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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, the whimsical film by comedian Aziz Ansari, is facing challenges in theaters. Many reasons may explain the film's reception: The uninspired name doesn't convey its film's distinctive charm. Its script is often moralizing and obvious regarding its themes. Its acting are uninspired and staged, as if the actors were reading dialogue straight from the page. Moreover, it arrives during an era of financial uncertainty and inequality, that may render audiences less open to a story which suggests wealthy individuals enjoy all the benefits while the poor have spirit.

However, this is what Good Fortune excels: The film is unique, bold, imaginative, often humorous, and undoubtedly relevant. Plus, it offers a great the actor character-driven movie.

Keanu Reeves as an Angel: A Familiar Performance

I have not considered Reeves a strong actor. His flat speaking style and persistent look of slight perturbation has consistently seemed one-note, despite his wide variety of roles he has taken on during the last 40 of his career. Smart directors have often cast him in parts in which his rigidity works perfectly, including his early work to The Matrix to the action series. Yet almost all of those roles called for Reeves to appear tough, closed-off, and removed.

In the film, the actor portrays Gabriel, a low-level guardian celestial being tasked with watching over people who text while driving. The character's whole job is sitting in his cars and gently making contact with the drivers' arms as they're close to have an accident, alerting the person so the driver stop before impact. However, while positioned overlooking his domain, gazing upon the mortal world similar to a version of a celestial figure in the director's renowned movie the angel story, the character becomes aspirational. He desires to become a great protector and rescuer of lost individuals.

A Surprising Turn: Reeves as a Human

So, Gabriel reveals his presence to struggling odd-jobber a character (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who is living in a vehicle and cursing his life. Gabriel proceeds to swaps Arj with the existence of extremely rich tech mogul a character (played by the comedian). This point behind the exercise is that the character to understand Jeff's existence comes with significant downsides, and gratefully return to his own circumstances, much like a figure in the classic film.

Problem was, Arj right away discovers how Jeff's problems (tedious appointments, a pricey heating bill) are negligible and readily solved with money. Arj also realizes that becoming rich provides endless chances for pleasurable enjoyment. The character has no interest in going back to his own life, and Gabriel is unable to compel him to go back. Subsequently, additional trouble comes: Because of exceeding his mandate and disrupting the balance of the world, Gabriel loses his position from his celestial role, and transformed into a mortal.

A Discovery: Keanu Reeves Grins

I was never persuaded by the actor playing an angel with grand aspirations and an intense wish to make a difference. He delivers the same somewhat stiff performance he's consistently offering for no less than the last 3 decades. Watching him in the role of celestial being who's just turned mortal initially, on the other hand, was a blast, for a reason that really astonished me initially: It's an element different for Reeves. Or more accurately, an aspect from the past.

Soon into the character's baffling career being a human, clinging to Jeff (who Gabriel exchanged with the handyman's hand-to-mouth life and jobless status), the character begins hesitantly trying out everyday activities such as eating and consuming food. And Reeves grins. Authentically, cautiously, happily smiles. (It's a lot more convincing than the smile on the poster, that looks artificially added.)

Why This Grin Matters

It truly surprised me to recognize just how unexpected and refreshing that smile felt. When did we last we observed Keanu Reeves grin in a film in which he wasn't showing ill will, irony, or resentment? The actor likely attempts a smile at some point in 2020's misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I am not going to revisiting the disappointment to find out. Reeves has been typecast with grim, violent, introspective, or just serious characters for such a duration that merely watching Reeves grin felt like seeing a completely new actor.

While the story progresses, Gabriel finds himself having to take a dishwashing job, a role that doesn't pay enough to live on, and he begins chain-smoking due to disappointment. Just the sight of the actor in a cheap plastic restaurant hat, with his recent signature locks tied in an unglamorous ponytail, slouching against a building and smoking a cigarette, proves worth the price of admission. His dishwasher getup completely alters his appearance and body: Unexpectedly, the slim, well-dressed physical powerhouse of the John Wick movies is gawky, ordinary, and much increasingly relatable.

A Pleasure of Viewing Keanu Relax

The film isn't consistently enjoyable to view, particularly when the director (who additionally authored the screenplay) must create believable reasons for {Ar