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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this whimsical film by actor the director, has been facing challenges at the box office. Many reasons could account for its performance: The uninspired name fails to express its movie's unique appeal. Its screenplay can be moralizing and obvious with the messages. Its acting are flat and presentational, like the cast are reciting lines directly from the page. Moreover, the film comes at a time marked by financial uncertainty and inequality, which may render viewers less open to a story which suggests rich people enjoy all the benefits while the poor possess heart.

But, here's what Good Fortune excels: It's original, daring, imaginative, frequently humorous, and certainly relevant. Plus, it provides a enjoyable Keanu Reeves hangout movie.

Reeves in the role of Angel: His Typical Performance

Personally, I've not regarded Keanu Reeves to be a good actor. The actor's monotonal speaking style and persistent look of slight concern has always seemed limited, despite the wide variety of roles he's taken on during the past four decades years. Astute filmmakers have often cast him in roles where that rigidity works ideally, from his early work to The Matrix to the action series. But nearly all of those characters called for him to appear tough, distant, or removed.

In the film, Reeves portrays Gabriel, a low-level protecting angel tasked with watching over people who use their phones while behind the wheel. His entire job is sitting in his vehicles and lightly making contact with their shoulders as they are about to crash, alerting them in order that they stop before impact. However, while standing high above his domain, gazing upon the mortal world like an alternative interpretation of a celestial figure from Wim Wenders' renowned movie the angel story, Gabriel gets aspirational. He desires to become an exceptional guardian and rescuer of wayward souls.

A Unexpected Turn: Keanu Playing a Human

So, he reveals his presence to struggling odd-jobber Arj (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who is residing out of a vehicle and cursing his life. The angel then swaps the man into the life of extremely rich tech mogul Jeff (played by the comedian). The idea of the experiment was for the character would realize the wealthy man's existence comes with major downsides, and thankfully return to his own life, similar to the figure from It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem was, the character right away discovers that Jeff's problems (tedious appointments, a pricey heating invoice) prove minor and readily resolved using money. Arj also realizes that being affluent opens up endless chances for self-indulgent enjoyment. He shows no interest in going back to his previous situation, and Gabriel is unable to compel Arj to return. Then, more trouble arrives: Because of exceeding his duties and messing with the balance of existence, the character is fired from his angel job, and transformed into a mortal.

A Revelation: The Actor Smiles

I was not persuaded by the actor as an celestial being with big aspirations and an intense desire to make a difference. He turns in a familiar vaguely stiff acting he has consistently providing for no less than the last 3 ten-year periods. Watching him as an angel that has just turned human initially, however, was highly entertaining, due to something which truly surprised me at first: It's an element different for the actor. Or more accurately, something from the past.

Soon into his confusing career being a mortal, clinging to Jeff (whom the angel exchanged with the handyman's hand-to-mouth life and jobless status), Gabriel begins tentatively trying out human activities like chewing and consuming meals. And Reeves smiles. Genuinely, hesitantly, joyously beams. (This is a lot more believable than his grin on the poster, which appears artificially added.)

The Reason That Grin Is Significant

It truly took me aback to recognize how unexpected and refreshing that smile was. When did we last audiences saw Keanu Reeves smile in a movie in which he wasn't expressing ill will, irony, or bitterness? He probably tries a smile somewhere in 2020's ill-conceived the sequel, but I am not going to revisiting that mess to find out. The actor has been stuck with grim, violent, introspective, or just solemn characters for such a duration that just watching Reeves grin felt like seeing an entirely different actor.

As the story progresses, the character finds himself having to get a kitchen job, which fails to provide sufficient for survival, and he begins chain-smoking out of disappointment. Simply the image of the actor in a cheap plastic restaurant cap, his recent trademark locks pulled back in a plain bun, leaning against a wall and smoking a smoke, proves worth watching. The dishwasher getup totally alters his face and body: Unexpectedly, the slim, suited physical powerhouse of his famous films is gawky, ordinary, and much more human.

A Pleasure of Viewing Keanu Loosen Up

The film isn't always enjoyable to watch, particularly when the director (that additionally wrote the screenplay) has to find believable reasons for {Ar