Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

Ace Ventura is a fast-talking, overconfident pet detective hired to find the Miami Dolphins' missing mascot and their star quarterback. The movie follows Ace as he uses outrageous disguises, physical comedy and relentless ego to chase leads across Miami, interrogating suspects and tangling with dangerous situations along the way. He crosses paths with a publicist who hires him, a skeptical police lieutenant, and a colorful underworld, all while his methods and manners aggravate the authorities. The plot stays light and episodic, focused on set pieces and gags rather than mystery logic, and it keeps the film moving without giving away major surprises.

Released in 1994, the film was directed by Tom Shadyac and grew out of a character created by Jack Bernstein and Jim Carrey. Jim Carrey headlines as Ace Ventura, supported by Courteney Cox, Sean Young, Tone Loc and a cameo by Dan Marino. The production leaned heavily on improvisation and Carrey's elastic physicality, which shaped much of the movie's tone and comic timing.

The movie became a notable part of 90s pop culture, largely because of Ace's over-the-top mannerisms and catchphrases, which people still quote. It raised Jim Carrey's profile from TV comedian to box office lead, and its scenes and comedic beats have been referenced and parodied in later comedies and sketch shows. The character spawned sequels and helped define a brand of energetic, physical comedy in mainstream Hollywood.

Critics were split, and audience reactions were stronger than critical consensus, reflected in a middling to positive vote average of 6.568 out of 10. Reviewers tended to praise Carrey's fearless physical performance and timing while criticizing the story's coherence and some of the film's humor as insensitive by modern standards. Main themes include identity in performance, the showmanship of celebrity, and the clash between unconventional methods and institutional authority, all delivered through broad slapstick and comic bravado.