“Ace”, starring popular Tamil actor Vijay Sethupathi, quietly hit Malaysian cinemas on May 23, and since then, it’s been steadily building buzz.
Written, produced and directed by Arumuga Kumar, this Kollywood film was shot over 65 days in Perak and Kuala Lumpur with mostly local crew, and a few homegrown talents as cast members.
Billed as a rom-com heist film, “Ace” is simple, light-hearted and entertaining.
After playing intense roles recently – “Viduthalai Part 2” and the blockbuster “Maharaja” – it’s refreshing to see Vijay Sethupathi return to his comedic roots.
As Bolt Kannan, he’s quirky, charming, and kind-hearted, with a habit of going above and beyond to help others, often landing himself in a heap of trouble because of it. And that, really, is the crux of the plot.
Kannan arrives in Malaysia hoping for a fresh start from his seemingly troubled past. But when he discovers that the girl he loves (Rukmini Vasanth), needs money to escape her vile stepfather (Babloo Prithviraj), he dives headfirst into a series of questionable money-making schemes. Bank robbery? Check. Gambling? Check. Chaos? You bet.
Of course, things spiral, and the rest of the film is spent watching Kannan try to wriggle his way out of the mess he’s made. The plot may lean on familiar ground, but the film keeps it engaging with a web of subplots.
You’ve got Kalpana (Divya Pillai), Kannan’s boss and well-wisher, who’s on the verge of losing her restaurant. There’s Dharma (BS Avinash), a drug lord who traps Kannan and his buddy Arivu in debt. Rukmini’s nasty stepfather and ex-cop Rajadurai is blackmailing a young woman over a sex tape.
By the climax, all of these plot threads eventually connect and everything clicks into place, with Kannan stepping up to untangle the mess.
Still, what truly makes “Ace” enjoyable is the comedy, thanks to the pairing of Vijay Sethupathi and Yogi Babu.
Yogi Babu’s Arivu is a walking contradiction. His name may mean “knowledge”, but he’s the least informed person in the room, constantly blurting out secrets at the worst possible moments.
Kannan’s boldness and Arivu’s cluelessness make for a hilarious dynamic. Arivu just wants a peaceful life but keeps getting roped into danger, while Kannan’s disbelief at Arivu’s idiocy adds to the fun. It’s simple, sharp, and doesn’t try too hard.
The poker scenes with Arivu and Kannan facing off against gangster Dharma are a real highlight – equal parts nail-biting and hilarious, especially with Arivu practically shaking in his boots. And get ready to laugh out loud when Yogi Babu shows up in a female get-up.
Rukmini, though visibly younger than Sethupathi, holds her own as the girl-next-door. Plus, her chemistry with Sethupathi surprisingly works.
Keep an eye out for familiar local faces too – Denes Kumar, Kaarthick Jay, Priscilla Nair, and Alvin Martin – show up in small but commendable roles.
The music, by Justin Prabhakaran and Sam CS, gets the job done, though nothing particularly memorable.
Where “Ace” stumbles, however, is in the pre-climactic stretch. The screenplay feels outdated, and what should feel like a race against time, ends up being a slightly leisurely jog.
How it all ends though, is rather satisfying.
And yes, in true Tamil cinema style, there are a few logic-defying moments. Like when Sethupathi’s character single-handedly robs a bank and escapes the police without breaking a sweat. But hey – if Tom Cruise can do it, so can he.
Local audiences, however, might be a little more irked by the inconsistent geography. One moment the characters are shopping in KL, and the next they’re casually stepping out of a bank in Ipoh – on the same day. It happens more than once and does break the immersion, especially for Malaysians excited to spot familiar landmarks on the big screen.
Still, these quirks aside, “Ace” is a solid pick if you’re looking to kill two-plus hours with a good laugh.
As of press time, ‘Ace’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.