🔗 Share this article

Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this fantasy comedy from actor the director, is struggling at the box office. Several factors may account for the film's performance: The generic name doesn't convey the movie's distinctive charm. Its screenplay is often preachy and obvious with its messages. The performances are uninspired and presentational, as if the actors were reciting dialogue directly from the page. And, the film comes at a time of economic anxiety and disparity, that may make audiences less receptive to a narrative which suggests wealthy individuals enjoy all the advantages while those in need have heart.

However, this is where Good Fortune stands out: It's unique, daring, creative, often funny, and undoubtedly timely. And, it provides an unexpectedly great the actor hangout movie.

Keanu Reeves in the role of Guardian: A Familiar Portrayal

I have not considered Reeves to be a strong actor. His flat speaking style and persistent expression of mild perturbation have always felt limited, regardless of his wide range of characters he's taken on over the past four decades of his career. Smart directors have often cast him in roles where that stoic nature fits perfectly, from his early work to the sci-fi classic to John Wick. But nearly all of these roles called for Reeves to seem hardened, closed-off, or removed.

Throughout Good Fortune, Reeves portrays Gabriel, one low-level protecting celestial being assigned with watching over people who text when behind the wheel. His whole duty is remaining in his vehicles and lightly making contact with the drivers' arms when they're about to have an accident, alerting them in order that the driver stop in time. However, while standing high above his domain, gazing upon humanity similar to an alternative interpretation of a celestial figure from Wim Wenders' renowned movie the angel story, the character becomes ambitious. He desires to become an exceptional protector and a savior of lost individuals.

A Unexpected Turn: Reeves as a Human

Therefore, he presents his presence to struggling odd-jobber a character (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who is living in his car and cursing his life. The angel proceeds to swaps the man into the life of stupidly wealthy businessman a character (played by the comedian). This point of the exercise was for the character would understand Jeff's life has significant downsides, and thankfully return to his own life, similar to a figure from the classic film.

Issue was, the character immediately discovers that the mogul's problems (tedious meetings, a pricey pool-heater invoice) prove negligible and easily solved with wealth. Arj further realizes that becoming affluent provides limitless opportunities for self-indulgent fun. He has no interest in returning to his previous situation, and the angel is unable to compel Arj to go back. Subsequently, more bad news arrives: For exceeding his mandate and disrupting the balance of existence, Gabriel is fired as an angel role, and transformed into a mortal.

The Revelation: The Actor Smiles

Personally, I remained not persuaded by Reeves playing an angel who has grand dreams and a burning desire to effect change. He turns in a familiar somewhat constipated performance he's been providing for no less than the past three decades. Watching Reeves in the role of celestial being that has recently turned mortal for the first time, however, proved to be highly entertaining, due to something which truly surprised me initially: This is an element different for the actor. Or perhaps to be precise, an aspect from the past.

Early into the character's baffling career as a mortal, staying with Jeff (whom the angel had swapped with Arj's precarious existence and underemployed status), Gabriel starts hesitantly experimenting with everyday activities like chewing and swallowing food. And the actor smiles. Authentically, hesitantly, joyously beams. (It's a lot more convincing than his grin on the promotional image, that looks artificially added.)

The Reason That Grin Matters

The moment really surprised me to recognize how surprising and refreshing the expression was. When did we last we observed the actor smile in a movie in which he wasn't expressing ill will, irony, or resentment? He probably attempts it at some point in the recent ill-conceived the sequel, but I am not going to revisiting the disappointment to find out. Reeves has remained typecast with serious, violent, introspective, or simply serious characters for such a duration that merely seeing Reeves grin felt like observing an entirely new actor.

While the plot goes on, Gabriel finds himself having to get a dishwashing position, a role that doesn't pay sufficient to live on, and Gabriel begins chain-smoking out of disappointment. Just the image of the actor in a cheap paper food-service cap, with his recent signature long hair tied in an unglamorous bun, leaning on a wall and smoking a cigarette, is worth the price of admission. The kitchen worker attire totally changes his face and posture: Suddenly, the slim, suited physical powerhouse of the John Wick movies becomes awkward, unglamorous, and a lot increasingly human.

A Pleasure of Watching Keanu Relax

Good Fortune isn't consistently enjoyable to watch, particularly when Ansari (who additionally wrote the script) has to create believable explanations for {Ar