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Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Ace movie review: Vijay Sethupathi, Rukmini Vasanth's crime comedy is yet another disaster that uses Yogi Babu as the butt of tasteless jokes
Ace movie review: Coincidences happen; they can be nice and fun too, particularly in crime and action comedies. But relying solely on coincidences at almost every juncture is simply convenient and lazy writing. Writer-director Arumuga Kumar's Ace proves exactly that. From the moment Vijay Sethupathi's character lands in Malaysia, his life becomes a series of conveniently crafted 'coincidences'. Immediately after stepping out of the airport, Arivu (Yogi Babu) appears before him 'out of the blue'. In an extremely clichéd moment, Arivu asks him if he is Bolt Kannan, claiming 'this is what he would look like' and then proceeds to rattle off all sorts of details about Kannan. For someone who is definitely not Bolt Kannan but is in dire need of a disguise, this is just too convenient to pass up. Without asking for any ID or proof (and that too in this era), Arivu confirms that he is Kannan and takes him to live in a neighbourhood largely inhabited by Tamils. The real Bolt Kannan was summoned to Malaysia to work as a chef at a food joint run by Arivu's love interest, Kalpana (Divya Pillai), and thus Vijay's character conveniently lands a job as well. Totally coincidental. In his new neighbourhood, he meets a pretty young woman, Rukmini Vasanth, in an eponymous role, and they, of course, have a rocky start. Nonetheless, he immediately develops feelings for her. Then, they keep running into each other, not just in their locality, but in other parts of the city too, as if someone is scripting their story and desperately wants them to keep meeting so they can eventually fall in love. The coincidences keep stacking up. At the exact moment when Rukmini wants some people to be beaten up, Kannan appears and does the job, completely altering her opinion of him. And before long, she falls for him; totally coincidental, especially considering the film offers no proper explanation for her change of heart. All we're shown is the two of them talking and laughing, with a song, 'Urugudhu Urugudhu,' playing in the background. I thought such unimaginative storytelling was a thing of the past. Clearly not. As if these weren't enough, both Kalpana and Rukmini are facing conveniently timed financial crises. Kalpana needs a large sum to settle a bank debt tied to her food joint, while Rukmini needs a huge amount to escape the clutches of her ruthless stepfather, police officer Raja Dorai (portrayed extremely poorly by Babloo Prithiveeraj). But fret not; Kannan is here to save the day. A pro poker player, he tries to make money through gambling. However, his plan backfires (probably one of the few times things don't go his way), and he ends up just as deeply in debt to mafia don Dharma (a decent BS Avinash). Desperate, he robs a bank. And yes, the heist is just as casually written as it sounds — rushed and completely devoid of tension or planning. Meanwhile, Kannan also wins a jackpot worth nearly the same amount he stole; just imagine the level of coincidences that happen in his life. However, the police soon get some clues regarding the robber and commence a probe. From that point on, while the sheer level of convenience and coincidences starts to taper off and a few obstacles come Kannan's way, things don't improve significantly. Kumar continues to take the easy routes, throwing in some half-baked thriller elements too, thereby ruining even the slight potential this part of the narrative had. Although Ace had the potential to be a thrilling and fun crime comedy, the intrigue at its core is completely undermined by Kumar's extremely lazy writing. Laden with overused tropes and painfully clichéd jokes, Ace is not only poorly constructed but even more poorly executed, ultimately turning the film into a complete trainwreck. Another major drawback of the film is its unnecessary subplots, particularly the one involving Raja Dorai. While we repeatedly see him blackmailing a young woman with her sex tape, one would naturally expect this aspect or her character to play a more significant role in the larger narrative. But no; she is simply reduced to a background presence with no meaningful development or resolution. Also, how much longer will Tamil cinema continue to recycle the same tasteless jokes at Yogi Babu's expense? In this film, he's portrayed as a sanitation worker, and no, the makers' intentions don't appear noble. This becomes clear in the way the film attempts to extract humour from Arivu's job. On top of that, the movie also relies heavily on tired 'jokes' about his appearance. To mock someone whose skin tone and body type reflect a large segment of the Dravidian population is not only tone-deaf but also deeply offensive and regressive. Meanwhile, as conversations around the disturbing age gap between Kamal Haasan and Trisha Krishnan in the upcoming Thug Life continue, Ace falls into a similar trap by pairing a 28-year-old Rukmini opposite a 47-year-old Vijay Sethupathi. While their romance is handled with a certain degree of grace and the two do share charming on-screen chemistry, the age difference is impossible to ignore. It begs