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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this fantasy comedy by comedian the director, is struggling at the box office. Many factors may explain the film's performance: The uninspired name doesn't convey its film's unique appeal. Its script can be preachy and heavy-handed regarding the themes. The performances are uninspired and presentational, like the cast are reciting dialogue directly from the page. And, the film comes at a time of economic uncertainty and inequality, which may make audiences not very receptive to a narrative which implies wealthy people have every benefits while the poor possess heart.

But, here's where Good Fortune excels: It's original, daring, creative, frequently funny, and undoubtedly relevant. Plus, it provides an unexpectedly great the actor hangout movie.

Keanu Reeves as an Angel: A Familiar Performance

Personally, I've never regarded Reeves a good actor. His flat speaking style and persistent expression of slight concern has always felt one-note, despite the wide range of roles he has played over the last 40 of his career. Smart directors have placed Reeves in parts in which that stoic nature fits perfectly, from My Own Private Idaho to the sci-fi classic to John Wick. Yet almost every one of those roles called for him to appear tough, distant, and detached.

In the film, Reeves portrays an angel, a minor protecting angel tasked with looking after people that use their phones when behind the wheel. His entire duty is sitting in their cars and gently making contact with the drivers' arms as they are about to crash, alerting the person in order that they brake in time. But, while standing overlooking the city, gazing upon the mortal world similar to a version of a celestial figure from the director's renowned film Wings of Desire, the character becomes aspirational. Gabriel wants to be an exceptional guardian and rescuer of wayward souls.

The Unexpected Shift: Keanu Playing a Mortal

Therefore, Gabriel presents himself to struggling handyman Arj (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who is residing out of a vehicle and cursing his life. Gabriel then exchanges Arj into the life of extremely rich tech mogul Jeff (played by Seth Rogen). This idea behind the experiment was for Arj would realize Jeff's life has significant drawbacks, and gratefully go back to his original life, similar to a character in the classic film.

Issue is, Arj right away realizes how the mogul's problems (boring meetings, expensive pool-heater invoice) are negligible and easily resolved with money. He further sees how becoming rich opens up endless chances for pleasurable enjoyment. He has no desire in going back to his previous life, and Gabriel is unable to force him to return. Subsequently, additional bad news comes: For exceeding his mandate and messing with the balance of the world, Gabriel loses his position as an angel job, and transformed into a human being.

A Revelation: The Actor Smiles

I was never convinced by Reeves as an celestial being with big aspirations and a burning wish to effect change. He delivers a familiar vaguely constipated performance he has been providing for at least the past 3 decades. Viewing Reeves in the role of angel who's recently become human initially, on the other hand, was highly entertaining, for a reason which really surprised viewers at first: It's something new for the actor. Or more accurately, something old.

Soon during his baffling experience being a mortal, clinging to the wealthy character (who Gabriel had swapped into the handyman's hand-to-mouth existence and underemployed situation), the character starts tentatively trying out human experiences such as chewing and consuming meals. Then Reeves smiles. Authentically, hesitantly, happily beams. (This is a lot much believable than his grin shown in the promotional image, which appears digitally altered.)

Why That Smile Is Significant

It truly surprised me to realize how unexpected and welcome that smile was. At what point was the last time we saw Keanu Reeves grin in a movie in which he was not showing ill will, irony, or bitterness? The actor likely attempts it somewhere in the recent ill-conceived Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I'm not going to returning to that disappointment to confirm. The actor has remained stuck with serious, murderous, broody, or simply solemn roles for so long that just watching him grin seemed like seeing a completely new actor.

As the story goes on, Gabriel finds himself having to get a kitchen position, which fails to provide sufficient to live on, and Gabriel begins chain-smoking out of disappointment. Just the image of the actor in a disposable paper restaurant cap, his late-career signature long hair tied in an unglamorous ponytail, slouching on a wall and puffing on a cigarette, is worth watching. His dishwasher attire completely alters his appearance and posture: Unexpectedly, the lean, suited physical powerhouse of his famous films becomes awkward, unglamorous, and much increasingly human.

A Pleasure of Viewing Reeves Relax

The film is not consistently enjoyable to view, especially when the director (that additionally wrote the script) must create plausible explanations for {Ar