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Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

star2 star1

1994
Director: Tom Shadyac

Writers: Jack Bernstein

Main Cast:

Jim Carrey - Ace Ventura
Courteney Cox - Melissa Robinson
Sean Young - Lt. Lois Einhorn
Tone Loc - Emilio
Dan Marino - Himself
Noble Willingham - Riddle
Troy Evans - Roger Podacter
Raynor Scheine - Woodstock
Udo Kier - Ron Camp
Frank Adonis - Vinnie
Tiny Ron - Roc
David Margulies - Doctor
John Capodice - Aguado
Judy Clayton - Martha Mertz
Bill Zuckert - Mr. Finkle

Rating: PG-13

Year of Release: 1994 

To sum up:  Someone has stolen the dolphin mascot of the Miami Dolphins! They need to get him back in time for the Superbowl (he is their best kicker after all). It's up to Ace Ventura, the world's (as far as I know) only pet detective.

 

Listen, pet dick.
How would you like me to make your life a living hell?”

        “Well, I'm not really ready for a relationship, Lois,
but thank you for asking.
Hey, maybe I'll give you a call sometime.
Your number's still 911?
. . . All righty then.

 

         Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is a horrible movie. It's awful!

          It's plot, in which pet detective, Ace Ventura (Jim Carrey), is hired to find the dolphin mascot stolen from the pro football team, The Miami Dolphins, is just ridiculous.

          The costars, including Sean Young as Police Lt. Lois Einhorn, whose "gun" keeps getting in the way, Courteney Cox as Melissa Robinson, who is charge of hiring Ace, and Tone Loc, a one time rapper now playing a cop, are one-dimensional walk-ons. They exist only for the star of the film to be able to do his thing.

          There are embarrassing references to potty humor, including the infamous scene where Ace talks out of his butt. It's really painful to sit through.

          All of these things conspire to make a truly disastrous film.

          One thing saves this film, however, and that thing is Jim Carrey. This is early Jim Carrey. Fun Jim Carrey. Pre-"I MUST HAVE AN OSCAR!!!" Jim Carrey. The contortions he makes with his body and his face, the impressions he throws out, even the hilarious way he simply walks across the room, all add up to cause smirks, giggles, and in spite of myself, outright laughter. He was the newest, freshest, most original physical comedian I have seen for this generation. His Ace talks and somehow makes his mouth move in a completely different way than is required to form the words. He can play a scene forwards or backwards. He does a great William Shatner. And he can yap far longer than a normal breath of air in the lungs should allow. He also has his costars in fits, and it is clear that they are struggling not to crack up and ruin the scene.

          So, I admit it. When I need to simply giggle my butt off I just pop this horrible movie in the VCR and push the play button.

          An Ace of a guilty pleasure.

 

(2010. Reviewed by Frederick Holbrook)

 

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