Ace Ventura
Encyclopedia
Ace Ventura is a fictional character
, created by screenwriters Jack Bernstein, Tom Shadyac
and Steve Oedekerk
. Ace was played by Jim Carrey
in the films (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
, released in 1994, and Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
, released in 1995.) He was voiced by Michael Daingerfield (credited as Michael Hall) in the animated television series
.
" and "Jacques Ventura Costeau
". It is not known whether the animated television series was contiguous
with the feature-films; but if it was it may take place before them because the only one of his pets to appear in the series is his capuchin monkey
, Spike. During the second film, Ace attempts monasticism after a failed rescue attempt of a raccoon
; only to be called out of retirement to investigate a missing sacred animal
. By the events portrayed in Ace Ventura, Jr. it is established that Ace has disappeared somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle
, and never appears in the film itself.
, got the idea for a pet detective.
Ace Ventura is an eccentric
self-styled 'pet detective' who forsook regular police work to concentrate on this latter pursuit. Like other fictional detectives, he is notable for extra-ordinary powers of observation and deduction; and on at least one occasion, he has managed to escape being shot by catching a bullet in his teeth.
Ventura's eccentricities include his persistent vulgarity and exceedingly flamboyant behaviour; but he is nevertheless a dedicated detective, driven by an insatiable adoration of animals and a desire to protect them from human mistreatment. In Ace Ventura Jr: Pet Detective, it is implied that his abilities, personality, and appearance are hereditary. Although Ace is an animal lover, the second film
reveals a deep-seated chiroptophobia.
In most appearances, Ace usually wears an unbuttoned Aloha shirt
over a plain white A-shirt, with red and black striped trousers. He lives in an apartment alongside many different animals, all of whom hide from his landlord, Mr. Schickadance, in his absence.
, was stolen by Dr. Pretorius, Ipkiss calls Ace for help. Both Ipkiss/the Mask and Ace Ventura were the animated versions of characters portrayed by Jim Carrey
himself. Ace later accidentally wears the mask on his rump
, which assumes a face similar to his own and gains the ability to speak, suggesting a joke featured in the original film
of speaking while presenting his rump to the listener and moving it in semblance of a speaking mouth.
is based on the character.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, created by screenwriters Jack Bernstein, Tom Shadyac
Tom Shadyac
Thomas Peter "Tom" Shadyac is an American comedian, director, screenwriter, and producer. Shadyac, who was the youngest joke-writer ever for comedian Bob Hope, is widely known for writing and directing the films Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Nutty Professor, Liar Liar, Bruce Almighty, and the...
and Steve Oedekerk
Steve Oedekerk
Stephen Brenton "Steve" Oedekerk is an American comedian, director, editor, producer, screenwriter and actor. Oedekerk is best known for his collaborations with actor Jim Carrey and director Tom Shadyac , his series of "Thumbmation" shorts and his film Kung Pow: Enter the Fist .-Life and...
. Ace was played by Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
in the films (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is a 1994 American comedy film directed by Tom Shadyac and starring Jim Carrey. It co-stars Courteney Cox, Tone Loc, Sean Young and former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino....
, released in 1994, and Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls is the sequel to Ace Ventura: Pet Detective . Jim Carrey reprises his role as the title character Ace Ventura, a detective who specializes in retrieval of tame or captive animals. This is the only sequel to a film starring Carrey in which Carrey reprised his role...
, released in 1995.) He was voiced by Michael Daingerfield (credited as Michael Hall) in the animated television series
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (TV series)
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is an animated television series based on the film of the same name. The series was produced by Morgan Creek Productions and Nelvana for Warner Bros. Studios. It aired for two seasons from 1995 to 1997 on CBS...
.
Biography
Ace is a Miami-based private detective specializing in the retrieval of missing animals, said to be the son of Ron Ventura and descendant of such as "Ernest Ventura ShackletonErnest Shackleton
Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, CVO, OBE was a notable explorer from County Kildare, Ireland, who was one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration...
" and "Jacques Ventura Costeau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a French naval officer, explorer, ecologist, filmmaker, innovator, scientist, photographer, author and researcher who studied the sea and all forms of life in water...
". It is not known whether the animated television series was contiguous
Canon (fiction)
In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...
with the feature-films; but if it was it may take place before them because the only one of his pets to appear in the series is his capuchin monkey
Capuchin monkey
The capuchins are New World monkeys of the genus Cebus. The range of capuchin monkeys includes Central America and South America as far south as northern Argentina...
