Ace Ventura Pet Detective Jr. (PG, 2009)

common sense media says

Funny, animal-loving kid lost in crude script.


parents & educators say
  • 50% say there are positive role models
  • 50% say there are positive messages

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that kids will probably enjoy the slapstick humor of this animal-centric film, but that farting and poop jokes may garner more laughs than the rest of the script. The hero's dad is dead, and the mom is put in jail during the movie, leaving only a quirky grandfather to watch over the boy (which he does only minimally.) Kids get away with breaking and entering, and repeatedly disrespect federal officers. There are some nice lessons about being who you are, even if that makes you stand out from the crowd. Compassion for animals is central to the plot.

Positive messages: Good lessons on being true to yourself and caring for animals are muted by kids who are repeatedly disrespectful to authority figures.
Positive role models: A son lies to his mother but at least shows regret. Scenes of conspicuous consumption at a rich boy's birthday party aren't played as ironically as they should be, if the intent was to make fun of them. Poop and fart jokes (and displays) galore.
Violence & scariness: Dream scene of a panda cub-napping may be intense for young kids. Repeated kicks by kids to adult crotches. Kids are chased by guards who run into poles, fall down, etc. Threatening school bullies chase a nerd but don't catch him.
Sexy stuff: Adolescent flirtation between a lovesick tween and a classmate.
Language: Not applicable.
Consumerism: Universal Studios theme park gets a major and distracting plug. Other recognizable brands include MySpace, TMobile, Heelies, CNN, Rolex, Exxon, and the CSI franchise.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Ace Ventura Pet Detective Jr.

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about Ace Jr.'s devotion to helping animals.

  • How far do you think you would go to help a lost pet, and when does Ace cross a line that would put him in danger?

  • Do you think it's realistic that his classmates would be so angry at him because he offered to find their pets but didn't?

What's the story?

What's the story?

In this straight-to-DVD movie set 15 years after the last Ace Ventura film featuring Jim Carrey, Ace's son Ace Jr. (Josh Flitter) is following in Dad's footsteps, though doesn't quite realize it yet. His mother (Ann Cusack) works at a zoo and wants Ace to try to act "normal," but the 12-year old's passion for missing pets gets in the way. When Mom is arrested and jailed under suspicion of panda cub-napping, Ace Jr. recruits a few friends to help find the panda and prove his mother's innocence, getting a little advice on how to be true to his Ventura roots from his grandfather (Ralph Waite).

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

For a movie that's nominally about being yourself, ACE JR. is a lot more appealing before Flitter starts channeling his inner Jim Carrey. As an overweight, awkward 6th grader who can't help helping animals, there's a real appeal to Flitter, as when he blurts "Oh my god you're pretty!" to a girl he likes and then claps his hands over his mouth in agonized embarrassment. Putting on his Ventura pants and coif may give him confidence, but it also makes him obnoxious. He is outplayed in that only by the school's token rich kid, Quentin Pennington Jr. whose bratty exclusiveness will be familiar to viewers of MTV's My Super Sweet 16.

For kids under seven, the subplots of both famous animals and family pets going missing alongside the aforementioned panda may get confusing. And there is a lot of very naughty behavior, like the destruction of a valuable dinosaur skeleton, that is brushed under the rug. This is OK for older animal lovers to see as long as there's some discussion of what behaviors are amplified for laughs and what would be acceptable in real life.

Movie themes & details

Themes
Movie Details
Studio: Warner Home Video
Director: David M. Evans
Cast: Austin Rogers, Emma Lockhart, Josh Flitter
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 93 minutes
Theatrical release: March 3, 2009
DVD release: March 3, 2009
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: some rude humor.

This review was written by Nancy Davis Kho
 
 

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What parents & educators say

8
Based on 4 parent & educator reviews:
  • 50% say there are positive role models
  • 50% say there are positive messages

Most useful reviews by all members

wwechampion
kid, 11 years old
 
Ace Ventura Pet Detective Jr.
Rated PG For Some Rude Humor

xray75
kid, 11 years old
 
I love the movie it does have swearing like ace goes to his freinds house asnd sais oh my god your pretty And animals kidnapped pretty intesnse

lilmissfrankie
kid, 12 years old
 
........
HORRIBLE MOVIE ALERT

Goseewacthmen
teen, 16 years old
 
....
ugh i cant describe this movie in words.

 
a ace said crap and ace just kicked a guy in the balls!

 
This movie is mildly amusing and very annoying. The main character is adorable, but he gets lost in this poorly made film. Lots of fart and poop jokes as the review said, and I just don't see those as beneficial for children of any age. I mean, do you really want to your child to go around acting like Ace Ventura Jr.? The only redeeming quality is Ace Jr.'s love for animals and for helping them, too bad that can't save this movie.

 
It may say that this was a dumb movie, but I thought i was pretty good. It was very funny. The language was not an issue at all. The worst is one use of "crap", but not as in poop. Sexual things wise, the worst is when a young 13 maybe 14 year old girl kisses a boy on the cheek and confesses of knowing that he liked her all along.

 
funny
i watched this ages ago it's funny

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About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age