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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this fantasy film by actor Aziz Ansari, has been facing challenges in theaters. Several reasons may account for the film's performance: Its uninspired name fails to convey its movie's distinctive charm. Its screenplay is often preachy and obvious regarding its themes. The acting are uninspired and presentational, as if the cast are reading dialogue straight from the page. And, the film comes at a time of financial anxiety and disparity, that may make audiences not very receptive to a narrative that suggests rich people have all the advantages while those in need possess heart.

But, here's where Good Fortune stands out: The film is original, daring, imaginative, often humorous, and certainly timely. Plus, it provides an unexpectedly great the actor hangout experience.

Keanu Reeves as an Guardian: His Typical Performance

I have never regarded Reeves to be a good actor. His flat delivery and persistent look of slight concern have always felt one-note, despite the broad range of characters he has taken on during the last four decades years. Astute filmmakers have often cast Reeves in parts in which his stoic nature works ideally, from his early work to the sci-fi classic to the action series. But nearly every one of those characters required him to appear hardened, distant, and detached.

In Good Fortune, the actor portrays an angel, one low-level protecting celestial being assigned with looking after individuals who use their phones when behind the wheel. The character's entire job involves sitting in his vehicles and gently making contact with the drivers' shoulders when they are close to crash, alerting the person in order that the driver stop before impact. But, while positioned overlooking his domain, looking down upon the mortal world similar to a version of a celestial figure in the director's classic movie the angel story, Gabriel gets ambitious. He desires to be an exceptional guardian and rescuer of lost individuals.

The Unexpected Turn: Reeves Playing a Mortal

So, he reveals himself to struggling handyman a character (played by Aziz Ansari), who is living in a vehicle and cursing his situation. Gabriel proceeds to swaps Arj with the existence of extremely rich tech mogul a character (acted by Seth Rogen). The point of the exercise is for the character to understand Jeff's existence comes with major downsides, and thankfully return to his own life, much like a figure from the classic film.

Issue is, the character right away realizes how Jeff's problems (boring meetings, a pricey pool-heater invoice) are minor and easily resolved with wealth. He also sees that being rich provides limitless opportunities for self-indulgent enjoyment. The character shows zero interest in going back to his own situation, and Gabriel can't compel him to return. Then, more bad news comes: For exceeding his duties and messing with the order of existence, Gabriel is fired as an celestial job, and turned to a human being.

The Discovery: The Actor Smiles

Personally, I remained never persuaded by Reeves playing an angel who has big dreams and a burning desire to effect change. Reeves turns in a familiar somewhat constipated acting he's consistently offering for at least the past 3 decades. Viewing Reeves in the role of angel who's recently turned mortal initially, however, was a blast, due to something that truly astonished viewers initially: This is an element different for the actor. Or perhaps to be precise, an aspect old.

Early into his confusing career as a mortal, staying with the wealthy character (who the angel exchanged into the handyman's hand-to-mouth existence and underemployed situation), Gabriel starts hesitantly trying out human experiences such as chewing and swallowing food. Then Reeves grins. Genuinely, cautiously, joyously smiles. (This is far much convincing than the smile shown in the poster, which looks digitally altered.)

Why This Grin Matters

The moment truly took me aback to realize how surprising and refreshing the smile was. When did we last we observed Keanu Reeves grin in a film in which he wasn't showing ill will, irony, or bitterness? The actor likely tries it somewhere in the recent misbegotten the sequel, however I'm not going to returning to the disappointment to find out. The actor has been stuck with grim, violent, broody, or just solemn roles for so long that just seeing Reeves grin felt like seeing a completely new performer.

As the story goes on, the character ends up needing to take a kitchen job, a role that fails to provide enough for survival, and Gabriel begins chain-smoking due to disappointment. Simply the image of the actor in a disposable plastic restaurant hat, with his recent trademark long hair tied in a plain bun, slouching against a wall and smoking a smoke, is worthy of watching. His kitchen worker getup totally alters his face and posture: Suddenly, the slim, suited action star of his famous movies becomes gawky, unglamorous, and much increasingly human.

The Joy of Viewing Keanu Loosen Up

The film is not always enjoyable to watch, especially when Ansari (that also authored the script) has to create believable explanations for {Ar