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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, the fantasy film by actor the director, is struggling in theaters. Several factors may account for the film's performance: The generic title fails to convey its film's distinctive charm. The screenplay can be moralizing and heavy-handed regarding the themes. Its performances are flat and presentational, as if the cast were reading dialogue directly from the page. And, the film comes at a time marked by financial uncertainty and disparity, which may make audiences less open to a narrative which suggests rich individuals have all the benefits while the poor possess spirit.

However, here's what the movie stands out: It's original, daring, creative, often humorous, and certainly timely. Plus, it offers an unexpectedly enjoyable the actor hangout movie.

Keanu Reeves in the role of Guardian: His Typical Portrayal

I have not considered Keanu Reeves to be a strong performer. His flat delivery and persistent expression of mild perturbation have consistently felt limited, regardless of his broad range of roles he has taken on over the last 40 of his career. Astute directors have often placed him in parts where his stoic nature fits ideally, from his early work to the sci-fi classic to John Wick. Yet nearly every one of these characters called for him to appear hardened, distant, or detached.

In Good Fortune, Reeves plays Gabriel, one minor guardian celestial being tasked with looking after people who text when driving. The character's entire job involves remaining in their vehicles and gently touching the drivers' shoulders when they're close to have an accident, alerting the person so the driver brake before impact. However, when positioned overlooking his domain, gazing upon humanity like a interpretation of the angel from Wim Wenders' renowned film the angel story, Gabriel gets aspirational. He wants to become an exceptional guardian and rescuer of wayward individuals.

The Surprising Turn: Keanu Playing a Human

So, he reveals himself to struggling handyman a character (played by Aziz Ansari), who's living in a vehicle and resenting his life. Gabriel then swaps Arj into the existence of extremely wealthy tech mogul a character (acted by Seth Rogen). The point behind the exercise was for Arj to understand the wealthy man's life has significant drawbacks, and gratefully go back to his own circumstances, much like the character in the classic film.

Issue was, Arj immediately realizes that Jeff's problems (tedious appointments, a pricey heating invoice) are minor and easily resolved with money. Arj further realizes that being affluent provides limitless chances for pleasurable enjoyment. The character shows no interest in going back to his previous life, and Gabriel is unable to compel Arj to go back. Subsequently, additional bad news comes: Because of overstepping his duties and messing with the order of the world, the character is fired from his angel job, and transformed into a human being.

A Revelation: The Actor Grins

Personally, I remained never persuaded by the actor playing an celestial being who has grand dreams and a burning desire to make a difference. He delivers the same vaguely constipated performance he's consistently offering for at least the past three ten-year periods. Watching him as an angel who's recently become human for the first time, however, proved to be highly entertaining, due to something which truly surprised viewers at first: It's an element different for the actor. Or more accurately, something from the past.

Early into the character's confusing career being a human, clinging to Jeff (whom Gabriel had swapped into the handyman's precarious existence and jobless situation), Gabriel starts hesitantly trying out human activities like eating and swallowing food. Then Reeves smiles. Authentically, cautiously, joyously beams. (It's far much believable than his grin shown in the poster, which looks artificially added.)

Why That Smile Matters

The moment really took me aback to recognize how unexpected and refreshing that smile was. When did we last we saw Keanu Reeves smile in a movie in which he wasn't expressing malice, irony, or resentment? He probably tries it at some point in 2020's misbegotten the sequel, however I'm not returning to the disappointment to find out. The actor has been stuck with serious, violent, broody, or simply serious roles for such a duration that merely seeing Reeves smile felt like seeing a completely different performer.

While the story progresses, the character ends up having to get a kitchen position, a role that fails to provide enough to live on, and he begins smoking heavily out of frustration. Just the image of the actor in a disposable paper restaurant cap, with his late-career trademark locks pulled back in a plain ponytail, slouching against a building and puffing on a cigarette, is worth watching. The kitchen worker getup totally alters his face and body: Unexpectedly, the lean, suited physical powerhouse of the John Wick movies becomes gawky, ordinary, and a lot increasingly relatable.

The Pleasure of Watching Reeves Relax

Good Fortune isn't always enjoyable to view, especially when the director (that additionally authored the script) must find believable explanations for {Ar