Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie1995

28%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Jim Carrey's rubber-faced sequel is 90 minutes of crude jungle slapstick that hasn't aged particularly well.

6.4/10

23%

6.3

→

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls

movie

PG-13, 1995

28%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

Jim Carrey's rubber-faced sequel is 90 minutes of crude jungle slapstick that hasn't aged particularly well.

6.4

23%

6.3

Jump to

Also rated on

6.4/10

23%

6.3

View →

Where to Watch

Loading streaming options...

Where-to-watch data byJustWatch

Screenwise Verdict

Look, if you loved this as a kid in 1995, I get it—Jim Carrey was everywhere and this kind of zany comedy was peak entertainment. But here's the truth: this movie has aged like milk left in a hot car.

The humor is aggressively crude (bathroom jokes, sexual innuendo, that infamous rhino scene), and the portrayal of African tribes is embarrassingly stereotypical. What played as silly adventure comedy 30 years ago now feels culturally insensitive and just... exhausting.

Modern kids raised on smarter animated films and more sophisticated comedy will likely find this boring or confusing rather than funny. And parents will spend the whole runtime cringing at jokes that definitely don't land in 2025.

If your tween is curious about Jim Carrey, maybe start with The Truman Show instead. This one's best left as a nostalgic memory rather than a family movie night pick.

Age Fit

Best for kids 12+ who can appreciate (or tolerate) crude 90s comedy and understand cultural stereotypes critically. Younger kids won't get the jokes and shouldn't see the inappropriate content; older teens will likely find it painfully dated.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Jim Carrey's slapstick comedy relies heavily on crude humor, bathroom jokes, and sexual innuendo. The character models buffoonish behavior rather than kindness or cooperation. Pacing is chaotic and frenetic. While not malicious, the tone is immature and often inappropriate, with colonial-era stereotypes of African tribes played for laughs.

Imaginative

Physical comedy is creative and Carrey's performance is energetically inventive, but the imagination is mostly in service of gross-out gags rather than genuine creative exploration. The African adventure setting could spark curiosity but is handled with dated stereotypes rather than authentic world-building. No invitation for kids to build or explore ideas themselves.

Safe

No graphic violence or gore, but contains considerable sexual innuendo, crude bathroom humor, and culturally insensitive stereotypes that would be jarring for younger viewers. The 'surprise' content includes Ace emerging naked from a mechanical rhino (rear-end first), tribal stereotypes, and various bodily function jokes. Likely PG-13 rated. Not traumatizing but definitely has content parents wouldn't want young kids stumbling into.

Enriching

Minimal cognitive, ethical, or personal growth opportunities. The humor is mostly physical and crude without meaningful takeaways. No real empathy-building or skill development. The portrayal of African tribes is reductive and stereotypical rather than educational. Entertainment value exists for those who enjoy Carrey's style, but it's low-brow slapstick without substance.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Jim Carrey's physical comedy is undeniably energetic and committed—kids who love over-the-top silliness might find it hilarious
No graphic violence or truly scary content, just silly adventure shenanigans
Could spark interest in animal conservation (though that's a stretch given the tone)
Nostalgic for Gen X parents who remember it fondly from their own youth

⚠

What to Watch For

Lots of bathroom humor, sexual innuendo, and crude jokes that younger kids shouldn't see and older kids will repeat endlessly
The portrayal of African tribes is stereotypical and cringeworthy by 2025 standards—prepare for some awkward conversations
The famous 'rhino birth' scene where Ace emerges naked (rear-first) from a mechanical rhino is... memorable in all the wrong ways
Humor style is very 1990s and may feel dated or just not funny to modern kids raised on different comedy

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the movie shows African tribes the way it does? How is that different from real life?"
"What did you think was actually funny versus just gross or weird?"
"Do you think Ace is someone you'd want to be like, or is he more of a cartoon character?"
"How do you think people from Africa might feel watching this movie?"

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic

Writing about Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls? Put this WISE score on your site