Ace review: Vijay Sethupathi's charm elevates convenient storytelling

India Today

23-05-2025

Vijay Sethupathi and director Arumugakumar's debut collaboration 'Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren' polarised audiences completely - viewers either loved its zany approach or absolutely despised it. There's no middle ground. When the duo reunited for 'Ace', expectations were quite so-so. The question remained: Could they craft a film with universal appeal this time around? Let's find out!Bold Kannan (Vijay Sethupathi) is an enigmatic figure desperate to shed his criminal past and start a new life. His only link to his former life is his last phone call to imprisoned associates. Relocating to Malaysia, he befriends Arivu (Yogi Babu), a rag picker who masquerades as a businessman to impress Kalpana (Divya Pillai), a hotel owner.advertisementEnter Rukku (Rukmini Vasanth), a woman juggling odd jobs to survive while haunted by her abusive past with Rajadurai (Babloo Prithviraj). After mistaking Bold Kannan for a thief during their first encounter, she eventually warms up to him. When Rukku faces pressure at her workplace over targets, Bold Kannan's help lands them in dangerous territory involving ruthless gangster Dharma (BS Avinash), who deals in smuggling and illegal arms.
Director Arumugakumar has a unique voice in storytelling, crafting protagonists who defy conventional traits of a hero. His characters are quirky, flawed people who we may not like instantly, but gradually warm up to. Vijay Sethupathi's Bold Kannan embodies this trait perfectly - his various explanations for his nickname feel both meaningless and odd, though they often leave viewers clueless, particularly during the sluggish first half. advertisementThe narrative gains momentum when a seemingly simple poker game for quick money turns life-threatening. However, reaching this point requires one to sit through a lacklustre screenplay and an overextended poker sequence that, despite Sam CS's musical score, fails to generate genuine tension. Why? Because not everyone knows poker. You have to take cues from Sam CS's music to feel the emotions.The film truly finds its footing when Bold Kannan orchestrates an elaborate heist. These sequences reveal his criminal expertise and methodical approach, finally providing insight into his capabilities while raising intriguing questions about his mysterious background - questions that unfortunately remain unanswered in this instalment.Vijay Sethupathi delivers a compelling performance, making Bold Kannan interesting with his signature wit and charming presence. The character's eccentricities feel authentic in his hands. Rukmini Vasanth brings both beauty and emotional depth to Rukku, making her role effective, though occasional lip-sync issues are distracting.Karan B Rawat's cinematography beautifully captures Malaysia's scenic landscapes, while the music presents a mixed bag. Sam CS's background score often feels intrusive and jarring, whereas Justin Prabhakaran's melodic compositions, despite serving as speed breakers, offer a soothing experience.'Ace' suffers from significant structural flaws, mainly because we know little about Kannan's past, which would otherwise have lent credibility to his extraordinary criminal abilities. Instead, audiences must accept his brilliance by faith alone. The screenplay relies heavily on convenient plot devices, making most twists predictable and reducing the intended impact.advertisementWhile the heist sequences show promise and the post-interval portions gain some traction, the overall experience feels incomplete and unsatisfying.'Ace' unfortunately joins 'Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren' in the category of polarising cinema, though for different reasons. Where the previous film was deliberately zany and wacky, 'Ace' falls prey to convenient storytelling. While Arumugakumar's unique voice remains evident, Vijay Sethupathi's performance anchors the film admirably.The film works best when embracing its heist thriller elements, but struggles to maintain consistency across its runtime, ultimately delivering an experience that feels more like a missed opportunity.2.5 out of 5 stars for 'Ace'.Must Watch