, Spike. During the second film, Ace attempts monasticism after a failed rescue attempt of a raccoon
Raccoon
Procyon is a genus of nocturnal mammals, comprising three species commonly known as raccoons, in the family Procyonidae. The most familiar species, the common raccoon , is often known simply as "the" raccoon, as the two other raccoon species in the genus are native only to the tropics and are...
; only to be called out of retirement to investigate a missing sacred animal
Animal worship
Animal worship refers to religious rituals involving animals, especially in pre-modern societies, such as the glorification of animal deities, or animal sacrifice....
. By the events portrayed in Ace Ventura, Jr. it is established that Ace has disappeared somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle
Bermuda Triangle
The Bermuda Triangle, also known as the Devil's Triangle, is a region in the western part of the North Atlantic Ocean where a number of aircraft and surface vessels allegedly disappeared under mysterious circumstances....
, and never appears in the film itself.
Development
Bernstein had wanted to do a comedic version of Sherlock Holmes, and when watching the Stupid Pet Tricks segment on Late Night With David LettermanLate Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
, got the idea for a pet detective.
Personality
Eccentricity (behavior)
In popular usage, eccentricity refers to unusual or odd behavior on the part of an individual. This behavior would typically be perceived as unusual or unnecessary, without being demonstrably maladaptive...
self-styled 'pet detective' who forsook regular police work to concentrate on this latter pursuit. Like other fictional detectives, he is notable for extra-ordinary powers of observation and deduction; and on at least one occasion, he has managed to escape being shot by catching a bullet in his teeth.
Ventura's eccentricities include his persistent vulgarity and exceedingly flamboyant behaviour; but he is nevertheless a dedicated detective, driven by an insatiable adoration of animals and a desire to protect them from human mistreatment. In Ace Ventura Jr: Pet Detective, it is implied that his abilities, personality, and appearance are hereditary. Although Ace is an animal lover, the second film
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls is the sequel to Ace Ventura: Pet Detective . Jim Carrey reprises his role as the title character Ace Ventura, a detective who specializes in retrieval of tame or captive animals. This is the only sequel to a film starring Carrey in which Carrey reprised his role...
reveals a deep-seated chiroptophobia.
In most appearances, Ace usually wears an unbuttoned Aloha shirt
Aloha shirt
The Aloha shirt commonly referred to as a Hawaiian shirt is a style of dress shirt originating in Hawaii. It is currently the premier textile export of the Hawaii manufacturing industry. The shirts are printed, mostly short-sleeved, and collared. They usually have buttons, sometimes as a complete...
over a plain white A-shirt, with red and black striped trousers. He lives in an apartment alongside many different animals, all of whom hide from his landlord, Mr. Schickadance, in his absence.
Appearance in The Mask: The Animated Series
In the episodes "The Aceman Cometh/Have Mask, Will Travel" of The Mask: The animated series, when Milo, the pet dog of Stanley IpkissThe Mask
The Mask is a Dark Horse comic book series created by writer John Arcudi and artist Doug Mahnke, and based on a concept by publisher Mike Richardson. The series follows a magical mask which imbues the wearer with reality-bending powers and physical imperviousness, as well as bypassing the wearer's...
, was stolen by Dr. Pretorius, Ipkiss calls Ace for help. Both Ipkiss/the Mask and Ace Ventura were the animated versions of characters portrayed by Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey
James Eugene "Jim" Carrey is a Canadian-American actor and comedian. He has received two Golden Globe Awards and has also been nominated on four occasions. Carrey began comedy in 1979, performing at Yuk Yuk's in Toronto, Ontario...
himself. Ace later accidentally wears the mask on his rump
Rump
-Politics:*Rump cabinet*Rump legislature*Rump organization*Rump Parliament*Rump Senate*Rump state*Rump party- Technology :* Runnable Userspace Meta Programs, software run in userspace that offers kernel functionality ....
, which assumes a face similar to his own and gains the ability to speak, suggesting a joke featured in the original film
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is a 1994 American comedy film directed by Tom Shadyac and starring Jim Carrey. It co-stars Courteney Cox, Tone Loc, Sean Young and former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino....
of speaking while presenting his rump to the listener and moving it in semblance of a speaking mouth.
Reception
Ace was ranked the 60th Greatest Movie Character in a November, 2008 list by Empire Magazine. Cyborg Franky from Japanese anime and manga One PieceOne Piece
is a Japanese shōnen manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump since August 4, 1997; the individual chapters are being published in tankōbon volumes by Shueisha, with the first released on December 24, 1997, and the 64th volume released as...
is based on the character.