🔗 Share this article

Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this fantasy comedy from actor Aziz Ansari, is struggling in theaters. Several factors could account for its reception: Its generic title doesn't convey its film's distinctive appeal. The screenplay can be moralizing and obvious regarding its messages. The performances seem uninspired and staged, like the cast were reading lines directly from a script. And, it arrives during an era of financial uncertainty and disparity, which may render audiences less open to a narrative which suggests wealthy individuals enjoy all the advantages while those in need possess spirit.

But, here's what the movie excels: The film is original, bold, imaginative, often humorous, and undoubtedly timely. And, it offers an unexpectedly enjoyable the actor character-driven experience.

Reeves as an Guardian: A Familiar Portrayal

Personally, I've never considered Keanu Reeves to be a strong actor. The actor's flat speaking style and persistent expression of mild perturbation has consistently felt limited, despite the broad range of characters he has taken on during the last four decades years. Astute directors have often placed him in roles where that stoic nature works ideally, including My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to John Wick. But nearly every one of those characters called for him to appear tough, distant, or removed.

In Good Fortune, Reeves portrays Gabriel, a minor protecting angel tasked with watching over people that use their phones when driving. His entire duty is sitting in his cars and lightly making contact with the drivers' shoulders when they're about to have an accident, warning the person in order that they stop in time. But, when positioned overlooking the city, looking down upon humanity similar to a interpretation of the angel in the director's renowned movie the angel story, the character becomes ambitious. Gabriel desires to become an exceptional protector and rescuer of lost individuals.

A Unexpected Shift: Reeves Playing a Mortal

So, he reveals his presence to struggling odd-jobber a character (portrayed by the director), who is living out of his car and resenting his life. The angel then swaps the man with the life of extremely wealthy tech mogul Jeff (played by the comedian). The point of the exercise was for Arj to realize the wealthy man's life has significant downsides, and thankfully go back to his own circumstances, much like a figure in It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem was, the character right away discovers that the mogul's problems (tedious appointments, a pricey pool-heater bill) are minor and readily resolved with wealth. He also sees how becoming affluent provides limitless chances for self-indulgent enjoyment. He shows no interest in returning to his previous life, and Gabriel can't compel Arj to return. Subsequently, additional trouble arrives: For overstepping his mandate and disrupting the order of the world, Gabriel is fired from his angel role, and turned to a mortal.

The Discovery: Keanu Reeves Grins

I was never persuaded by the actor playing an angel with grand aspirations and a burning wish to make a difference. He turns in a familiar vaguely stiff performance he's been providing for no less than the last 3 ten-year periods. Watching him in the role of angel that has just become human for the first time, however, proved to be highly entertaining, for a reason which truly astonished me initially: This is something different for the actor. Or perhaps to be precise, something old.

Early into his confusing experience as a human, clinging to Jeff (who Gabriel had swapped into the handyman's precarious existence and jobless status), the character starts hesitantly trying out human activities such as eating and swallowing food. Then Reeves grins. Authentically, hesitantly, joyously smiles. (It's a lot more believable than his grin shown in the poster, which appears artificially added.)

Why That Grin Matters

The moment really surprised me to realize just how surprising and welcome the expression felt. When was the last time audiences observed the actor grin in a film where he was not expressing ill will, sarcasm, or resentment? He likely attempts it at some point in the recent misbegotten the sequel, but I'm not revisiting the disappointment to find out. The actor has remained typecast with serious, murderous, broody, or simply serious roles for so long that just seeing him grin felt like observing a completely different actor.

As the story goes on, the character finds himself needing to get a kitchen job, which fails to provide enough for survival, and Gabriel begins smoking heavily due to disappointment. Just the image of Reeves in a disposable paper food-service cap, with his late-career signature locks pulled back in a plain ponytail, slouching against a building and smoking a cigarette, proves worth the price of admission. His kitchen worker getup completely alters his appearance and body: Suddenly, the lean, well-dressed physical powerhouse of his famous films is gawky, ordinary, and a lot increasingly relatable.

A Pleasure of Watching Keanu Loosen Up

Good Fortune is not consistently fun to view, particularly when Ansari (that also wrote the screenplay) has to find believable explanations for {Ar