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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this whimsical film by comedian the director, has been facing challenges at the box office. Many factors may account for the film's performance: Its uninspired title fails to convey the movie's distinctive charm. Its script is often moralizing and obvious with the messages. The performances are uninspired and staged, as if the actors were reciting lines directly from the page. Moreover, it arrives during an era marked by financial anxiety and inequality, that may make viewers less receptive to a narrative which suggests wealthy individuals have every advantages while those in need possess spirit.

However, here's where Good Fortune stands out: The film is unique, daring, imaginative, frequently funny, and undoubtedly timely. And, it offers an unexpectedly enjoyable Keanu Reeves hangout experience.

Reeves as an Angel: A Familiar Portrayal

I have not considered Reeves to be a good actor. His monotonal speaking style and persistent look of slight perturbation has consistently seemed limited, regardless of his broad variety of roles he has taken on during the last 40 years. Astute filmmakers have often placed him in roles in which that stoic nature works ideally, from his early work to The Matrix to John Wick. But almost every one of those roles called for him to appear tough, distant, and removed.

Throughout the film, the actor plays an angel, one low-level protecting celestial being tasked with watching over people who text while driving. His whole duty involves remaining in their cars and gently touching the drivers' arms as they're about to crash, alerting them so they stop in time. However, when positioned high above the city, looking down upon humanity like a interpretation of the angel from Wim Wenders' classic movie Wings of Desire, the character becomes aspirational. He wants to become an exceptional guardian and rescuer of wayward souls.

A Unexpected Shift: Keanu Playing a Mortal

So, Gabriel presents himself to down-and-out odd-jobber Arj (played by Aziz Ansari), who is residing out of a vehicle and cursing his life. Gabriel proceeds to swaps Arj into the existence of stupidly wealthy tech mogul a character (played by the comedian). This point behind the experiment was for the character would realize the wealthy man's life comes with major downsides, and thankfully go back to his original life, similar to a figure from It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem is, the character right away discovers that Jeff's problems (tedious meetings, expensive pool-heater bill) prove negligible and easily solved with wealth. Arj further realizes that becoming rich opens up endless chances for self-indulgent enjoyment. He has zero interest in returning to his previous situation, and Gabriel is unable to compel him to go back. Then, more bad news comes: For overstepping his mandate and disrupting the balance of existence, Gabriel is fired from his celestial job, and turned into a mortal.

The Revelation: The Actor Grins

Personally, I remained not persuaded by the actor playing an angel who has big aspirations and a burning wish to effect change. Reeves delivers the same somewhat stiff acting he's consistently offering for at least the last three decades. Viewing him in the role of angel that has just turned mortal for the first time, on the other hand, was a blast, for a reason that truly surprised viewers initially: This is something different for the actor. Or perhaps to be precise, something old.

Early during the character's confusing career being a human, staying with the wealthy character (who Gabriel exchanged with Arj's precarious existence and jobless status), the character starts hesitantly experimenting with everyday activities such as chewing and swallowing meals. Then Reeves grins. Authentically, hesitantly, joyously smiles. (This is a lot much believable than the grin shown in the promotional image, which looks digitally altered.)

The Reason This Grin Is Significant

The moment truly took me aback to recognize just how surprising and welcome the expression felt. When did we last we observed the actor grin in a film where he was not showing malice, sarcasm, or bitterness? He likely tries a smile somewhere in the recent misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I am not going to revisiting that mess to confirm. The actor has been stuck with serious, murderous, introspective, or simply solemn roles for such a duration that just watching Reeves smile felt like seeing a completely different performer.

While the plot goes on, Gabriel ends up needing to get a kitchen position, a role that doesn't pay enough for survival, and he starts chain-smoking out of disappointment. Just the sight of the actor in a cheap plastic food-service hat, with his recent signature long hair pulled back in a plain ponytail, leaning against a building and smoking a cigarette, proves worth watching. The kitchen worker attire totally alters his appearance and posture: Unexpectedly, the slim, well-dressed action star of the John Wick movies is gawky, unglamorous, and much increasingly human.

The Pleasure of Viewing Reeves Relax

Good Fortune isn't always fun to view, particularly when the director (that also wrote the script) has to find plausible explanations for {Ar