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Good Fortune, the fantasy comedy from comedian Aziz Ansari, is facing challenges in theaters. Several factors could explain the film's reception: The generic name doesn't convey the film's distinctive charm. Its script can be preachy and heavy-handed with its messages. Its acting seem uninspired and presentational, as if the actors were reading lines directly from the page. Moreover, the film comes during an era marked by financial anxiety and disparity, that could render viewers not very receptive to a narrative that suggests wealthy individuals enjoy every advantages while the poor possess heart.

However, here's where the movie stands out: The film is original, daring, creative, frequently funny, and undoubtedly timely. And, it offers a enjoyable the actor character-driven movie.

Reeves in the role of Guardian: His Typical Performance

I have never considered Reeves a good actor. The actor's flat delivery and persistent expression of slight perturbation has consistently seemed one-note, despite his broad variety of roles he's played over the past 40 years. Smart filmmakers have cast Reeves in parts in which his stoic nature fits ideally, including his early work to the sci-fi classic to the action series. But almost all of those characters required him to appear tough, closed-off, and removed.

Throughout the film, the actor portrays Gabriel, one low-level guardian angel assigned with looking after individuals that text when behind the wheel. The character's whole duty involves sitting in his cars and lightly touching the drivers' shoulders as they are close to have an accident, warning the person so they brake before impact. However, while standing high above the city, gazing upon the mortal world like an alternative interpretation of a celestial figure from the director's renowned film the angel story, Gabriel becomes aspirational. He wants to be a great protector and rescuer of lost souls.

The Unexpected Shift: Reeves as a Human

So, he reveals his presence to struggling handyman a character (played by Aziz Ansari), who's residing in his car and cursing his life. The angel then exchanges the man with the life of extremely wealthy tech mogul a character (played by Seth Rogen). The point of the experiment was that Arj would realize the wealthy man's life comes with significant drawbacks, and thankfully go back to his original circumstances, similar to the character from the classic film.

Issue is, Arj right away discovers that Jeff's issues (boring appointments, a pricey pool-heater bill) are minor and easily resolved using wealth. He further sees how becoming affluent provides limitless opportunities for self-indulgent enjoyment. He shows zero interest in going back to his own situation, and the angel is unable to force Arj to return. Subsequently, more trouble arrives: For overstepping his duties and messing with the balance of existence, the character is fired from his angel job, and turned into a mortal.

A Revelation: Keanu Reeves Grins

Personally, I remained never persuaded by the actor as an angel who has big dreams and an intense desire to make a difference. Reeves turns in the same vaguely constipated acting he's consistently providing for no less than the past three decades. Watching him as an celestial being who's recently turned human initially, however, proved to be highly entertaining, due to something which really astonished me initially: This is an element different for the actor. Or to be precise, something old.

Early during the character's baffling career as a human, staying with Jeff (who the angel exchanged with Arj's precarious existence and jobless status), the character begins hesitantly trying out human activities such as chewing and swallowing food. Then the actor smiles. Genuinely, cautiously, joyously beams. (This is a lot more convincing than the grin shown in the poster, which looks digitally altered.)

The Reason This Grin Is Significant

The moment really took me aback to realize how unexpected and refreshing that expression was. At what point did we last we observed the actor smile in a movie in which he wasn't showing malice, sarcasm, or bitterness? The actor likely attempts a smile at some point in 2020's ill-conceived the sequel, however I am not going to revisiting the mess to confirm. The actor has remained stuck with serious, murderous, broody, or simply solemn roles for such a duration that just watching him grin seemed like observing a completely new performer.

As the story goes on, the character finds himself having to get a kitchen job, a role that doesn't pay enough to live on, and Gabriel begins smoking heavily out of frustration. Just the sight of the actor in a disposable plastic restaurant hat, with his late-career signature locks pulled back in an unglamorous bun, slouching against a building and puffing on a smoke, is worthy of watching. His kitchen worker getup completely alters his face and body: Suddenly, the lean, suited action star of his famous films is gawky, unglamorous, and a lot increasingly human.

The Joy of Viewing Keanu Loosen Up

Good Fortune isn't consistently fun to watch, especially when Ansari (who additionally authored the script) has to find believable reasons for {Ar