It's a bad movie that I can watch for free via 2 am cable TV.
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SnoopyStyle8 September 2017Olivia Haden's father is run over by a robber and killed. Thirteen months later, Olivia is alone with her older brother Miles as their mother leaves on a business trip. Olivia is walking her dog at 2am when she witnesses her rich neighbor being kidnapped. Her brother dismisses her. The cops don't believe her either. While detective Dottie Wheel (Susan Sarandon) is skeptical, she gives her a card. Olivia investigates on her own.
This is what great actors do in between the good stuff. Not everything can be gold. There's no shame in doing it for the money. It's work. This is a low grade kiddie movie with some rather dangerous crime drama. Little Ripley Sobo reminds me of a child Lindsay Lohan with her red hair and spunky personality. Sarandon is out of place like a World Series MVP playing in a Little Leagues game. They filmed this in NYC and that ground level sense is at least something. This is mostly weak with sad comedic attempts. The other actors are functional to relatively good. The writing is simply weak and this is not good. -
Not many late summer kiddie movies come out every year. Catering to Pre-teens is tough. Yet, too often the efforts that are made to woo this age group turn out to be bad. That's what has happened with this film too. Ace the Case has nothing to ace neither there is a case. The mystery is not half as intelligent as it should be for the kids that it targets. Yet, its not totally unwatchable. In fact, kids would probably love Olivia, A 9 year old everyday New York girl who will resonate with a lot of kids of her age. Being involved in a detective story that takes her to the uncharted and "dangerous" big city all alone is a child trap. While some may consider it risky content for kids, I think its standard children's story trope. Kids these days are exposed to much worse. Heck, even Home Alone movies had more violence. There's also this adorable dog and a humongous rabbit in it which btw, have zero significance to anything happening in the movie. However, if you ask me its just a steaming pile of toddler puke. Chances are that your kids are asking for this movie or you want to take them out to see it. My advice is well, rather take them to a museum or something. Then again, they're your kids, so do whatever you want. I may even recommend it for my own nieces and and nephews.
Susan Sarandon is a pro and its endearing to see her interacting with the the main character of the movie. I hope she got paid well for the role and its not a favour to the producers because her every scene in the movie added a little bit of life to its limp plot. Ripley Solo who plays the role of Olivia, the little red-head kid trying to solve a crime, is promising. Its no wonder that she comes from Broadway experience. She should get more sensible roles in Hollywood while she's cute and charming. We know what happens to most of the prodigious child stars when they grow up. Unless, she turns out to be the next Natalie Portman. Besides these two, every other cast and character is basically unimportant and treated that way.
I can see why kids might enjoy it but won't they gobble up just about anything that's got a child doing bold things? Just plop them in front of a TV and put on a DVD of this movie. It will work. Although, I wouldn't go so far as to claim it is the modern Home Alone. It does remind of the Macaulay Culkin's New York misadventures but its not as entertaining. What's most puzzling is that despite so much classic material available for children movies, filmmakers choose to experiment with sub-par concepts that don't sit well with any generation. Make a modern adaptation of Huckleberry Finn or Tom Sawyer and even adults will go to watch it. On second thought, Ace the Case is probably a welcome break from constant barrage of superhero movies that are not even talking to kids anymore. -
Early positive reviews say this is great for the kids or a youth group. It is not. Do not let your children watch this unless you also happen to be comfortable having them watch horror movies. At times this movie acts like it is a wacky comedy, with silly characters and situations. And other times it is stark and cruel and emotionally violent. At one point the bad guy covers the little girl character in gasoline and plans to light her on fire until he is stopped with lighter in hand.
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zoolife27 August 2016I wasn't expecting much from this movie but I never expected to get so much less. It's as if all those involved with this movie learned everything they knew about making and acting in a movie from a middle school drama workshop. I don't know how Susan Sarandon got roped into starring in this movie but even her acting in this was so sub par from anything I have seen her do before. One could surmise that she sunk to the level put forth by all involved in it's making. I am curious to learn how this film even got made. Was it funded by some rich family as a vehicle to get their kids or relatives into the movie business? I struggled to find a redeeming quality to this film of which I am held speechless in the attempt.
