The Rewatchables Podcast: ‘Ace Ventura: Pet Detective’

With Bill Simmons, Zach Lowe, and Craig Horlbeck
Air Date: February 10, 2026

Main Theme / Purpose of the Episode

This episode delves into the enduring cult classic status of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), Jim Carrey’s breakout film, and a movie that redefined absurdist comedy for a generation. Hosts Bill Simmons, Zach Lowe (making his Rewatchables debut), and Craig Horlbeck break down why this movie means so much to them, how it shaped the landscape of '90s comedy, its problematic elements, and what holds up (or doesn't) three decades later.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Jim Carrey’s Breakout Year and Impact

• Carrey’s Risk and Commitment:

  • Carrey was paid only $350K for Ace Ventura, his first lead role, after years of near-misses in comedy. He simultaneously released The Mask and Dumb and Dumber in 1994, making him the second-highest box office star that year.
  • “He was like, ‘This is either going to be something that people really went for or it was going to completely ruin me.’” – Craig Horlbeck [09:34]

• Unparalleled Physical Comedy:

  • Carrey’s physicality is unmatched. Simmons recalls seeing him do impressions in the ‘80s—“...his face is made of rubber and the commitment to the bit is just something that has completely aged out and nobody does what he's doing anymore.” – Craig [03:44]
  • The hosts agree: no one else could have pulled off Ace Ventura’s blend of wild energy and weirdness.

• Comedy in the 1990s vs Now:

  • The film typifies a unique era—“...you just wind him up and watch him go. I don't even know if the movie's good. But you just sit back and you watch Jim Carrey do this.” – Craig [03:44]
  • The group laments that studios no longer let singular comic voices “cook” as they did with Carrey, Sandler, Farley, etc.
  • “I don't feel like it happens anymore where somebody is just kind of famous and funny enough to get a movie greenlit like this... It's kind of gone.” – Bill [12:10]

Formative Legacy and Generational Divide

• Ace Ventura is a “formative” movie for millennials and late Gen-Xers, but doesn’t translate well to new generations:
  • “If you saw it between 10 and 18, it's with you for life. But you can't bring anyone into it now.” – Craig [10:24]
  • Simmons describes showing it to his 18-year-old son: “He was like, ‘This movie’s terrible...but Jim Carrey is hilarious, okay?’” [10:37]

The Movie’s Problematic Content

• The team addresses the infamous transphobic twist and how it was a reflection of mid-90s pop culture (especially its parody of The Crying Game).
  • “The trans stuff in this movie is tough 30 plus years later. Not going to defend it.” – Bill [66:43]
  • They choose not to seriously dwell, recognizing the need to contextualize and move on.

Comedy and Moviegoing, Then and Now

• The 90s was a golden era for comedies—funny movies did well at the box office, and seeing them in theaters, surrounded by laughter, intensified the experience.
• Now, comedies are relegated to streaming. “People just want to hit home runs and not doubles...Comedies now live on streaming services and it stinks.” – Craig [14:08]
• Discussion of why horror works in theaters and comedy does not (“...people think, oh, I can laugh at home, what's the difference?” – Craig [15:31])

The Plot, Its Structural Weirdness, and Sports Parodies

• The movie's plot—a pet detective tracking a missing dolphin and a long-lost, vengeful kicker—has “two great ideas” for a dumb comedy.

  • “I think the plot's kind of amazing.” – Bill [35:25]

• Ace Ventura became surprisingly influential for how sports comedies parody real franchises and sporting disasters.

  • “Laces out makes me laugh. It’s just aged the best in general.” – Bill [55:17]
  • Parodying real-life events like the Scott Norwood missed field goal.

• Dan Marino’s cameo is analyzed (“I think it's the fourth best athlete playing himself, cameo of all time.” – Bill [76:44]), and how odd it was for him and Don Shula to participate in such a risky comedy.

Jim Carrey’s Physicality, Improv, and Unrepeatable Energy

• Several scenes are cited as masterclasses in physical comedy, including Carrey’s myriad ridiculous walks, the opening package scene, and his meticulously improvised “ass-talking.”
  • “You just have to have a screw loose in a good way.” – Bill [25:18]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments with Timestamps

