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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this fantasy film from comedian the director, is struggling in theaters. Many reasons may account for the film's performance: Its generic name fails to express its film's distinctive charm. Its screenplay is often moralizing and heavy-handed with its messages. Its performances seem flat and presentational, like the cast are reading dialogue straight from the page. And, the film comes during an era marked by economic uncertainty and inequality, which may render audiences less receptive to a narrative that suggests rich individuals have every advantages while those in need possess spirit.

However, here's where Good Fortune stands out: It's unique, bold, creative, often funny, and certainly timely. And, it provides an unexpectedly enjoyable the actor character-driven movie.

Reeves in the role of Guardian: A Familiar Performance

I have never considered Reeves a strong performer. The actor's flat speaking style and consistent expression of slight perturbation has consistently seemed limited, regardless of his wide variety of characters he has taken on over the last four decades of his career. Astute filmmakers have often placed him in roles where his stoic nature fits ideally, including My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to John Wick. Yet nearly every one of these characters called for him to seem tough, distant, and detached.

Throughout Good Fortune, the actor portrays an angel, one minor protecting celestial being assigned with looking after individuals that text when driving. His whole duty is remaining in his vehicles and lightly touching their shoulders when they are close to crash, alerting them so they brake before impact. But, when standing high above his domain, looking down upon humanity like an alternative interpretation of the angel in the director's renowned movie the angel story, the character becomes ambitious. He wants to be an exceptional guardian and rescuer of wayward souls.

A Unexpected Shift: Keanu as a Mortal

So, he presents himself to down-and-out odd-jobber Arj (played by Aziz Ansari), who's living out of his car and resenting his situation. Gabriel then exchanges Arj with the existence of stupidly rich businessman Jeff (acted by Seth Rogen). The point behind the exercise was for the character would understand Jeff's existence has significant downsides, and thankfully return to his own life, much like a figure in the classic film.

Issue is, the character right away discovers how the mogul's problems (boring appointments, expensive pool-heater invoice) are negligible and easily resolved with money. Arj further realizes how becoming rich provides limitless chances for self-indulgent fun. The character shows no desire in going back to his own situation, and the angel can't force him to return. Subsequently, additional bad news arrives: Because of overstepping his duties and disrupting the balance of existence, Gabriel loses his position from his celestial role, and transformed to a human being.

The Revelation: The Actor Grins

I was never persuaded by the actor as an celestial being who has big dreams and an intense wish to make a difference. He delivers the same somewhat constipated acting he's consistently providing for at least the past three ten-year periods. Watching him in the role of celestial being that has recently become mortal for the first time, on the other hand, proved to be a blast, due to something which really surprised me at first: It's something different for Reeves. Or perhaps to be precise, an aspect old.

Early into his baffling career as a human, clinging to Jeff (whom Gabriel exchanged into the handyman's hand-to-mouth life and jobless situation), the character begins hesitantly experimenting with everyday experiences like eating and swallowing food. And Reeves grins. Authentically, cautiously, happily smiles. (This is far more believable than his smile shown in the promotional image, which appears artificially added.)

The Reason That Smile Matters

The moment really surprised me to realize how unexpected and refreshing that expression was. At what point was the last time we observed Keanu Reeves grin in a film where he wasn't showing malice, irony, or bitterness? The actor probably tries a smile somewhere in 2020's ill-conceived the sequel, however I'm not going to revisiting that mess to confirm. The actor has remained stuck with grim, violent, introspective, or simply serious roles for so long that just watching Reeves smile felt like observing a completely new actor.

As the story goes on, Gabriel finds himself having to get a kitchen job, a role that fails to provide enough to live on, and Gabriel starts smoking heavily out of frustration. Simply the image of Reeves in a disposable paper restaurant cap, his late-career trademark long hair pulled back in an unglamorous ponytail, leaning against a wall and puffing on a smoke, proves worthy of the price of admission. His kitchen worker attire completely changes his face and body: Unexpectedly, the lean, well-dressed action star of his famous movies becomes gawky, unglamorous, and much more relatable.

A Joy of Watching Reeves Relax

Good Fortune is not consistently fun to watch, particularly when the director (that also wrote the script) has to create believable reasons for {Ar