ACE Review

Vijay Sethupathi's Calm and Relax Game : ACE

Produced by 7CS Entertainment and written, directed, and produced by Arumugakumar, Ace stars Vijay Sethupathi, Rukmini Vasanth, Yogi Babu, Divya Pillai, Babloo Prithviraj, P.S. Avinash, Muthukumar, Raj Kumar, Dennes Kumar, Alvin Martin, Priscilla Nair, Jasper Subaya, Karthik J, Nakulan, Jahreenaris, and several others.

The story follows a man (played by Vijay Sethupathi) who arrives in Malaysia hoping to leave behind his past and lead a peaceful, simple life. Mistaken for someone named “Bold Kannan,” he is given a place to stay and a job by Arivukkarasu (Yogi Babu). As life starts to feel calm and content, he finds love in Rukmini (Rukmini Vasanth). But soon, he is drawn into several messy money-related conflicts. The way he deals with these issues, stepping into the shoes of "Bold Kannan," forms the central action of the Ace game.

Coming after Maharaja and Viduthalai, Ace presents Vijay Sethupathi in a relaxed and fun mode. True to this mood, the entire film carries his signature light-hearted energy. Though the Yogi Babu–Vijay Sethupathi combo didn’t quite work in Junga, the duo redeemed themselves here, offering a lot of laugh-out-loud moments. Vijay Sethupathi’s banter with Yogi Babu at times brings back fond memories of his earlier films like Soodhu Kavvum and Naanum Rowdy Dhaan.

Yogi Babu, returning in a fully comedic role after a long time, gets ample screen time. Rukmini Vasanth shines brightly as the charming and capable heroine, delivering a solid performance that suits the role perfectly. Supporting actors like G.F. Avinash and Babloo also deliver effectively. However, Babloo’s character feels like a leftover shadow of the Prithvi role from Aval Varuvaala.

The song Urugudhe Urugudhe melts the heart, thanks to Justin Prabhakaran’s soulful music and Karan B. Rawat’s lush cinematography, which beautifully showcases the scenic beauty of Malaysia. Sam C.S. elevates the mood with his powerful background score, and Fenny Oliver’s editing keeps the film fast-paced and engaging.

While Arumugakumar’s previous film Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren didn’t quite bring him widespread acclaim, Ace does seem poised to earn him more recognition. However, some elements feel over-the-top—like the overly naive portrayal of the Malaysian police and the unrealistic setup of cash lying around for anyone to grab. Avinash’s villain role feels like a caricature from old-school Tamil films, echoing Ashokan’s style with lines like “Yes, I fooled you and won!”

The decision to hide the main antagonist until the end is a refreshing idea but gets diluted by unnecessary additions like the character played by Watermelon Dheebakar, who feels like an unwarranted prop.

Overall, Ace is a passable entertainer if you go in with no expectations and forget the intensity of Vijay Sethupathi’s earlier works like Maharaja and Viduthalai. It won’t disappoint as a light watch, especially for those in the mood for a fun, casual film.