Ace Movie Review

Director Arumugakumar and Vijay Sethupathi, who previously collaborated on the quirky Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Soldren, return after a long gap with Ace, a thriller set entirely in Malaysia. Featuring Kannada actress Rukmini Vasanth in the female lead, the film also boasts a strong supporting cast including Yogi Babu, Divya Pillai, Babloo Prithveeraj, and B.S. Avinash.

The film opens intriguingly with Vijay Sethupathi’s character landing in Malaysia, his identity shrouded in mystery. As he mingles with the local crowd, circumstances lead him into the heart of a bank heist. What follows is a cat-and-mouse chase involving gangsters, the police, and a web of unpredictable twists.

Arumugakumar once again showcases his flair for unique setups and inventive moments. However, the film suffers from a lopsided screenplay. The first half spends too much time setting the stage with character introductions and backstory, which tests the audience’s patience. The real plot only kicks in at the interval. Thankfully, the second half redeems the film with tighter storytelling, engaging thrills, and moments of well-placed humor.

Vijay Sethupathi delivers a restrained but effective performance, especially shining in the latter half. Yogi Babu, returning to a more prominent comic space, offers a string of laugh-worthy moments that land well. Rukmini Vasanth, despite her proven talent in Sapta Saagaradha Aache, is underutilized here—her character feels more like eye candy than a contributor to the plot. The rest of the ensemble does justice to their roles, adding flavor to the story.

Musically, the songs don’t quite leave an impact, but the background score is a strong asset, heightening the tension and drama in key scenes. Visually, the film has its moments of brilliance, and the stunt choreography deserves a special mention.

In conclusion, Ace could have been a far more gripping experience had the first half been more engaging or trimmed by 15–20 minutes. Still, it finds redemption in its second half with decent entertainment value.