Vijay Sethupathi’s ace delivers fun heist comedy
When Vijay Sethupathi picks a film, uniqueness follows, and Ace, directed by Arumugakumar, lives up to this reputation. Reuniting after their 2018 hit Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren, Sethupathi and Arumugakumar present a lighthearted heist comedy set in Malaysia.
The story follows Arivu (Yogi Babu), a ragpicker who pretends to be rich to impress Kalpana (Divya Pillai). Mistaking Bold Kannan (Sethupathi) for someone else, Arivu brings him home and gets him a job at Kalpana’s restaurant. Kannan soon falls for Rukku (Rukmini Vasanth), who struggles under her controlling stepfather Rajadurai (Babloo Prithviraj). Kannan and Arivu team up to help Rukku buy her freedom through a daring heist, complicated by local thug Dharma (BS Avinash).
The film’s charm lies In the chemistry between Sethupathi and Yogi Babu, whose comic timing keeps the pace lively. While the plot feels familiar, the vibrant Malaysian setting and Sam CS’s energetic score add freshness. Justin Prabhakaran’s song Urugudhu Urugudhu offers a touching moment, and DOP Karan B Rawat’s visuals impress, though editing slows the second half slightly.
Ace is an entertaining, breezy watch with enough laughs and thrills, perfect for a casual outing with friends or family.
The supporting cast also shines, with Divya Pillai delivering a confident performance and Rukmini Vasanth making a graceful Tamil debut. Babloo Prithviraj and BS Avinash convincingly portray the antagonists, adding depth to the story. Overall, the ensemble strengthens the film’s engaging and entertaining vibe.