Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995) is the sequel to Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994). Jim Carrey reprises his role as the title character Ace Ventura, a detective who specializes in cases involving animals. This is the only sequel to a film starring Carrey in which Carrey reprised his role to date. (though this was largely due to contract bounds). Ian McNeice, Simon Callow, and Sophie Okonedo costar and Tommy Davidson, who co-starred with Carrey on TV's In Living Color program, have cameos.
It was written and directed by Steve Oedekerk, who had also collaborated in the making of the earlier movie. Original director Tom DeCerchio left after shooting began.
Plot summary
After failing the rescue attempt of a raccoon in the Himalayas (a parody of the opening to the film Cliffhanger), Ace Ventura undergoes an emotional breakdown and goes on a personal soul-searching quest by becoming a Tibetan monk. He is approached by Fulton Greenwall, an African missionary working for a provincial consulate. Being that Ace's influence is disruptive to the monastery, the Grand Abbot eagerly gives Ace excuses by which to justify his departure.
Greenwall asks Ventura to find a sacred animal called Shikaka, which has become a point of contention. Shikaka, which is a great white bat, is a sacred animal for the Wachati and Wachootoo tribes of Nibia, a fictional African country; whenever its name is spoken, the tribesmen must bow. Accompanied by his capuchin monkey, Spike, Ace travels to Africa and returns to his pet detective work.
After arriving in Nibia and meeting with the head of the consulate, Vincent Cadby, Ace begins learning about his case as well as the possible suspects. Ace, normally an animal lover, must overcome his chiroptophobia (fear of bats) in order to continue studying the case. He travels to the Wachati tribal village, where he learns that Shikaka is meant as a wedding present from the Wachati Princess, who is set to wed the Wachootoo Prince. If the bat is not returned in time, the Wachootoo will declare war on the Wachati tribe instead. Much of Ace's activity involves eliminating various suspects and enduring the problems of dealing with the Wachati and the Wachootoo, who refer to him as the "white devil". This proves difficult, and is made more so by other incidents including attempts to kill him.
Reduced to the limit of his ability to solve mysteries, Ace consults the Grand Abbot via astral projection. Advised by the Abbot, Ace finally discovers that Vincent Cadby had taken the bat and hired Ace as a cover for his own crimes. Cadby plans to let the tribes destroy each other and take possession of their land, using the numerous bat caves containing guano to sell as fertilizer. Ace manages to thwart Cadby's plans. However, Hitu is by Cadby's side and sends him to jail, but Ace calls an elephant to escape, and then summons herds of animals, crushing Cadby's house. He tries to shoot Ace with a shotgun, but he is knocked out by Greenwall's fist. After waking up, Cadby manages to escape, with the bat, in a car and Ace chases him with a monster truck. Ace sends a cigarette lighter to Cadby (by the truck) in an attempt to distract Cadby, who finally rams into a tree and the cage with the bat flies away. Ace runs over Cadby's car, while Cadby runs away.
Ace, tries to chase him, but when he sees that the sun is rising, he confronts his phobia and dramatically returns the bat to the tribes by running through their battlefield with it clutched in his hands, while repeatedly shouting its name. Cadby, who was covertly watching, is discovered when Ouda sees him and calls out to alert the nearby warriors that another "white devil" is in the area. He is then pursued by both tribes. Meanwhile, Ace accomplishes his mission when he puts (displeased) the bat in his cage. Cadby, who was pursued, ends up lost, out of sight of the tribes. While he was laughing in safety in a tree, he ends up in the hands of an amorous gorilla. The Princess is married to the Prince, who earlier appeared as a champion wrestler sent to challenge Ace's presence in the tribe. Moments later, it is discovered to the tribes' displeasure that the young bride is no longer a virgin, apparently due to Ace's intervention. Both of the tribes promptly pursue Ace, concluding the film.
Cast
Alternate Versions
When aired in syndication, there is an alternate version of the rhino scene in which Ace stands up (after falling out the rhino) and shouts "Man was I lost!".
The UK release of the film features a number of cuts, totalling one minute and thirty five seconds for the theatrical release, plus a further three seconds when re-classified for home video. These cut scenes include:
- Elements of the racoon rescue attempt.
- Ace's comment of "Excuse me, your balls are showing. Bumblebee tuna!" to a crouching tribe member.
- Ace's snorting is shortened when displaying his affection to the chief.
- Before Greenwall catches Ace masturbating in the tent, this is made more explicit through Ace's shadow on the wall, which is accompanied by some dialogue.
- The scene of Ace prodding his eyeball while lecturing Quinn has been shortened.
- After removing an apple core from one Wachootoo's stomach, Ace then pushes a baby out of another.
- During Ace's duel, the warrior stands on Ace's crotch and rips the spears from his legs.
However, during the projector scene, the U.K. version features Ace casting bird-like shadows with both hands, as opposed to the single hand in the original release.
This film was shot with super 35, so the fullscreen version is open matte, and reveals more to the top & bottom of the screen (sections that were not actually intended to be seen); it also crops the sides.
Box office
- Opening weekend U.S. gross: $37,804,076
- Total U.S. box office gross: $108,360,063
External links
