Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		3.5

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 3, 2019

Sony has released the quasi-classic 1994 Jim Carrey Comedy blockbuster 'Ace Ventura: Pet Detective' to Blu-ray as part off its pressed MOD (Manufactured on Demand) line. The film (and its sequel, also being released by Sony in conjunction with this disc) was previously released by Warner Brothers on September 3, 2013 to good reviews for its audio and video presentations. This release carries over the commentary track and (probably the same) trailer from the Warner release but does away with the animated series episodes. I did not review, nor do I own, the Warner Brothers Blu-ray, so I cannot conduct a direct comparison. Instead, find below fresh audio and video reviews for this Sony release.

Miami loves its football, but that doesn't stop some nefarious-types from kidnapping (dolphin-napping?) the team's aquatic mascot, a bottlenose dolphin named Snowflake, just days before the Dolphins are set to play the Eagles in the Super Bowl. It's a crime that needs to be solved, and fast. Rather than rely solely on the police, the team hires the highly eccentric Ace Ventura (Jim Carrey), a "pet retrieval specialist" of some renown. His unorthodox methods regularly land him in trouble, but his temperament and humorous approach to crime solving have obviously served him well over the years. When Ventura begins his investigation, he discovers his first, and perhaps most vital, clue: a gemstone that apparently fell off of one of the perpetrators' 1984 Miami Dolphins AFC championship ring. This clue leads Ventura to track down each and every individual who received the ring and verify that they're not missing a stone. Ventura soon finds himself working alongside Lieutenant Lois Einhorn (Sean Young), one of Miami's finest, who is also on the case.

For a full film review, please see Michael Reuben's excellent and thorough analysis here.

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Sony's release of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective delivers a generally satisfying 1080p, 1.85:1-framed transfer (the WB disc is framed at 1.78:1) that appears faithful to the film's intended visual stylings, including its bright and flashy Miami-inspired color palette. The presentation is indeed bold, with popping primaries that include Maimi Dolphin teal and Ventura's loud shirts. Natural greenery, a regular sight around Miami's exteriors, presents with appropriately saturated depth and color intensity. Less dramatic colors in various interiors, from the brown leathery and wooden furniture in Ventura's apartment to the drab and low light supply closet where the character starts his journey to the movie's endgame, hold up well and don't disappoint. The image is texturally adept as well. It was, of course, shot on film, and the picture is complimented by a natural grain structure, a little dense in low light but mostly very stable and attractive. Details appear effortlessly complex, with various facial features appearing commendably in-depth and revelatory of various actors' complexions and unique characteristics. Environments are sharp throughout a fairly wide and varied selection of locales. Clothes are likewise nicely defined, from thin fabric shirts to more densely constructed suits. The picture is not entirely perfect. Slight examples of edge enhancement, macroblocking, and print splotches and speckles are evident. Fortunately, none of these faults appear at problematic levels, but they are present and play a part in holding the image back from perfection.

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Sony's Blu-ray release of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective includes a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The presentation is solid on all fronts, delivering well defined music that plays aggressively and with both wide front-end stretch and a good bit of broad surround support. It's energetic and satisfies throughout the range, but don't expect to hear a significant low end accompaniment or find in it perfect instrumental clarity. Various sound effects play well, always coming from the appropriate speaker, or speakers, whenever one-off sounds, environmental fill, or more pronounced elements, such as when a gaggle of reporters throw out questions in chapter six, come into play. All of it adds up to a fairly enjoyable track, absent perfectly balanced and seamlessly detailed pieces but coming together for a good movie-complimentary listen. Dialogue is clear, clean, and grounded in the front-center channel. No prioritization problems of note are apparent.

Note that this release does not include several alternate language options that were included on the Warner Brothers disc.

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Sony's Blu-ray release of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective carries over the director commentary and theatrical trailer (probably) from the Warner Brothers disc but does not include the select episodes from the animated series. No DVD or digital copies are included. This release does not appear to ship with a slipcover. For full coverage of the included supplemental content, please click here.

• Audio Commentary: With Director Tom Shadyac.
• Theatrical Trailer (480i, 2:07): Note that Michel's review states that the trailer is presented in 1.78:1 on the Warner Brothers disc. This version is presented in 4x3 (1:33:1).

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Unless anything happens between now and whenever, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective will likely be remembered as Jim Carrey's funniest movie. The actor is in rare form for this one, taking a ridiculous plot and an absurd character and building a comically genius façade out of the groundwork. Carrey's verbal abilities and physical gifts -- which includes some of the most ridiculously over-the-top yet downright hilarious facial expressions and contortions in movie history -- are a natural fit as he sleuths, slithers, and slapsticks his way through an agreeable and memorable comic romp. The film is full of unforgettable scenes, set pieces, and costumes, and it's a rare film in which total absurdity actually works in its favor. Sony has taken the reigns from Warner Brothers and released an agreeable, if not somewhat overpriced, MOD Blu-ray of the film. The video presentation is quite good and the audio is likewise a strength. The studio has not been able to include all of the extras from the old Warner Brothers release, but it has brought over the most critical supplement from that disc: the director's commentary track. Recommended.