Every once in a while, a performer comes along who breaks the mold. In the case of Jim Carrey, the mold was completely shattered. Although Carrey had been acting since his debut in an episode of Happy Days in 1975 and had garnered limited fame performing on Fox's sketch comedy show In Living Color, it wasn't until 1994's Ace Ventura: Pet Detective that the movie-going public received the full onslaught of Carrey's manic talents. Notables such as Sean Young, Tone Loc, up-and-coming Courtney Cox, and even self-portraying Dan Marino had their hands full competing with Carrey's energy from scene to scene. From his over-the-top delivery to his wacky hair and sunglasses (both of which were inspired by Clint Eastwood's character in the "Dirty Harry" films-- Carrey played a role in 1988's The Dead Pool), Ventura grabs the audience with his spastic personality from the opening credits, wherein he mangles a package in the guise of a deliveryman.

The story begins with Ace's switcheroo rescue of a shiatsu from the clutches of a beefy dog-napper (frequent baddie Randall "Tex" Cobb). His numerous exploits in behalf of animals travel by word of mouth to the upper echelons of the Miami Dolphins, a Super Bowl-bound professional football organization whose beloved mascot Snowflake has just been stolen. Ace bounds into action with the help of publicist Melissa Robinson (Cox); together they track down the only man who seems capable of such an undertaking-- philanthropist Ron Camp (Udo Kier). After crashing Camp's party, Ace discovers that while he may be innocent, the stones in his Dolphin's 1984 championship ring match one found at the scene of the crime. With unorthodox gusto, Ace sets out to inspect the rings of each and every member of the former team by way of towel snapping, chloroforming, and urinal peeking, but in true Ace fashion, never just asking. Through it all, Ace endures the endless mockery of the local police department, headed up by tough-as-nails Lieutenant Lois Einhorn (Young)

After several disappointments, the murder of Melissa's coworker Roger Podacter, and the kidnapping of quarterback Dan Marino, Ace uncovers the final player from the 1984 team-- kicker Ray Finkel, who cost his team victory by blowing the game-winning kick in that year's Super Bowl. When the trail leads him to the Shady Acres mental hospital (a nod to director Tom Shadyac), Ace discovers that there's more to Finkel meets the eye. Racing against the impending start of the Super Bowl, Ace must engage all of his manic wit to save Dan Marino and Snowflake.

Although Carrey was nominated for a Razzie for Worst New Star, the film propelled him to the top of the Hollywood A-list and made him a box-office must-see for years to come. He would team up with director Shadyac on two more occasions (Liar, Liar and Bruce Almighty) while Ace Ventura would go on to a smash sequel, a CBS cartoon series, and a third film currently in development, titled Ace Ventura Junior.