Epic, Raunchy Jim Carrey Double Feature On Netflix Couldn’t Be Made Today

By Robert Scucci
| Published 26 seconds ago

Here’s a quick riddle for you to solve. What do Jim Carrey, bat droppings, death metal band Cannibal Corpse, and the Monopoly guy have in common? They’re all crucial parts of the Ace Ventura series that helped kick off Carrey’s ridiculous early 90s run. Throughout the decade, our favorite rubber-faced silly man was unstoppable, and a big part of that success comes from the unexpected financial success of 1994’s Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and its 1995 follow up, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.

Both movies were critically dragged for being juvenile and out of pocket, but the Ace Ventura films quickly became fan favorites and remain the kind of movies people insist “you can’t make today.” Maybe there’s a sliver of truth there, but that hasn’t stopped the films from finding a cozy home on Netflix. Anyone who grew up quoting these movies now has the luxury of queuing them up whenever they want. Just be warned: you’re going to want to dial back the quoting. The whole bit is to be obnoxious, and nobody likes living with that. Trust me. I’ve learned this firsthand.

The First Film Proved The Concept

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective centers on its titular character, a total laughing stock to the Miami Police Department. Ace is an animated private detective whose unorthodox methods constantly dump him into a heap of trouble. When he’s assigned to investigate the disappearance of Snowflake, a Bottlenose dolphin mascot, Ace finds himself caught in a wild goose chase involving corrupt billionaire Ronald Camp (Udo Kier), and members of the 1984 Miami Dolphins lineup. Despite his offputting, over-the-top countenance and the way he forces himself into every incriminating situation possible, Ace actually uses deductive reasoning and his cocksure attitude to save the day.

A total free for all, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is loud (thanks to Cannibal Corpse blasting in the club scene), brash, and even offputting if you’re looking for someone to simply play it straight. Critics hated it, giving it a rough 47 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, but the movie is now a cult classic for being so committed to its own absurdity that you can’t help but smirk at Carrey’s rubber-faced nonsense. The $107 million haul on a $15 million budget sealed the deal for a sequel, which I firmly believe is the better film.

The Sequel Dials Things Up To 11

Going bigger, badder, and somehow even bolder, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls moves Ace to sub-Saharan Africa, where he’s mistaken for the “white devil,” forced to confront his fear of bats, takes on poachers, and wrecks more vehicles than any human should. With double the budget, the movie goes all in on spectacle. Dropping Slinkies down monastery stairs, absurd earthquake tests, and Ace climbing out of an animatronic rhino fully nude are all part of the itinerary. And the eyeball scene? My brother used to do that! 

Critics went even harder on this one, handing it a 23 percent approval rating, but audiences couldn’t get enough. The movie earned $212 million on a $30 million budget and still holds a much stronger 72 percent audience approval score thanks to Jim Carrey‘s commitment to the bit.

Streaming Ace Ventura

Considering how licensing and rights holding constantly ruin the streaming experience, it feels like a miracle that both Ace Ventura films are available on Netflix in their full, unhinged glory. If you want to run a proper double feature, you actually can. But if you’re pressed for time, I’d go with When Nature Calls. The first movie does a great job establishing the character we all know, but it’s rough around the edges and less cohesive. The sequel jumps straight into the chaos because it knows exactly what Ace is and why you’re tuning in the first place.

So the next time you’re hunting for a raunchy screwball comedy to sink into after a long day, you may as well go all in and give Ace another shot. 

As of this writing, both Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and its sequel, When Nature Calls, are streaming on Netflix.