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abbalobo15 September 2016This film genre was family & mystery, but what mystery? Overall the movie was very bad movie. When you see it's trailer, you may think it's a good movie for the family. You wrong, it's bad movie. Maybe the plot was not so bad but almost all the actor was so bad. It's very bad acting compare to some bad movie I've ever watch. All of the actor acting bad. Susan Sarandon (detective Dottie) is a good actress but in this movie she is nothing. Ripley Sobo (Olivia), maybe need a lot of time to learn to be a good actress, she had the time, I hope she will be. Aaron Sauter (Miles) was so bad, I don't think he is an actor. And all the rest was actor and actress was so bad. So with more professional actor, maybe it will be a good family movie.
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cesar-milani-237 April 2022But if you did, remember: you've been warned! I guess mrs. Sarandon was really needing that money, that's the only explanation for doing this 'flick'. I do love her and it was so sad to watch her in the film.
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turnerkathleen29 August 2016After watching Ace the Case, I decided to show it at my church's back to school pizza party for our 8th grade youth group. The boys and girls equally loved it, as well as many adults. Great story with a cute young actress and one of my favorites, Susan Sarandon. I can assure if you are trying to select something appropriate for almost all ages, Ace the Case will be a great pick that will please all and offend little. I find it very hard today to find films rated PG-13 that are truly suited for that age group and I am happy to recommend this to all. In a world with so much darkness this is an inspiring little film with a great message for our youth. The movie does start off a bit slow but once Sarandon hits the screen it quickly picks up and changes direction immediately. The "bad guys" are bad enough but not too much for a PG-13 film and there is no cursing! There is one drinking scene but it's really a cautionary tale and it certainly doesn't glamorize alcohol in any way. It actually does the opposite in a quite comical way. This is a great small film for all ages that will be in our family library to enjoy for years to come.
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mconners-1477330 August 2016Went to see film in Sandy Springs with five kids and three adults, and we all were pleasantly surprised. It's a bit like Home Alone, and like an old Disney film. In fact, they don't make these type of films anymore. A refreshing change from the fast craziness of animated kid films, more real and more exciting. We all laughed and had a good time. The girl who played the lead was delightful! And of course Susan Sarandon is always good played the part of the detective who at first doesn't believe the girl but then does. I was relieved there were no language or sex issues, and there enough funny characters to keep it light and fun. My kids especially loved the scenes with the rabbit, which is huge, and the girl putting herself out there, trying to solve the case. A fun movie and a fun night.
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smiriamshea30 August 2016I'm a huge fan Susan Sarandon and will watch anything and everything she's in. Stepmom is one of my favorite films of all time. When I saw she was in this new film, Ace The Case, I decided to watch it right away and downloaded it so I could watch while I babysat my young cousins. We all loved it.
The scenes between Susan Sarandon and Ripley Sobo (the young star who plays the daring girl detective) are wonderful. Sarandon and Sobo have great chemistry together. And I loved that the cast was more diverse than most. I just know Sobo is someone we're going to be hearing more about in the future.
I love that the director really seemed to show us NYC - from the subways, to alleys, to parks, to upscale apartments. I feel like we got to see it all. I love that the script included comedic moments for kids, and for those of us who have aged out of childhood.
And while Sarandon was still my favorite, I was nicely surprised by the performances of the ensemble cast, in particular Luca Managanaro - who plays a bumbling criminal with a great combination of comedy and pathos. I hope to see more of him. -
harrisong-1761230 August 2016I'd seen a lot of ads for this film on social media and thought I would give it a try. I mean you can't go wrong with Susan Sarandon. The beginning of the film was a bit disjointed, but 10 minutes in I was hooked! Is it getting an Oscar nomination? Probably not, but it's a cute film that I know my little cousins will love. They love Matilda the Musical so I think they will be excited to see Ripley Sobo as Olivia the detective!