• On Carrey’s Energy:
  “He’s a hyper goon who likes to screw his mouth into strange shapes while playing variations on the language. You know what? That’s all correct.” – Craig (paraphrasing Roger Ebert), [37:41]
• On Ace Ventura's Generation Gap:
  “I can't even imagine him tolerating this movie at that age for five minutes. He wouldn't even, not only would he have not tolerated it, he would have not tolerated it being on in our house.” – Zach Lowe [10:05]
• On Physical Comedy:
  “Watching him do what he does, that's so hard to do...to make yourself sound like you're speaking backwards. It's incredible.” – Craig [49:15]
• On Why the Film Works:
  “Every once in a while we bring you in as a host and it's a big day. Zach Lowe’s first Rewatchables ever.” – Bill [01:43]
  “[Jim Carrey] was like, this is my one chance. I'm fucking making this happen.” – Bill [05:03]
• Defending Carrey’s Oscar-worthiness:
  “You want to talk about a singular performance, something that is irreplaceable, that you cannot have anybody slot in and do—find me a role that somebody else could do.” – Craig [74:40]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:27]: Why Ace Ventura? Zach discusses its importance to his comedic sensibilities.
• [08:06]: The explosion of Carrey’s career in 1994 and its significance.
• [10:24]: On why Ace Ventura works only if you saw it young.
• [19:57]: Comparing ‘90s comedy eras—Apatow, Farrell, Carrey.
• [25:08]: Jim Carrey’s creative process; conversations around his inspiration for Ace (a smart bird/parrot).
• [35:23]: The surprisingly smart plot and sports parody elements.
• [43:06]: Most rewatchable scenes (Star Trek pool scene, mansion party, Ace’s apartment with the pets, etc.).
• [66:43]: Discussion of the transphobic storyline and why it was a product of its time.
• [74:40]: Craig’s “hottest take”—Jim Carrey should have been Oscar-nominated.
• [76:44]: Dan Marino’s cameo ranks high among athlete cameos.
• [81:17]: Best That Guy: Ace’s landlord is Hector Salamanca from Breaking Bad/Scarface.
• [101:06]: “Just one Oscar, who gets it?” Answer: Jim Carrey.

Segment Highlights & Structure

Most Rewatchable Scenes (43:06 and following)

• Opening package delivery scene
• Ace’s pet-filled apartment
• The police station “I'd like to ask you a few questions” bit
• Mansion party (Mission: Impossible riff and absurd physical comedy)
• Pool/tank (Star Trek) scene—Zach’s favorite and the one he credits for “changing his sense of humor.” [43:10]

Cultural References and Millennial Misses (83:33)

• Craig lists a “Millennial Miss Reference Power Ranking”—all the jokes lost on kids who hadn’t seen Star Trek, Miami Vice, or The Crying Game.

Awards & Superlatives

• Best Chemistry? Zach calls out the unconvincing romance (Courtney Cox & Carrey), earning some debate. [57:01]
• Best/Worst Hang: Ray Finkel’s mother is cited as a scene-stealer; Ace himself is voted “worst hang,” too much in real life. [82:10, 94:50]
• Hans Gruber Villain Scale: Sean Young gets 3.5-4/10. [56:44]
• Dion Waiters (Biggest Heat Check): Consensus for Ray Finkel’s mom. [82:10]
• Most 1994 Thing: Isotoner gloves, Dan Marino’s celebrity, Cannibal Corpse cameo, and the notion of Dolphins contending for a Super Bowl. [52:16]
• Best Character Name: Ray Finkel, Roger Podaktor, Tom Ace [56:32]
• What’s Aged Best?: Courtney Cox, letting comedians “cook,” Miami setting, laces-out jokes, Carrey’s comic legacy. [54:08]
• What’s Aged the Worst?: The trans twist; “ass-talking” scene (Zach's least favorite) [66:43, 68:14]
• Weakest Link: Everyone wearing their AFC championship rings, Carrey-Cox chemistry, plot holes [60:11]

Unanswerable Questions

• What actually happened to the Dolphins in the Super Bowl?
• Did Dan Marino and the Dolphins win in the movie?
• What is Einhorn’s actual, plausible plan for revenge?
• Was the “laces out” meme pre-existing, or originated by the film?

Podcast Language & Tone

• The hosts maintain an irreverent, nostalgic, deeply knowledgeable, and conversational tone, blending comedic riffs, sports analogies, and just the right amount of pop-culture snark.
• Bill Simmons consistently frames discussions with sports metaphors and historicity, while Zach Lowe provides outsider (“not my realm”) but insightful and often contrary takes, and Craig Horlbeck bridges the generational gap, championing millennial perspectives.

Summary for New Listeners

If you missed Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, this podcast will ground you in why the film was a comedic earthquake for its time. The hosts explore 1994’s comedy “apex mountain,” Carrey’s lightning-in-a-bottle performance, how the film's blend of juvenile and adult humor created a generational cult hit, and why it can’t (and shouldn’t?) be made the same way today.
They also address the movie’s problematic finale, its surprising legacy as the source of “laces out,” and how Courtney Cox’s short run as “Clay Thompson-level hot” paved her way to Friends.
Zach Lowe’s debut is marked by skeptical analysis (he’s not buying Ace and Melissa’s chemistry!), and the usual, robust Rewatchables structure ensures all bases—from hilarious minor characters to half-assed internet research—are covered.

Want more? The hosts tease the possibility of future episodes on forgotten '80s and '90s films (Eddie & the Cruisers, Revenge of the Nerds). Find this and over 300 other discussions on The Rewatchables via The Ringer.