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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this whimsical comedy by actor Aziz Ansari, has been facing challenges at the box office. Many reasons may account for the film's reception: Its generic name doesn't express the movie's distinctive appeal. The screenplay can be preachy and obvious with its themes. Its performances seem uninspired and staged, like the cast were reciting dialogue straight from the page. Moreover, it arrives during an era of financial anxiety and inequality, that could render viewers less receptive to a narrative that suggests wealthy individuals have every advantages while the poor possess spirit.

However, here's what Good Fortune excels: The film is unique, bold, creative, often humorous, and undoubtedly timely. And, it offers an unexpectedly great the actor character-driven movie.

Reeves as an Angel: His Typical Portrayal

I have never regarded Reeves a strong performer. His monotonal speaking style and consistent expression of mild perturbation has consistently seemed one-note, regardless of the wide range of roles he's taken on during the last four decades of his career. Astute directors have often cast him in roles in which that rigidity fits ideally, from his early work to The Matrix to John Wick. But nearly every one of these roles called for him to appear tough, distant, or removed.

In Good Fortune, the actor plays an angel, one low-level protecting celestial being tasked with looking after individuals who text when driving. The character's whole duty is sitting in his vehicles and lightly making contact with their shoulders when they're close to have an accident, warning the person so the driver brake before impact. But, while standing high above his domain, looking down on the mortal world similar to an alternative version of a celestial figure in the director's classic film Wings of Desire, the character becomes ambitious. He desires to be an exceptional protector and a savior of lost individuals.

The Unexpected Shift: Keanu as a Mortal

Therefore, Gabriel presents his presence to down-and-out handyman Arj (played by the director), who is residing in a vehicle and cursing his situation. Gabriel then swaps Arj into the life of extremely wealthy tech mogul Jeff (acted by the comedian). The point of the experiment was for Arj to understand Jeff's life comes with significant downsides, and thankfully go back to his original circumstances, similar to a figure from It's a Wonderful Life.

Issue was, Arj immediately realizes that the mogul's problems (boring meetings, expensive pool-heater bill) prove negligible and easily solved with wealth. He also realizes how being rich provides limitless opportunities for self-indulgent fun. He shows zero interest in returning to his previous situation, and Gabriel is unable to compel Arj to go back. Then, additional bad news arrives: For overstepping his mandate and messing with the order of the world, Gabriel loses his position as an angel job, and transformed to a human being.

The Discovery: Keanu Reeves Grins

Personally, I remained never persuaded by the actor as an celestial being who has big aspirations and an intense wish to effect change. He delivers the same somewhat stiff performance he has consistently offering for at least the last 3 ten-year periods. Viewing him as an angel that has just become human for the first time, on the other hand, was highly entertaining, due to something that really astonished me at first: It's an element new for Reeves. Or more accurately, something from the past.

Early during his baffling career being a mortal, clinging to Jeff (whom the angel exchanged with the handyman's hand-to-mouth existence and underemployed situation), the character starts hesitantly trying out everyday experiences like eating and consuming meals. Then Reeves grins. Authentically, hesitantly, happily smiles. (This is a lot more convincing than the grin shown in the promotional image, that appears artificially added.)

The Reason That Grin Is Significant

The moment really took me aback to recognize just how unexpected and refreshing that expression was. At what point did we last audiences saw Keanu Reeves grin in a movie where he wasn't showing malice, irony, or resentment? He probably attempts a smile at some point in 2020's misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, but I am not going to revisiting that mess to confirm. The actor has been stuck with serious, murderous, introspective, or just serious roles for such a duration that merely seeing him grin seemed like observing an entirely different performer.

While the story progresses, the character ends up having to get a kitchen job, which fails to provide enough to live on, and Gabriel begins smoking heavily out of disappointment. Just the sight of the actor in a cheap plastic food-service hat, with his recent trademark locks tied in a plain ponytail, slouching on a building and puffing on a cigarette, is worth watching. His dishwasher getup totally alters his appearance and body: Unexpectedly, the slim, suited physical powerhouse of his famous movies becomes awkward, ordinary, and a lot more relatable.

A Joy of Watching Reeves Loosen Up

Good Fortune isn't consistently enjoyable to view, especially when Ansari (who additionally wrote the screenplay) must create believable reasons for {Ar