Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
Summoned from an ashram in Tibet, Ace finds himself on a perilous journey into the jungles of Africa to find Shikaka, the missing sacred animal of the friendly Wachati tribe. He must accomplish this before the wedding of the Wachati's Princess to the prince of the warrior Wachootoos. If Ace fails, the result will be a vicious tribal war.
Despite a mid-range budget of $30.0M, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls became a runaway success, earning $212.4M worldwide—a remarkable 608% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995) demonstrates strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Steve Oedekerk's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 30 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Ace Ventura
Fulton Greenwall
The Wachati Princess
Vincent Cadby
Main Cast & Characters
Ace Ventura
Played by Jim Carrey
Eccentric pet detective who comes out of spiritual retirement to find a sacred bat in Africa.
Fulton Greenwall
Played by Ian McNeice
Proper British naturalist who recruits Ace and serves as his guide through the African mission.
The Wachati Princess
Played by Sophie Okonedo
Beautiful African princess whose sacred bat has been stolen, threatening tribal peace.
Vincent Cadby
Played by Simon Callow
Sophisticated British consul who appears helpful but harbors darker intentions.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Ace Ventura dangles from a cliff attempting to rescue a raccoon in the Himalayas, establishing him as a pet detective willing to risk everything for animals.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Greenwall arrives at the monastery and pleads with Ace to come to Africa to find Shikaka, a sacred bat whose disappearance threatens to start a war between the Wachati and Wachootoo tribes.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Ace actively chooses to take the case and begins investigating, visiting the Wachati village and examining the crime scene where Shikaka was stolen, fully committing to being a pet detective again., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Ace is captured by the Wachootoo tribe and must pass their warrior tests to survive. He succeeds but is still no closer to finding Shikaka, and time is running out before the wedding that will prevent war., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Ace is captured and left to die, thrown into a mechanical rhino where he faces suffocation and death - a literal "whiff of death" that mirrors his earlier failure and self-doubt., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Ace escapes the rhino through ingenuity and determination, realizes where Shikaka is hidden, and understands who the true villain is - Vincent Cadby. He synthesizes all clues and gains the clarity to act., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls against these established plot points, we can identify how Steve Oedekerk utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls within the crime genre.
Steve Oedekerk's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Steve Oedekerk films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Steve Oedekerk filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Batman Forever and 12 Rounds. For more Steve Oedekerk analyses, see Barnyard, Nothing to Lose and Kung Pow: Enter the Fist.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Ace Ventura dangles from a cliff attempting to rescue a raccoon in the Himalayas, establishing him as a pet detective willing to risk everything for animals.
Theme
After the raccoon dies in his rescue attempt, Ace retreats to a Tibetan monastery. A monk tells him "The medallion will lead you to the answer" - the theme of redemption and finding purpose after failure.
Worldbuilding
Ace has withdrawn from the world, living in a monastery and taking a vow of silence after his traumatic failure. Meanwhile, Fulton Greenwall searches for him to handle an important case in Africa.
Disruption
Greenwall arrives at the monastery and pleads with Ace to come to Africa to find Shikaka, a sacred bat whose disappearance threatens to start a war between the Wachati and Wachootoo tribes.
Resistance
Ace resists returning to detective work, haunted by his failure. Greenwall persists, explaining the stakes. Ace eventually agrees and they travel to Africa, where he meets the British consulate and learns about the political situation.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Ace actively chooses to take the case and begins investigating, visiting the Wachati village and examining the crime scene where Shikaka was stolen, fully committing to being a pet detective again.
Mirror World
Ace meets the Wachati Princess and connects with the tribal culture, representing the spiritual/natural world that will teach him to trust himself again and embrace his unique gifts.
Premise
Ace investigates the jungle, encounters various animals and suspects, survives the Wachootoo tribe, and uses his detective skills in increasingly absurd ways - the fun and games of "Ace in Africa."
Midpoint
Ace is captured by the Wachootoo tribe and must pass their warrior tests to survive. He succeeds but is still no closer to finding Shikaka, and time is running out before the wedding that will prevent war.
Opposition
Ace investigates Vincent Cadby and others, facing increasing danger. He narrows down suspects and locations, but faces physical threats, wild animals, and the ticking clock toward war. His leads seem to go nowhere.
Collapse
Ace is captured and left to die, thrown into a mechanical rhino where he faces suffocation and death - a literal "whiff of death" that mirrors his earlier failure and self-doubt.
Crisis
Trapped in the rhino, Ace faces his darkest moment and must overcome his fear and trust in himself to escape, processing the trauma of his past failure.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Ace escapes the rhino through ingenuity and determination, realizes where Shikaka is hidden, and understands who the true villain is - Vincent Cadby. He synthesizes all clues and gains the clarity to act.
Synthesis
Ace races to the wedding, exposes Cadby as the villain and bat-napper, rescues Shikaka, prevents the tribal war, and defeats Cadby using his unique skills and restored confidence.
Transformation
Ace celebrates with both tribes, fully redeemed and at peace. He has transformed from a broken, traumatized hermit into a confident detective who trusts his abilities again, shown embracing the tribal celebration and the natural world.