the question: was there really no alternative to pairing these two actors, if not for the entrenched patriarchal mindset that male leads are 'ageless', while their female counterparts are not? The makers could have easily chosen an age-appropriate casting by retaining just one of them; the fact that they didn't speaks volumes. Amidst all its issues, what works in Ace's favour is the adorable chemistry between the lead cast. Vijay Sethupathi and Yogi Babu are a delight to watch, making one wish for a better film that does justice to their dynamic. Vijay and Rukmini's interactions also bring a certain warmth and spark to the screen. While none of the performances are particularly remarkable, especially considering these actors have delivered far stronger work in the past, they do their best with what they've been given. Karan B Rawat's cinematography, Justin Prabhakaran's enchanting music and Sam CS's exceptional background score also contribute to keeping the film from becoming a complete disaster. Ace movie cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Rukmini Vasanth, Yogi Babu Ace movie director: Arumuga Kumar Ace movie rating: 1.5 stars
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
‘Ace' movie review: Vijay Sethupathi, Yogi Babu cannot save this middling comedy-thriller
Imagine an ordinary person, poor, lonely and single, naively daydreaming about situations as follows. What if I could fly to a foreign country, preferably with a large Tamil diaspora, like Malaysia, and meet a stunningly gorgeous woman, like that actress from Sapta Saagardaache Ello? It would be a bummer if our paths don't cross often, and so what if she lives opposite my house and we take the same train to reach our day jobs? Also, what if she needs a lot of money, and I become a prince charming with godly luck at Poker, or, say, rob a bank? After all, it's a dream, so I get to decide how outlandish my story can be. This is largely how the story of Ace pans out. If convenient writing is a game of poker, Ace is a royal flush. Yet despite a ridiculous storyline, this is a surprisingly entertaining film till a point (far better than what the trailer suggested). Four things work well in its favour. First, it features Yogi Babu at his comedic best. As Arivukarasan, the actor is riotous throughout the film, and nine out of 10 jokes land with impeccable timing. Then comes the lead romantic pair, Vijay Sethupathi and Rukmini Vasanth, who are adorably cute as 'Bolt' Kannan and Rukmini. They charm their way through the film with the smallest expressions — watch how hesitantly Vijay grins when Rukmini first waves at him from her balcony — and somehow make you forgive scenes with lazy writing. Indeed, their playful banter throughout the 'Urugudhu Urugudhu' song makes you crave a rom-com. Speaking of songs, Justin Prabhakaran's music plays a vital role in elevating the film's mood. He sticks to his assignment, and the background score makes its presence felt without seeking much attention. Finally, writer-director Arumugakumar does show occasional flair in scene writing, and a knack for suspense that could have come in handy in a better film. Ace (Tamil) Director: Arumugakumar Cast: Vijay Sethupathi, Rukmini Vasanth, Yogi Babu, BS Avinash Runtime: 156 minutes Storyline: To save his girlfriend from her abusive stepfather and to save himself from a loan shark, a man attempts to steal money from a bank in Malaysia, only to land in trouble Though all this keeps the film afloat until intermission, they fail to sustain a material so thin, and, at times, even tedious. Interesting ideas are introduced without much follow-up, like Kannan's top-tier Poker skills. Arivu's employment as a sanitation worker, the restaurant their friend and well-wisher, Kalpana (Divya Pillai), owns, or the drug cartel run by Dharma (BS Avinash; as a kingpin who traps Kannan and Arivu in a huge debt), are all settings we are introduced to but with no roles to play in the larger scheme of things. A sub-plot about Rajadurai (Babloo Prithviraj; as Rukmini's obnoxious stepfather and police officer) blackmailing a young girl with her sex tape takes up so much space, only to become conspicuously unnecessary. Everything derails when the film takes itself too seriously by attempting to be a suspenseful heist thriller. In fact, Ace has all the necessary ingredients to become a good romantic caper, but it never finds its tone. A serious thriller with an innovative heist is one thing, and an out-and-out comedy where the plan goes hilariously wrong is another. Ace is neither. Its flaws are evident in two central action sequences. One happens when Kannan and Arivu are chased by Durai's men, while the other is an elaborate escape plan. You either laugh at everything silly Yogi Babu does or utters, or you miss him whenever Arumugakumar attempts to conjure a Mission: Impossible out of thin air. At one point, Arivu, distressed by Kannan persistently asking him to trust his hush-hush plans, quips, 'ennada plan'u plan'u nutu, enna maati vidradhu dhana da unnoda plan'u?' This, and how Ace wishes to reveal information about its mysterious protagonist, pretty much sums up the film as well — it keeps its cards close to the chest, reveals some, throws away the rest, and declares itself a winner. Ace is currently running in theatres
