[Film] Do *NOT* Go In There! Pheeww! (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (DVD))

Name: Andy.mack

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Product:	Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (DVD)
Date:	19/06/07 (97 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Funny Script, Carrey is perfect as Ace

Disadvantages: If you don't like Carrey you'll hate this

When I was a kid there were a few films I would watch over and over again. One of those films was the original Ace Ventura, a movie that introduced me to Jim Carrey at his funniest. I recently caught it again on TV and it reminded me just how funny, or I suppose stupid it actually was. I couldn’t resist sitting down and watching it again though and after some recent childhood reminiscing down the pub it’s hard to believe that this films was originally released all the way back in 1994, it really didn’t seem that long ago.

Jim Carrey takes the lead role of Ace Ventura, Pet Detective. A man who devotes his live to finding people’s lost pets and reuniting them with their owners. So when the Miami Dolphins mascot (a dolphin) goes missing there is only one man they are going to turn to. So Ace sets about trying to find the Dolphin with the help of Miami Dolphin’s employee Melissa Robinson (Courtney Cox). Along the way he has to put up with a difficult Police chief who hates him, but Ace is determined to succeed, especially when he stumbles across a bigger conspiracy than just the Dolphin.

There is a place in the film market for those sort of films that are simply so stupid it makes them funny and Ace Ventura is one of those. It’s a film you know you shouldn’t find funny at all but just something about it seems to hit your funny bone. It’s not a film for really young kids but I think anyone over the age of about 10 will appreciate and find this to be a highly amusing film. In fact I think those aged between 10 and 16 will actually find it funnier than anyone else. At 24 I still find myself laughing at this film some 13 years after first seeing it and that’s quite an achievement.

When the film first came out it was director Tom Shadyac’s first feature film. He had previously done a TV series but since then he has worked with Carrey a couple more times on Liar Liar and Bruce Almighty. He seems to be quite good at making a very simplistic film that doesn’t exactly look fantastic but does exactly what it needs to. The angles and camera work do add to the comedy value, especially when Ace has his tangle with the Shark he seems to have got it just about right to make an incredibly funny film that sticks in your mind but doesn’t stand out as a truly great movie.

As well as directing the film, Shadyac also had a hand in the writing of the movie. Along with help from Jack Bernstein and Jim Carrey they seem to have put together a funny script that really works. Ok if the lead actor had been anyone other than Carrey it would probably have fallen flat on its face but the script and plot seems to actually work. In fact there are a number of lines that stick in your mind from the film that aren’t even that funny, it’s just the way Carrey delivers them and his mannerisms that make them funny and memorable.

As I’ve already mentioned I think that Carrey in the lead role really makes the film. If it had been another actor I really don’t feel that this will work. His delivery and characteristics really seem to make Ace into a loveable character. The whole film is built around his character and while the plot could have been a little stronger this is a comedy and Carrey’s performance reminds me a lot of Leslie Nielsen in the Naked Gun films.

The supporting cast do an adequate job of filling the rest of the screen time but the movie is all about Carrey and appears to be the vehicle that really launched his main stream film career. The rest of the cast though do put in good performances with Courtney Cox in particular really fitting her part well. In fact the onscreen relationship between her and Ventura really works quite well and there seems to be a bit of chemistry between them. A guest appearance by professional Footballer Dan Moreno rounds off the cast that play an excellent supporting role to Carrey.

Overall it’s a film that has really stood the test of time. Yes it is incredibly stupid, but it works really well and provides so many comical moments that you still remember a years after seeing the film. If you want a film that’s uncomplicated, easy to follow and requires little to no brain power to watch then ace Ventura is certainly one for you. It offers something for people of all ages and while you might find it remarkably stupid, you’ll still find yourself laughing at it.

Amazon: £4.97
Amazon Marketplace: £3.90

Summary: So stupid it is funny