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Good Fortune, this fantasy comedy from comedian Aziz Ansari, is facing challenges in theaters. Many factors may explain the film's performance: The uninspired title fails to express the film's unique appeal. The script is often preachy and heavy-handed with the themes. Its performances seem uninspired and presentational, like the cast were reciting lines straight from a script. Moreover, it arrives during an era marked by financial uncertainty and inequality, which could render audiences not very open to a narrative which implies rich people enjoy all the advantages while the poor have heart.

But, this is where Good Fortune excels: The film is original, bold, creative, often funny, and certainly relevant. And, it offers an unexpectedly enjoyable Keanu Reeves hangout movie.

Reeves as an Guardian: A Familiar Performance

Personally, I've never regarded Keanu Reeves a strong actor. His flat delivery and persistent expression of slight perturbation have always seemed one-note, despite the wide range of characters he's taken on over the past 40 of his career. Astute filmmakers have placed Reeves in roles where that stoic nature works perfectly, including his early work to the sci-fi classic to the action series. Yet nearly all of these characters called for Reeves to appear hardened, closed-off, and removed.

Throughout the film, Reeves portrays Gabriel, one low-level protecting angel tasked with watching over individuals who text when behind the wheel. The character's entire duty is remaining in their cars and gently touching the drivers' arms as they're close to have an accident, alerting them so they stop before impact. However, when positioned overlooking the city, gazing on humanity similar to a interpretation of a celestial figure in the director's renowned movie Wings of Desire, Gabriel becomes aspirational. He wants to be a great protector and rescuer of wayward souls.

The Surprising Turn: Keanu Playing a Human

So, Gabriel reveals his presence to down-and-out handyman a character (played by Aziz Ansari), who's residing in his car and resenting his life. Gabriel then exchanges the man with the existence of extremely rich tech mogul a character (played by Seth Rogen). This idea behind the experiment was for the character would understand Jeff's existence comes with significant downsides, and gratefully go back to his original circumstances, much like a character from the classic film.

Issue is, Arj right away realizes that the mogul's problems (tedious appointments, expensive pool-heater bill) are negligible and easily solved with money. He also realizes that being affluent provides endless chances for self-indulgent enjoyment. The character has zero interest in going back to his own life, and Gabriel is unable to compel him to return. Subsequently, additional bad news arrives: Because of overstepping his duties and messing with the order of the world, the character is fired as an angel role, and turned into a human being.

A Discovery: The Actor Grins

Personally, I remained not convinced by Reeves as an celestial being who has big aspirations and an intense desire to effect change. He delivers the same somewhat stiff acting he has been offering for at least the last 3 ten-year periods. Watching him as an celestial being that has just become human for the first time, however, proved to be highly entertaining, due to something that truly surprised viewers initially: This is an element new for the actor. Or more accurately, an aspect from the past.

Early into his baffling experience as a mortal, clinging to Jeff (who the angel exchanged into Arj's hand-to-mouth existence and jobless status), Gabriel begins hesitantly trying out everyday activities like chewing and consuming food. Then Reeves grins. Genuinely, cautiously, happily beams. (This is a lot more believable than the grin shown in the poster, that appears digitally altered.)

Why That Smile Matters

The moment truly took me aback to realize just how unexpected and refreshing that expression felt. When was the last time audiences observed the actor grin in a movie in which he wasn't showing malice, irony, or resentment? The actor likely attempts a smile somewhere in 2020's ill-conceived the sequel, but I'm not revisiting that mess to find out. The actor has been stuck with serious, murderous, introspective, or simply serious roles for such a duration that merely watching him smile seemed like seeing an entirely different actor.

While the plot progresses, the character ends up needing to take a kitchen position, a role that doesn't pay sufficient for survival, and Gabriel starts smoking heavily out of frustration. Simply the image of the actor in a cheap plastic food-service cap, with his recent trademark long hair pulled back in an unglamorous bun, leaning against a wall and puffing on a smoke, proves worth the price of admission. His dishwasher attire completely changes his appearance and body: Unexpectedly, the lean, well-dressed physical powerhouse of the John Wick movies is gawky, unglamorous, and a lot more relatable.

The Pleasure of Viewing Keanu Relax

The film isn't consistently fun to watch, particularly when the director (that additionally authored the script) has to create believable reasons for {Ar