8. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective
Release Date: February 4th, 1994
Director: Tom Shadyac
Starring: Jim Carrey, Courtney Cox, Sean Young, Tone Loc (The guy with the really, really deep voice who popped up in every single movie from the mid-nineties)
Random Cameo: The big one is of course Dan Marino, who they center the whole main plot around. “Laces out.” This is probably the closest he ever got to winning a Super Bowl. Burn. Sorry, Dan.
First Time I Saw It: In the year of Jim Carrey, I didn’t see any of his three big movies in the theater. That upsets me. I saw this one on home video and laughed my ten year old ass off. Just like everybody else my age, we all fell under the power of Carrey, but it started with Ace.
Why I Ranked It So Highly: The movie speaks for itself. Despite all the amazing and hilarious performances that Jim Carrey has given us over the years, there is an argument to be made that Ace is the very best. He is just pure energy. Every frame of this film, you are at least chuckling. There is no better introduction to a comedic star than this one.
Why I Love It: Literally talking out his ass. The “Alrighty Thens.” The mental institution scene. The apartment full of pets. The hair. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective created a plethora of pop culture for the nineties, until Austin Powers took over. Seriously, was there not a single person at your school who didn’t give at least one “Alriiiiiiiighty Then!” The funniest scene of the movie for me though may have ironically been its most subtle. There’s a point towards the end where Ace jumps on a motor boat and literally goes maybe two feet. That joke kills me every time. –Daniel Cohen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDfLy_x7iLA
