Ace Movie Review: Sethupathi and Yogi Babu Steal the Show in This Wild Heist Ride

When Vijay Sethupathi signs onto a film, you can usually expect something unconventional. His latest outing, Ace, directed by Arumugakumar—his collaborator from Oru Nalla Naal Paathu Solren (2018)—continues this streak. Distinct from recent films like Maharaja and Merry Christmas, Ace takes a lighter, more comedic route, placing Sethupathi alongside the ever-funny Yogi Babu in a quirky heist setup.

What’s the story?

Set in Malaysia, Ace follows Arivu (Yogi Babu), a rag picker posing as a wealthy businessman. His charade is primarily aimed at wooing Kalpana (Divya Pillai), a woman he admires. One day at the airport, Arivu mistakenly brings home Bold Kannan (Vijay Sethupathi), assuming he's his associate from India. Unaware of Kannan’s true identity, Arivu gets him a job at Kalpana’s restaurant.

Kannan soon crosses paths with Rukku (Rukmini Vasanth), a young woman struggling under the oppressive thumb of her stepfather Rajadurai (Babloo Prithviraj), a police officer. Smitten at first sight and eager to help her escape her circumstances, Kannan devises an impromptu heist to buy her freedom, roping in Arivu as his partner. But their mission is threatened by thug Dharma (BS Avinash), who has a personal vendetta against them.

How does it fare?

Director Arumugakumar attempts to blend romance, action, and comedy into a heist thriller format, and while the premise is familiar—almost retro in its 90s tone—the treatment is stylish. The film’s strongest asset is undoubtedly the chemistry between Vijay Sethupathi and Yogi Babu. Their scenes are the heartbeat of the movie, with Yogi Babu delivering consistent laughs through his comic timing and punchy one-liners.

The film stumbles a bit in the first half, which feels sluggish as characters and subplots are introduced. The second half picks up steam with fast-paced action and a drawn-out yet entertaining climax. Highlights include a cleverly staged poker game and Kannan-Arivu’s hilarious exchanges.

Despite its predictable plot and occasional logic-defying twists, the film stays afloat because of its humour and light-hearted energy. Pop culture references—ranging from Sethupathi’s past roles in Soodhu Kavvum and Maharaja to nods at Thalapathi—add an extra layer of fun for cinephiles.

Performances & Technical Aspects

Vijay Sethupathi shines in a role that lets him be relaxed, charming, and a bit mischievous—traits he pulls off effortlessly. Yogi Babu is in peak form and essentially carries the film's comic backbone. Rukmini Vasanth, making her Tamil debut, performs well but is given limited scope. Divya Pillai is a pleasant surprise, holding her own in key moments. Babloo Prithviraj and BS Avinash bring the necessary villainy, even if their characters are written in broad strokes.

Sam CS’s background score adds dramatic flair, especially during action segments. Justin Prabhakaran’s songs, particularly Urugudhu Urugudhu, offer emotional depth. Karan B Rawat’s cinematography captures Malaysia’s visuals beautifully, but the editing by Fenny Oliver could’ve been tighter—some scenes stretch unnecessarily, extending the 154-minute runtime.

Verdict

Ace is far from perfect—it’s silly, illogical, and over-the-top. But it doesn’t pretend to be anything else. What makes it work is the engaging camaraderie between Vijay Sethupathi and Yogi Babu, who lift the film with their effortless humour and screen presence. If you’re looking for a light, fun escape this summer, Ace delivers a decently entertaining ride.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)