Ace Review

Actor Vijay Sethupathi and writer-director Arumuga Kumar are known for making unconventional and niche movies. They previously collaborated on Laabam and Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren, both of which received polarising receptions - while some praised the films, others outright detested them. With Ace, the duo try to strike a balance and win mass appeal.

The story follows Bold Kannan (Vijay Sethupathi), a criminal who leaves India to start a new, honest life in Malaysia. There he befriends Arivu (Yogi Babu), a ragpicker who pretends to be a wealthy businessman to impress Kalpana (Divya Pillai). Kannan begins working at Kalpana's fast-food business.

Kannan soon crosses paths with Rukku (Rukmini Vasanth), a young woman trapped in a miserable life with her abusive stepfather and corrupt cop Rajadurai (Babloo Prithviraj). Kannan and Rukku fall in love.

Meanwhile, Kalpana is burdened with heavy debts, and Rukku needs a large sum to buy her freedom from her stepfather. In a desperate bid to make quick money, Kannan gambles - but ends up losing a huge amount to a ruthless loan shark, Dharma (Avinash).

Driven to the edge, Kannan plans a heist on the OCOC Malaysia Bank - and miraculously pulls it off. To his surprise, he also wins a 20-million Malaysian ringgit lottery. But his luck draws dangerous attention: the corrupt cop, the loan shark and even the bank are now after him. And the Malaysian police are closing in, too.

From the moment Kannan lands in Malaysia, you realize this is not a typical Sethupathi-type film - gritty and realistic - where the lead character lacks the conventional traits of a hero. In many ways, this movie unravels the familiar Sethupathi and reshapes him into a more mainstream persona - an Ace, a smart and charismatic hero. And it all works well.

Part of the reason is how Arumuga Kumar attempts to make even the mundane moments engaging. Nothing is particularly grand, but he injects a sense of wackiness into everything - everyday affairs, conversations, and even the fights. The result is a film full of fun moments, though often at the expense of realism. The bromance between Arivu and Kannan is an example - unreal camaraderie but fun nonetheless.

The character introductions are intriguing, too. Here's a sneak peek: A girl reports to cop Rajadurai that a boy is blackmailing her with a video of their intimate moments. Rajadurai sets a trap, beats the boy to pulp, and seizes his phone. But when the girl asks him to delete the video, the cop demands a sexual favour. She then faces continuous harassment until the cop is eventually killed. Similarly, Kannan's intelligence is revealed through an act of kindness, while Arivu's buffoonery and Rukku's no-nonsense attitude are brought out through clear and explicit sequences. There's no subtlety.

Once the characters are introduced and the stage is set for the heist, things spiral into a frenzy. The heist, the escape attempts, the chases - none is particularly innovative or intense, but they are all undeniably funny. The writer-director made "fun" the central objective and, in doing so, made several compromises with the story. So while deep down you know it's all silly and lacks depth, you somehow end up enjoying the ride, which becomes a rollercoaster after the interval, after the heist. The pacing of the movie will remind you of Kamal Hassan's Mumbai Express.

Prithviraj and Avinash have often been relegated to sidekick roles throughout their acting careers. For the first time, they get ample screen time. Avinash steps out of the shadow of KGF and proves he can carry a film on his own. And Prithviraj, who has long been made a caricature by Tollywood - constantly beaten up and mocked in film after film - pays all of that back with some superb acting.

Sethupathi delivers a compelling performance. The bold Kannan is both daring and charming - at times, even an ace. His chemistry with Yogi Babu sparkles with energy.

Yogi is quintessentially Yogi, but here he's placed in situations beyond comedy - territory he hasn't explored much before.

Rukmini Vasanth brings both beauty and emotional depth to Rukku. She plays a docile yet dominant partner in love, striking a fine balance.

Technically, the movie stands out in a unique way. Though 90% of it is shot in Malaysia, it doesn't merely showcase exotic locations. Instead, it explores the underbelly of the cities - you get glimpses of everyday life, which adds to the fun.

Justin Prabhakaran's songs (there are just two songs) are melodious and offer a soothing contrast to the relentless pounding of Sam CS' background score. The score, while effective in places, often feels overly loud and jarring - like someone just cranked the volume up at the press of a button.

Ace has its share of flaws story-wise, often feeling unrealistic and silly. But despite that, it definitely deserves a one-time watch.