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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this whimsical film by actor Aziz Ansari, is facing challenges at the box office. Several reasons may explain its reception: Its uninspired title doesn't convey the film's unique appeal. The script is often preachy and heavy-handed with the messages. The performances seem flat and presentational, as if the cast were reading lines straight from a script. Moreover, the film comes during an era marked by financial anxiety and disparity, which could make audiences not very receptive to a story which implies wealthy individuals have every advantages while those in need have spirit.

But, this is where Good Fortune stands out: The film is unique, daring, creative, frequently humorous, and undoubtedly relevant. Plus, it offers a great Keanu Reeves character-driven movie.

Reeves in the role of Angel: His Typical Portrayal

I have not regarded Reeves to be a strong performer. His flat speaking style and persistent look of slight concern has always seemed limited, regardless of the broad variety of roles he's taken on over the last 40 of his career. Astute filmmakers have often cast him in parts in which his stoic nature fits ideally, including his early work to the sci-fi classic to John Wick. But almost all of those characters called for him to seem tough, distant, and removed.

Throughout Good Fortune, Reeves portrays an angel, one low-level protecting angel tasked with watching over people who text while driving. His whole duty is sitting in his vehicles and gently touching the drivers' shoulders when they are close to crash, warning the person so they brake in time. However, when standing high above his domain, gazing upon the mortal world like a version of the angel in the director's renowned movie Wings of Desire, Gabriel gets ambitious. He desires to become a great protector and a savior of lost individuals.

The Unexpected Shift: Reeves as a Human

Therefore, he reveals himself to down-and-out odd-jobber Arj (played by the director), who's living in a vehicle and resenting his life. The angel then exchanges the man with the existence of extremely wealthy tech mogul Jeff (acted by the comedian). The idea of the exercise was for the character to understand Jeff's life has major downsides, and gratefully return to his original circumstances, similar to the character from It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem was, Arj right away realizes that the mogul's problems (tedious appointments, a pricey pool-heater invoice) are minor and readily resolved with wealth. He also sees how being affluent provides limitless chances for self-indulgent enjoyment. The character shows zero desire in returning to his own life, and Gabriel can't force Arj to return. Then, more trouble arrives: Because of exceeding his duties and disrupting the order of existence, Gabriel is fired as an angel role, and transformed into a mortal.

A Discovery: Keanu Reeves Grins

I was never convinced by the actor as an celestial being who has grand dreams and a burning wish to effect change. Reeves turns in a familiar somewhat stiff performance he has consistently offering for at least the last 3 ten-year periods. Watching Reeves as an celestial being that has recently turned mortal initially, on the other hand, was highly entertaining, due to something which truly surprised me at first: This is something different for Reeves. Or to be precise, an aspect old.

Early during the character's baffling experience being a human, staying with Jeff (who the angel had swapped with the handyman's hand-to-mouth existence and underemployed situation), Gabriel starts tentatively experimenting with human experiences such as eating and swallowing meals. Then the actor grins. Genuinely, cautiously, happily beams. (It's a lot more convincing than the smile shown in the poster, that appears artificially added.)

Why This Smile Matters

The moment really surprised me to realize just how surprising and welcome that expression was. When was the last time audiences saw Keanu Reeves grin in a film where he was not expressing malice, sarcasm, or bitterness? The actor probably tries it at some point in 2020's misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I am not revisiting the disappointment to confirm. The actor has remained stuck with grim, murderous, broody, or simply solemn characters for such a duration that merely watching him smile felt like seeing an entirely new performer.

As the story goes on, Gabriel ends up needing to get a dishwashing job, which fails to provide enough for survival, and he begins smoking heavily out of frustration. Simply the sight of the actor in a disposable paper food-service cap, his recent trademark locks tied in an unglamorous bun, slouching on a building and puffing on a cigarette, proves worth watching. His dishwasher attire totally changes his face and body: Unexpectedly, the slim, suited physical powerhouse of his famous movies becomes gawky, ordinary, and much more relatable.

The Joy of Viewing Keanu Relax

Good Fortune is not always enjoyable to view, particularly when the director (who additionally wrote the script) must create plausible reasons for {Ar