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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this fantasy film from actor Aziz Ansari, has been struggling at the box office. Several factors could account for its performance: Its uninspired title doesn't convey its movie's unique charm. Its script is often moralizing and obvious regarding the messages. The acting are uninspired and presentational, as if the cast were reciting lines directly from the page. Moreover, it arrives during an era marked by financial anxiety and disparity, that could make audiences not very receptive to a narrative which implies rich individuals have every advantages while the poor have spirit.

But, here's where Good Fortune stands out: It's original, bold, imaginative, frequently humorous, and certainly timely. Plus, it provides an unexpectedly enjoyable the actor character-driven movie.

Keanu Reeves in the role of Angel: His Typical Performance

I have not considered Reeves to be a strong actor. The actor's flat delivery and consistent expression of slight perturbation has always seemed limited, regardless of the broad range of roles he has played during the last 40 of his career. Astute directors have cast Reeves in parts in which that rigidity works perfectly, including My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to John Wick. Yet nearly every one of these characters required him to seem tough, closed-off, and removed.

In Good Fortune, the actor portrays Gabriel, a low-level guardian angel assigned with watching over individuals who use their phones when driving. His whole duty involves remaining in his cars and gently making contact with the drivers' arms when they are about to crash, alerting them in order that the driver brake before impact. But, while standing high above the city, looking down upon the mortal world similar to a interpretation of the angel in the director's classic film Wings of Desire, Gabriel gets ambitious. Gabriel wants to be a great guardian and a savior of wayward souls.

A Unexpected Turn: Keanu Playing a Human

So, Gabriel presents himself to struggling odd-jobber Arj (portrayed by the director), who is living in his car and resenting his life. Gabriel then exchanges the man into the existence of stupidly rich tech mogul a character (played by Seth Rogen). The point behind the experiment was that Arj to understand the wealthy man's existence comes with major downsides, and thankfully return to his own circumstances, much like the figure in the classic film.

Problem is, Arj right away realizes that the mogul's issues (tedious meetings, expensive pool-heater bill) are minor and easily solved using wealth. Arj further sees how being rich opens up endless chances for self-indulgent fun. The character has zero interest in returning to his own situation, and the angel is unable to compel Arj to return. Then, more bad news arrives: For overstepping his duties and disrupting the order of existence, Gabriel is fired as an celestial job, and transformed to a human being.

The Discovery: Keanu Reeves Grins

Personally, I remained not convinced by the actor playing an celestial being with grand dreams and an intense desire to effect change. He turns in the same somewhat stiff performance he has been providing for at least the last three ten-year periods. Watching him in the role of angel that has just become human initially, on the other hand, proved to be a blast, for a reason that truly surprised me initially: This is something new for Reeves. Or perhaps to be precise, an aspect from the past.

Soon during his confusing career being a human, staying with the wealthy character (whom the angel exchanged into the handyman's precarious existence and underemployed status), Gabriel begins hesitantly trying out everyday activities such as chewing and swallowing food. Then Reeves grins. Genuinely, cautiously, happily smiles. (This is a lot more believable than his grin shown in the poster, which looks artificially added.)

Why That Grin Matters

The moment truly took me aback to realize just how unexpected and welcome that expression felt. When was the last time we saw Keanu Reeves grin in a movie where he was not showing ill will, irony, or resentment? He likely attempts a smile somewhere in 2020's ill-conceived the sequel, however I am not going to revisiting that mess to find out. The actor has been stuck with grim, violent, introspective, or simply serious roles for so long that just seeing him smile felt like seeing a completely different performer.

As the plot progresses, the character ends up needing to take a kitchen job, which doesn't pay sufficient to live on, and Gabriel begins chain-smoking due to disappointment. Simply the sight of the actor in a disposable plastic food-service cap, with his late-career signature locks tied in a plain bun, leaning on a building and smoking a smoke, proves worthy of the price of admission. His dishwasher getup completely changes his appearance and posture: Suddenly, the lean, suited action star of the John Wick movies is awkward, unglamorous, and much more human.

A Pleasure of Watching Reeves Relax

The film isn't consistently fun to view, particularly when the director (that additionally wrote the script) has to find believable explanations for {Ar