any less, but this may as well be an Animal Rights film with Jim Carrey as its spokesperson.

If nothing else, at least the Ventura character was consistent from one movie to the next (although I don't really buy Ace becoming a monk).

This article was originally published on August 20, 2008.