As a big brother to a much younger sister, It was interesting seeing how this dynamic played on screen. My sister is 6 years younger than me and growing up we had very little in common. Aaron Sauter does an excellent job of playing the uninterested and annoyed older brother. It reminds me of Home Alone and Harriet the Spy from when I was a kid. -
MatthewRyanSchwartz30 August 2016A fun adventure for the entire family! At first glance the film comes off as purely a children's flick, but it's so much more. Ace the Case gives a younger audience the opportunity to be introduced to more serious themes with the playfulness of a youthful voice. Ripley Sobo is an extremely relatable character whose curiosity leads her to partner up with Susan Sarandon. Great for children who love solving mysteries and suspense. I would categorize it with films like Harriet the Spy and Home Alone. Highly recommended for children maturing into a more cinematic experience. Also, super convenient that its straight to On demand in addition to being in theaters.
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mile-8659627 August 2016I rented Ace the Case simply to see why the reviews were so awful they made me laugh and I ended up buying it because my 6 year old watched it 3 times in one day. Very refreshing break from the super hero movies and my kids loved the young girl and the rabbit so big it looked prehistoric. There are definitely a few scenes I could see might be scary for some young kids but not mine. They found them more humoruous than frightening. I usually end up falling asleep half way through the typical kid films but I laughed numerous times and lasted through a great finale. Great for kids of all ages that won't put the parents asleep. It definitely doesn't feel like a big budget movie but I love indie flix like Boyhood and Bottle Rocket and I felt this had similar production quality.
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andrewgross730 August 2016This movie is just plain fun in a way the movie critics don't seem to understand. It's like Home Alone for a new generation - speaking of which, that movie didn't get such great reviews when it came out, and it's now an absolute classic. It's a premise that's exciting for kids - the young girl is left alone, witnesses a kidnapping, and has to solve it all on her own. The girl is terrific, not to mention Susan Sarandon, who plays the role of the seasoned detective just right. And as a fellow New Yorker, you've gotta love all the authentic locations, especially the big scene on the Staten Island Ferry. Very enjoyable and funny film - you'll definitely get your money's worth.
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telephotoshop30 August 2016Ace The Case is at times a thrilling mystery, and at others is a fun-filled family caper. I rented this on Itunes and ended up buying it for my two girls who really identified with the main character. My family and I live and work in New York City- It was definitely a love letter to the city- The locations visited and seen on screen are beautifully shot. Visually the Director of Photography and the Director combined forces to really showcase the setting. I thought that the production really found a gem of an actress with Ripley Sobo (Olivia). We had seen her earlier in the year on Broadway in "Matilda." I've always liked Susan Sarandon- not just her as an actress but her politics too- and she does well as a seasoned detective. My husband and I were a little bit wary at times of the scary aspects in the film- (kidnapping, hostage) but it never gets so out of hand that we were worried about our kids seeing it. Overall this film is lovely, and I can see several more evening viewings in our families future.
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firstclasschick30 August 2016Great story telling with a New York flair. Ripley Sobo is an extremely talented kid that you'll be seeing for many years to come. And "what's with the rabbit?" lol adorable!
Susan Sarandon is funny and plays a compassionate NYPD Detective yet tough enough to get the job done.
Lev Gorn is hilarious, and I just loved seeing a diverse cast. That really captures the essence of what NYC truly represents.
I took my 10 year old niece to see this and she loved it. Totally kept her interest, and a feel good ending. A nice change from the usual pg- 13 film choices.. -
Topolproductions30 August 2016I really liked this film. The young actor Ripley Sobo who played the central crime stopper character Olivia Haden, is a veteran of Ricki and the Flash, Steve Jobs (daughter Lisa), and Batman v Superman, among others, as well as playing Matilda on Broadway.
The most notable star was Susan Sarandon who played NYPD Detective Dottie Wheel. Lev Gorn played The Surgeon whose previous works include The Americans, Cafe Society, NCIS, Madam Secretary, and many others. Great comedic performances by the whole cast. This is a family film with a lighthearted story. A great download for you and your kids! I give this film ********** (10 stars!) -
bmossynotbossy31 August 2016I took my son and daughter to see the film at Lefont this past weekend. We heard that the director would be in town talking about the movie. My family took a trip to NYC last summer and my daughter BEGGED to see Matilda. Ever since she has been obsessed with Ripley Sobo. She's seen all her movies. What a resume!
