🔗 Share this article

Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this whimsical film by comedian Aziz Ansari, is facing challenges in theaters. Many reasons could explain its reception: The uninspired title doesn't convey the film's unique appeal. The script is often preachy and heavy-handed with its themes. The performances seem uninspired and presentational, like the cast are reading dialogue straight from a script. Moreover, it arrives at a time of financial uncertainty and disparity, that may make audiences not very open to a narrative that suggests rich people enjoy every benefits while those in need have spirit.

However, this is what Good Fortune stands out: The film is unique, daring, imaginative, often humorous, and certainly relevant. And, it offers an unexpectedly enjoyable Keanu Reeves hangout experience.

Reeves as an Angel: His Typical Portrayal

I have not regarded Keanu Reeves a good actor. His monotonal speaking style and persistent look of mild concern has consistently seemed one-note, despite his broad range of roles he has taken on during the last four decades of his career. Astute directors have often placed him in roles where his stoic nature works perfectly, from his early work to The Matrix to John Wick. But almost every one of these characters called for him to seem tough, distant, or removed.

Throughout Good Fortune, Reeves plays an angel, one low-level guardian celestial being tasked with watching over people that use their phones when behind the wheel. The character's entire job involves sitting in his cars and gently making contact with their arms as they're close to crash, alerting them in order that the driver stop in time. But, while positioned overlooking the city, looking down upon humanity similar to a interpretation of the angel in the director's classic movie Wings of Desire, Gabriel becomes ambitious. Gabriel desires to become a great guardian and a savior of wayward souls.

The Unexpected Shift: Keanu Playing a Mortal

Therefore, Gabriel presents his presence to struggling odd-jobber a character (portrayed by the director), who's residing in a vehicle and resenting his life. The angel then exchanges the man into the existence of stupidly wealthy tech mogul Jeff (played by Seth Rogen). The point of the exercise is that the character would realize the wealthy man's existence comes with significant downsides, and gratefully return to his own circumstances, much like a figure from It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem is, Arj right away discovers that the mogul's problems (tedious appointments, expensive pool-heater invoice) prove negligible and readily resolved using money. He further realizes that becoming rich opens up endless chances for pleasurable fun. He shows zero desire in going back to his own life, and Gabriel can't force him to return. Subsequently, additional bad news arrives: For exceeding his mandate and disrupting the balance of existence, the character is fired from his celestial job, and transformed to a human being.

A Discovery: Keanu Reeves Smiles

I was never persuaded by the actor as an celestial being who has grand dreams and a burning desire to make a difference. He delivers a familiar somewhat stiff acting he has been offering for at least the past 3 decades. Viewing Reeves as an angel that has recently become mortal initially, on the other hand, proved to be highly entertaining, for a reason which really surprised viewers at first: It's something new for Reeves. Or perhaps to be precise, an aspect from the past.

Early during the character's confusing experience being a mortal, clinging to Jeff (whom the angel had swapped into Arj's hand-to-mouth existence and underemployed situation), Gabriel starts tentatively trying out everyday experiences like eating and swallowing food. And Reeves smiles. Genuinely, cautiously, happily smiles. (This is far much believable than his grin shown in the promotional image, that looks digitally altered.)

The Reason That Grin Matters

The moment really took me aback to recognize how surprising and refreshing that smile was. When did we last we observed Keanu Reeves smile in a film where he wasn't expressing ill will, irony, or bitterness? The actor probably attempts a smile somewhere in the recent misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, but I'm not going to revisiting that mess to confirm. Reeves has remained typecast with serious, violent, introspective, or simply solemn roles for such a duration that merely seeing him grin seemed like seeing a completely new performer.

While the plot progresses, Gabriel ends up needing to get a dishwashing job, which fails to provide enough for survival, and he starts chain-smoking due to frustration. Simply the sight of the actor in a disposable paper restaurant cap, with his recent trademark long hair pulled back in a plain bun, slouching on a wall and smoking a cigarette, proves worth the price of admission. The kitchen worker attire completely changes his appearance and posture: Unexpectedly, the lean, well-dressed physical powerhouse of his famous movies becomes awkward, unglamorous, and much increasingly relatable.

The Joy of Watching Keanu Loosen Up

The film is not always fun to view, particularly when Ansari (who additionally authored the screenplay) has to create plausible reasons for {Ar