Ace Ventura (both parts, but part 1 especially) has to be one of the most accessible & fun masculine movies you can watch with your kids.
In fact, Ace is a masculinity icon they don’t make anymore.
And you probably won’t read that elsewhere because he’s not your cookie-cutter manly man hero.
But I’d pair it up with Conan the Barbarian as the into the top masculinity movie package.
Once you see through all the tomfoolery and extravagance, Ace is competent, determined, smart, persistent, independent, focused on his purpose, playful and effective with women. It’s the silly form of the character that makes his essence so easy to accept.
He’s just a happy & driven man who’s right in his place. That definitely sounds like something you’d want your sons to be.
He fights when he has to. There’s not a dash of true cowardice in him – cartoonishly freaking does not count.
He gets the girls, but without being a try-hard. Melissa is enchanted by his competence, his drive, and his independence. He’s never chasing women and he always gets the good ones that respect and adore him.
He helps the kind, deserving and beautiful, and avoids the unpleasant – and it pays off well.
Ace does what he wants, dresses like he wants, and he does not care about conforming.
Ventura never worries or reflects too much – it’s always planning, action, and adjustment.
And very importantly, he is very smart and creative. That’s the connection with Athena’ victory wisdom, much like Odysseus. He uses smart tricks along with the sheer force of his drive. The part when he was looking for the ring with the missing stone
His persistence and drive is probably the central thing of his character. He’s got that will that changes circumstances, which is by far most important thing to cultivate in your kids.
Where there is will – there is way is the top lesson you can get from the movie.
Pros:
Everything above.
Cons:
There might be a bit too much profanity to explain or ignore. Many jokes will definitely fly over children’s heads, but that’s all compensated by incredibly funny Carrey’s acting.
The fact that Ace is this Probably is such a straightforward masculine character is probably the main reason why there has never been a chapter 3 since – and why they finally announce it. This is what could be called a truth leak, when healthy archetypes get through into the mainstream.
They definitely have to twist Ace into some kind of therapy-paralyzed “be kind” jester to fit the modern narratives.
But we got the earlier movies, and that’s good enough.
Watch them with your kids and discuss all these themes, you’ll have a ton of fun!
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