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Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

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Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

PG-13

Released Feb 4, 1994

1h 26m

Comedy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

48%

Tomatometer

65 Reviews

57%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

When the dolphin mascot of Miami's NFL team is abducted, Ace Ventura, a zany private investigator who specializes in finding missing animals, looks into the case. Soon Miami Dolphins players are kidnapped too, including star player Dan Marino, making Ace's sleuth work even more pressing. Working with Dolphins representative Melissa Robinson, Ace closes in on the culprits, but not before many ridiculous misadventures.

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Critics Consensus

Jim Carrey's twitchy antics and gross-out humor are on full, bombastic display in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, which is great news for fans of his particular brand of comedy but likely unsatisfying for anyone else.

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Michael Hutak

Sydney Morning Herald

Ace Ventura is puerile, brain-numbing and forgettable.

Feb 28, 2024

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Chris Willman

Los Angeles Times

Playing a celebrated finder of missing mammals, [Carrey's] so over-energized from the start you keep thinking he'll wear out his welcome pronto; 90 minutes later his lunacy is still hard to take your eyes off.

Apr 2, 2019

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Owen Gleiberman

Entertainment Weekly

Carrey suggests an escaped mental patient impersonating a game-show host.

Rated: F

Nov 8, 2010

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Fico Cangiano

CineXpress Podcast

Wacky and absurd, Pet Detective is the perfect stage for Jim Carrey to show off his physical comedy skills. And it's amazing to behold. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 3/5

May 5, 2025

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Rob Gonsalves

Rob's Movie Vault

The twist ending is unnecessary and has the unsavory side effect of teaching millions of young Ace fans that it’s unimaginably gross for a man to kiss a trans woman — this from a movie whose hero talks out of his butt.

Rated: D

Aug 31, 2022

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

For those who do not see a hint of humor...Provokes the unsettling sensation of being in the middle of a jovial and merry asylum. [Full review in Spanish]

Jun 7, 2022

Full Review

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Audience Member

In terms of plot, I don't like this movie. But Jim Carrey helps make this movie funny while giving his all in his performance

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

05/31/25

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Mikey B

Jim Carrey's leap to superstar status was in this slapstick comedy about a pet detective hired to find the Miami Dolphin mascot. If you like Carrey and his antics you will like this. I liked a bit especially in the beginning there was a few laughs. It has not aged well however

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

05/21/25

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Jordanna H

This is a Jim Carrey classic. If you like silly, goofball comedy, don’t miss Ace Ventura!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/21/25

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Dave A

A great, funny, and intriguing film from start to finish. A brilliant reminder of better days when we could laugh instead of get offended.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/28/25

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Js S

Carrey at his finest ,90s classic

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/15/25

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John R

Jim Carrey's best movie

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/14/25

Full Review

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Tom Shadyac

Director

Jim Carrey

Ace Ventura

Courteney Cox

Melissa Robinson

Sean Young

Lt. Lois Einhorn

Tone Loc

Emilio

Dan Marino

Self

Juwanna Mann

10%

39%

Juwanna Mann

Watchlist

Dave

95%

72%

Dave

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My Blue Heaven

71%

59%

My Blue Heaven

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TRAILER

for My Blue Heaven

Wrongfully Accused

18%

57%

Wrongfully Accused

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Grumpy Old Men

66%

74%

Grumpy Old Men

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Synopsis

When the dolphin mascot of Miami's NFL team is abducted, Ace Ventura, a zany private investigator who specializes in finding missing animals, looks into the case. Soon Miami Dolphins players are kidnapped too, including star player Dan Marino, making Ace's sleuth work even more pressing. Working with Dolphins representative Melissa Robinson, Ace closes in on the culprits, but not before many ridiculous misadventures.

Director: Tom Shadyac
Producer: James G. Robinson
Screenwriter: Jake Bernstein, Tom Shadyac, Jim Carrey
Distributor: Argentina Video Home, Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Morgan Creek Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Feb 4, 1994, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 6, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA): $71.2M
Runtime: 1h 26m
Sound Mix: Surround

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