Ace Ventura turns 30... Alrighty then!

At a glance

• Before Ace Ventura

• Offering the role to other stars

• Jim Carrey takes control

• The legacy of Ace Ventura

• Fun facts about Ace Ventura

Someone near and dear once declared that Carrey was a 'one hit wonder', a sentiment that they stubbornly hold to this day (let it go, Dad). Nevertheless, Carrey swiftly disproved this assertion by delivering a series of blockbuster comedies post-Ace, including The Mask (1994), Dumb and Dumber (1994), and Batman Forever (1995), solidifying his status as Hollywood's reigning star.

But did you know that Ace Ventura: Pet Detective wasn't his first leading role? In the decade preceding his breakthrough role, he appeared in a bunch of prominent movies such as Francis Ford Coppola's Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), The Dead Pool (1988) alongside Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry, and co-leading the outrageous Earth Girls Are Easy (1988) with Geena Davis, Jeff Goldblum, and Damon Wayans.

His previous lead roles were in Copper Mountain (1983), a cheesy Canadian television movie co-starring Alan Thicke, and a teen comedy horror called Once Bitten (1985), which anyone of the VHS generation will recall seeing displayed prominently in most video stores in the 1980s and '90s.

All the while, Carrey was building a reputation for being a funny guy during his tenures on the popular sketch comedy TV shows The Duck Factory (1984), and In Living Color (1990-'94).

Then came Ace Ventura, but not as we know it. Originally, the character wasn't a pet detective at all and the movie was designed to be a run-of-the-mill Sherlock Holmes parody. A long-circulating rumour has it that the movie was written as a Sylvester Stallone vehicle before he opted against starring in another potentially career-destroying comedy.

The project was then offered to Rick Moranis, who was flying high after a string of hits such as Spaceballs (1987), Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), and Parenthood (1989). However, Moranis declined the part, choosing Steven Spielberg's offer of The Flintstones (1994) instead (the production of that movie is a story of its own, which we may revisit later on).

Other people to have reportedly rejected Ace Ventura include Alan Rickman, David Alan Grier, Judd Nelson, and Whoopi Goldberg.

Eventually, the CEO of Morgan Creek Productions, James, G. Robinson, saw Jim Carrey on In Living Color and offered him the role. Carrey accepted on the proviso that he be permitted to rewrite the script, make the comedy as zany and outrageous as possible, and ensure that the character actually be excellent at his job.

The rest, as they say, is history and the film remains a seminal moment of comedy.

There's no argument that Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is a movie of its time and that much of its humour and attitudes are outdated. It simply couldn't be made the same way in today's world, and that's the beauty of it. Every once in a while we can revisit and be reminded of how far social standards have come, while also reliving a defining moment, which gave us a titan of comedy.

Rarely do films achieve the level of quotability seen in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and few stars have ascended to stardom as rapidly as Jim Carrey. The film led to a cult sequel, When Nature Calls (1995), an ill-fated spin-off titled Ace Ventura Jr. (2009), and an animated TV series (1995-2000).

Carrey continues to be in high demand, presently filming his third Sonic the Hedgehog movie. He is also a best selling author and respected philanthropist. Nevertheless, according to Dad, he's just a flash in the pan.

Fun facts about Ace Ventura

• The death metal band Cannibal Corpse appeared in the film at Jim Carrey's request. They were his favourite band.

• At the time of the movie's production, rapper Tone Loc was the biggest star of Ace Ventura.

• The concept of Ace being a pet detective came to screenwriter Jack Bernstein after watching a David Letterman sketch about pet owners.

• Courteney Cox was terrified of animals while filming Ace Ventura.