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Good Fortune, the whimsical film by actor Aziz Ansari, is facing challenges at the box office. Several factors may explain its performance: Its generic title doesn't express the movie's unique appeal. Its screenplay is often moralizing and obvious regarding its themes. Its acting seem flat and presentational, like the cast were reciting dialogue straight from a script. And, it arrives at a time marked by financial anxiety and inequality, which could make viewers not very open to a story that suggests rich individuals have every advantages while those in need possess heart.

But, here's where Good Fortune excels: The film is unique, daring, creative, often funny, and certainly relevant. Plus, it provides an unexpectedly great the actor character-driven experience.

Reeves in the role of Guardian: His Typical Performance

Personally, I've never regarded Reeves a strong actor. The actor's monotonal delivery and persistent expression of slight concern have always seemed limited, despite his broad variety of roles he has taken on over the last four decades years. Smart directors have cast Reeves in parts where that stoic nature works ideally, including My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to the action series. Yet almost every one of these roles called for Reeves to appear hardened, closed-off, and detached.

Throughout the film, the actor plays an angel, one minor protecting angel assigned with looking after people who text while behind the wheel. His entire duty is remaining in their cars and gently making contact with the drivers' arms as they are close to have an accident, warning them in order that they stop in time. However, while standing overlooking his domain, looking down upon the mortal world similar to a interpretation of a celestial figure in Wim Wenders' renowned movie the angel story, the character becomes ambitious. He wants to be an exceptional guardian and a savior of wayward individuals.

A Surprising Shift: Keanu as a Mortal

So, Gabriel reveals himself to down-and-out odd-jobber a character (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who's residing out of his car and cursing his situation. The angel then exchanges the man with the life of stupidly rich businessman Jeff (acted by Seth Rogen). The point of the exercise was that Arj would understand the wealthy man's existence comes with significant downsides, and thankfully go back to his original life, much like a figure in the classic film.

Problem was, the character immediately discovers that Jeff's issues (tedious meetings, expensive pool-heater invoice) are negligible and easily resolved using wealth. He also realizes that being rich provides limitless chances for pleasurable fun. He shows no desire in returning to his own situation, and the angel can't compel him to go back. Subsequently, additional bad news arrives: For exceeding his mandate and disrupting the balance of the world, Gabriel loses his position as an angel job, and transformed to a mortal.

The Revelation: Keanu Reeves Smiles

Personally, I remained not convinced by Reeves playing an angel with big aspirations and an intense desire to make a difference. He turns in the same vaguely stiff acting he's been providing for no less than the last 3 decades. Watching Reeves in the role of celestial being who's recently become human for the first time, however, was highly entertaining, due to something that really astonished viewers at first: This is an element new for the actor. Or perhaps more accurately, something old.

Early during the character's baffling career as a mortal, clinging to Jeff (whom Gabriel had swapped with the handyman's hand-to-mouth life and jobless status), the character starts hesitantly trying out human activities like chewing and consuming meals. And Reeves smiles. Genuinely, cautiously, joyously beams. (This is a lot more convincing than his smile shown in the poster, which looks artificially added.)

The Reason That Grin Is Significant

The moment really surprised me to realize how surprising and welcome that smile felt. When did we last we saw Keanu Reeves grin in a movie in which he was not expressing malice, irony, or resentment? The actor likely tries a smile at some point in 2020's ill-conceived the sequel, however I'm not returning to that mess to confirm. Reeves has been stuck with serious, murderous, introspective, or simply serious roles for so long that merely seeing Reeves grin seemed like observing a completely different performer.

As the plot progresses, the character finds himself having to get a dishwashing position, which fails to provide sufficient to live on, and Gabriel begins chain-smoking due to frustration. Simply the sight of the actor in a disposable plastic food-service cap, his recent trademark long hair tied in an unglamorous bun, leaning against a wall and smoking a smoke, is worth watching. His kitchen worker getup completely alters his appearance and posture: Suddenly, the slim, suited physical powerhouse of his famous films becomes awkward, unglamorous, and much increasingly human.

The Joy of Viewing Reeves Loosen Up

The film is not consistently fun to view, particularly when the director (who also authored the screenplay) must create plausible explanations for {Ar