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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this fantasy comedy by comedian the director, is facing challenges in theaters. Several factors could explain its performance: Its generic name doesn't convey the movie's unique charm. Its screenplay is often moralizing and heavy-handed with its messages. Its performances seem uninspired and presentational, as if the cast were reciting lines straight from a script. And, it arrives during an era marked by financial anxiety and disparity, which could render audiences not very open to a narrative that implies wealthy people enjoy all the advantages while those in need have heart.

But, here's what Good Fortune stands out: It's unique, bold, imaginative, often funny, and undoubtedly relevant. And, it provides an unexpectedly great the actor character-driven experience.

Reeves as an Angel: His Typical Portrayal

I have never considered Keanu Reeves a strong performer. His flat speaking style and persistent expression of mild perturbation have always felt one-note, regardless of his wide range of roles he's played during the last 40 years. Smart directors have often cast him in parts where that rigidity fits ideally, from his early work to The Matrix to the action series. But nearly all of those characters called for Reeves to appear hardened, closed-off, and detached.

In the film, Reeves portrays an angel, one minor protecting angel tasked with watching over people who text while driving. The character's whole duty involves sitting in his cars and gently touching their shoulders when they are about to crash, alerting the person in order that the driver brake in time. But, when positioned high above his domain, looking down upon the mortal world similar to an alternative interpretation of the angel in Wim Wenders' classic film the angel story, Gabriel gets ambitious. Gabriel wants to be an exceptional guardian and rescuer of wayward individuals.

The Unexpected Turn: Keanu Playing a Mortal

Therefore, Gabriel reveals himself to down-and-out handyman a character (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who is residing out of his car and resenting his situation. Gabriel proceeds to exchanges Arj into the existence of extremely wealthy tech mogul Jeff (acted by Seth Rogen). This idea of the exercise is that the character to realize the wealthy man's life has significant downsides, and thankfully return to his original circumstances, similar to a character in It's a Wonderful Life.

Issue is, Arj right away realizes that the mogul's issues (boring appointments, expensive pool-heater invoice) prove negligible and readily resolved with wealth. He further realizes how being rich opens up limitless opportunities for pleasurable fun. The character shows zero desire in going back to his previous life, and the angel can't compel Arj to return. Subsequently, more trouble comes: Because of exceeding his duties and disrupting the balance of existence, Gabriel loses his position as an celestial job, and turned to a human being.

The Discovery: The Actor Grins

I was not persuaded by Reeves as an angel with grand dreams and a burning wish to effect change. Reeves delivers a familiar somewhat constipated acting he has consistently providing for no less than the last 3 ten-year periods. Viewing Reeves in the role of angel who's recently turned human initially, however, was highly entertaining, for a reason which really astonished viewers at first: It's something different for the actor. Or perhaps more accurately, something old.

Soon during his baffling experience being a human, clinging to Jeff (who the angel exchanged with the handyman's hand-to-mouth life and jobless status), Gabriel starts hesitantly trying out human activities like eating and swallowing meals. Then Reeves grins. Genuinely, cautiously, joyously smiles. (It's a lot more convincing than the grin shown in the poster, which looks digitally altered.)

Why That Grin Matters

It really took me aback to recognize how unexpected and welcome that expression was. When did we last audiences saw Keanu Reeves smile in a film where he was not showing ill will, irony, or resentment? He probably tries a smile at some point in 2020's ill-conceived the sequel, but I am not revisiting that disappointment to find out. Reeves has remained stuck with serious, violent, introspective, or just serious roles for such a duration that merely seeing Reeves grin seemed like seeing a completely new actor.

While the plot goes on, Gabriel ends up having to take a kitchen position, a role that fails to provide sufficient to live on, and Gabriel starts smoking heavily due to frustration. Simply the sight of the actor in a cheap paper food-service cap, his recent trademark locks tied in a plain ponytail, leaning against a wall and smoking a cigarette, is worthy of the price of admission. The dishwasher attire completely changes his face and body: Suddenly, the lean, well-dressed physical powerhouse of the John Wick films is awkward, ordinary, and a lot increasingly relatable.

The Pleasure of Viewing Keanu Relax

The film is not always enjoyable to view, particularly when Ansari (who also wrote the script) must find plausible explanations for {Ar