Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

Washington Post Rita Kempley

A riot from start to finish, Carrey's first feature comedy is as cheerfully bawdy as it is idiotically inventive.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

Treat this project as you would a safari: It has its slow parts but the wildlife makes it worthwhile.

Los Angeles Times Chris Willman

He's so over-energized from the start you keep thinking he'll wear out his welcome pronto; an hour and a half later, his lunacy is still hard to take your eyes off. [04Feb1994 Pg. F6]

TV Guide Staff(not credited)

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective marks the ascendance of a new star in film farce, as Jim Carrey elevates this stupid, suprisingly shoddy picture into the comedy stratosphere, mainly thanks to his Gumby-like ability to contort his face and body in the most amazing ways.

USA Today Susan Wloszczyna

While the rubber-limbed Carrey may not yet be in the hyper-manic league of Jerry Lewis or Robin Williams, his psychotic energy goes a long way to make this plot-anemic comedy palatable. [04Feb1994 Pg. 07.D]

The New York Times Stephen Holden

The movie has the metabolism, logic and attention span of a peevish 6-year-old.

Empire Julian Ketchum

Neither terrible, boring nor soporific, just not very funny.

Variety Steven Gaydos

Seemingly clueless as to how best to utilize Carrey, or make humorous hay out of its pet-loving shamus' central character, Ventura fails to place either Carrey or Ace in the winner's circle of memorable screen crazies.

ReelViews James Berardinelli

From the start, it's obvious that this is a vehicle for his comedy, and it mostly works -- for about ten to fifteen minutes. After that, Carrey's act gradually grows less humorous and more tiresome, and the laughter in the audience seems forced.

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

Manic energy is the term that comes most readily to mind when describing Ace Ventura.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

I found the movie a long, unfunny slog through an impenetrable plot. Kids might like it.

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

The most obnoxious case of masculine swagger since Andrew Dice Clay, with just a tad of Paul Lynde thrown in for spice, Jim Carrey defies you not to bolt for the exit while playing the title hero in this 1994 comic mystery.

The New Yorker Michael Sragow

In this smutty kiddie farce he's a clownish action toy, and he grows wearying, fast.

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

Carrey suggests an escaped mental patient impersonating a game-show host-and, what's worse, his hyperbolically obnoxious shtick is the whole damned show.