I didn't know any of the actors except the two leads on the poster so I was a bit skeptical but figured let's give it a shot! The dog and the bunny looked promising and I love me some Sarandon! I've been waiting for a movie all summer that my whole family would enjoy and we found it!
Ace the Case had that old fashioned slapstick humor reminiscent of my generations Home Alone. Ripley was charming and very convincing as the little crime fighter. My son and daughter can't wait to see it again. I know we'll be getting it on i-Tunes! -
margophillips6 September 2016Susan Sarandon is playful and awesomely young in this kids whodunit. Love the line about women detectives and high heels!
The music is fun and it opens with a great shot of Manhattan.
There's a lovable brother/sister relationship that plays center stage and an awesome dog named Charlie for comedic relief.
Also need to mention the largest rabbit I have ever seen in my life? Why is the guy carrying it? Who cares! It's hysterical!
I saw this a few days ago with my kids and it was great. Overall, a great plot, and some good comedy.
I recommend this for a rainy day or a weekend rental. -
chasesabastion31 August 2016I don't even know how to begin. Some of the most random films have gone on to become cult classics and after pondering this film for days, I'm certain thats what this will go down in the books as. I'd love to lay out my full theory in detail but don't want to risk being tagged as a spoiler. GIANT rabbit, Susan Sarandon (Rocky Horror Picture Show), low budget, downtown NYC landscape, super random, burgeoning young heroine and 1990's style (nailed!). I can't imagine the director envisioned this but if he did (f'n genius). The film obviously sets it self up for a sequel and I only hope a studio doesn't take it and turn it into most of the garbage coming out today. Please keep these coming and don't sell out on the next one! After renting this I actually decided to buy it and think it's the best $20 I can remember spending.
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nogodnomasters10 October 2017After her father has recently passed, and mom (Ivana Kane) is away on a business trip, Olivia (Ripley Sobo) witnesses the kidnapping of the hot Asian chick (Luna Tieu) across in apartment 6G. No one believes her at first, but then she conducts her own investigation and does things you would not want your nine year old to do.
If is a fair movie. Nothing twisty and some plot holes. While it is geared toward kids, it is not so drippy as to appear as a kids only film...except for the end credits. Good family film. Teen drinking scene with consequences. "Butt-face" is the height of swearing. -
sofagirlsalome12 July 2018Fun romp in New York City with Susan Sarandon in a heartwarming role as a detective. This was a super fun filled I watched it with my children we laughed and we were very moved. I loved the sleuth thing.
I enjoyed the dark comedy and it's a great updated version of Home Alone -
jimvandemoter-5023622 August 2020I can think of all sorts of ways I should hate this movie, but I don't. There's many stereotypes. Mae's father is about as clueless as someone can get. Mae is a spoiled rich kid, the bad guys are as dumb as expected for this kind of movie, the tough guy with the rabbit is another stereotype with a twist, etc. That said the young girl who plays Olivia is as cute as can be, she carries the movie along with Susan Serandon. With all that, if you don't expect too much, this is a fun, light movie for the family. I will add this to my collection for those times when I just want to relax and just see fun light entertainment.
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nanettemeau17 March 2024This is one of the best comedy drama crime movies I've ever seen. It's very clever. And the actors they used fit the parts perfectly. The characters really do come across as believable. Susan Sarandon looks fabulous for 70 years old in this film. She's worked on looking good and it does show. One of the characters -the little girl is incredibly a naturally funny witty kid. I couldn't believe how she made me laugh. There are parts of the film she surprised me.
The Shady character who holds the rabbit is hilarious. I mean the guy fits the parts so perfectly and he is so witty and hilariously funny. The Chinese guy was a great actor and really fits his role very well.
Basically like I said all of the actors fit their character role very well extremely well.
If you want to see a funny movie mixed with some crime drama sit down and watch this. I did read some reviews where the parents were not pleased with it. In that case with your children you can supervise the film sit with your kid and watch it. Or as an adult it's fantastic.