Ace (2025) Movie NetMirror

Ace is a Tamil romantic crime comedy that hit theaters on May 23, 2025. Directed by Arumuga Kumar, the film stars Vijay Sethupathi in his 51st lead role alongside Rukmini Vasanth making her Tamil debut. The supporting cast includes Yogi Babu, B.S. Avinash, and Babloo Prithveeraj.

The film reunites director Arumuga Kumar with Vijay Sethupathi after their previous collaboration. Shot primarily in Malaysia, the movie combines romance, crime, and comedy elements with a runtime of 156 minutes.

Ace Movie Casting

Plot Summary

The story follows Kannan who travels to Malaysia seeking a fresh start. When his love interest Rukku faces financial troubles, Kannan decides to help her through poker gambling. However, things go wrong when he encounters Dharma, a ruthless gangster who cheats him.

Left with a massive debt and a week to repay, Kannan must navigate the dangerous criminal underworld. The plot revolves around survival, love, and the consequences of desperate decisions.

Cast Performance

Vijay Sethupathi delivers another solid performance as Kannan. He appears younger and fitter in this role, bringing his signature natural acting style. His dialogue delivery remains impactful, and he carries the film with his screen presence.

Rukmini Vasanth makes a decent Tamil debut. While her character has limited scope, she handles the emotional scenes well. Her chemistry with Sethupathi feels genuine.

Yogi Babu steals several scenes with his perfect comic timing. The combination scenes between him and Sethupathi create the film’s funniest moments. His presence provides much-needed relief from the drama.

The supporting cast including BS Avinash and Babloo Prithveeraj do their parts adequately as antagonists, though their characters could have been better written.

Direction and Technical Aspects

Director Arumuga Kumar attempts to blend multiple genres but struggles with pacing. The first half moves slowly, testing audience patience. However, the hilarious scenes between the lead actors help maintain interest.

Karan B. Rawat’s cinematography beautifully captures Malaysian locations. The visuals add significant appeal to the narrative.

Justin Prabhakaran’s music is adequate, while Sam C.S.’s background score elevates key emotional moments. The single Urugudhu Urugudhu was the only song released from the film.

Fenny Oliver’s editing could have been tighter. Several scenes slow down the narrative pace unnecessarily.

Critical Reception

Reviews from major publications were mixed. Times of India gave 3/5 stars, calling it enjoyable if watched without overthinking. Cinema Express also rated it 3/5, appreciating the effort despite flaws.

India Today gave 2.5/5 stars, noting that the film works best during heist sequences but lacks consistency. Several critics praised Sethupathi’s performance while pointing out pacing issues.

What I Liked

I found Vijay Sethupathi’s performance genuinely engaging. His natural charm makes even ordinary scenes watchable. The comedy sequences with Yogi Babu work really well and provide good entertainment value.

The Malaysian setting looks beautiful on screen. The cinematographer has done justice to the exotic locations. Sam C.S.’s background score adds emotional depth to important scenes.

The production values are decent throughout, and the film maintains visual appeal despite budget constraints.

Areas That Could Be Better

The pacing is the biggest issue I noticed. The first half drags considerably, and tighter editing could have solved this problem. Several scenes feel unnecessary and slow down the narrative.

The story logic has questionable moments that break the viewing experience. Some plot developments feel forced and unrealistic.

Character development especially for the female lead and supporting characters needs improvement. Many roles feel underwritten and one-dimensional.

The film struggles to find its tone – it’s neither a serious thriller nor a complete comedy, leaving audiences confused about expectations.

Box Office Performance

The film opened modestly with ₹1 crore on day one. Despite 62% growth on day two, the overall performance remained below expectations. By the end of its theatrical run, Ace collected approximately ₹6.47 crore net in India.

Vijay Sethupathi himself admitted that rushed release and poor publicity affected the film’s commercial performance.

Streaming Release

Ace is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video since June 13, 2025. The film is available in Tamil and Telugu languages, giving it a second chance to reach wider audiences.

Final Verdict

Ace had the ingredients to be a good heist comedy but fails to deliver due to execution issues. While Sethupathi’s charm and Yogi Babu’s comedy provide entertainment, the slow pacing and predictable plot drag it down.

The film works as a light, mindless entertainer if you’re not expecting much. However, it misses the mark as both a serious thriller and a romantic comedy.

I’d recommend it as a one-time watch for Vijay Sethupathi fans, especially now that it’s available for streaming. The Malaysian locations and decent production values make it visually appealing.

My Rating: 2.5/5

Bottom Line Ace is a missed opportunity that could have been much better with tighter editing and better pacing. Watch it for Sethupathi’s performance and Yogi Babu’s comedy, but don’t expect a memorable cinematic experience.