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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this whimsical comedy from actor the director, is facing challenges in theaters. Several reasons could explain its reception: The uninspired name doesn't express the film's unique charm. The screenplay is often preachy and obvious with its themes. Its acting are flat and staged, as if the cast are reciting lines straight from the page. Moreover, it arrives at a time marked by financial uncertainty and disparity, that could make audiences not very open to a story that implies wealthy individuals enjoy all the benefits while those in need possess spirit.

However, here's where Good Fortune excels: The film is original, bold, imaginative, frequently funny, and undoubtedly relevant. Plus, it offers an unexpectedly enjoyable Keanu Reeves hangout movie.

Reeves in the role of Guardian: A Familiar Portrayal

I have not regarded Keanu Reeves to be a strong actor. The actor's monotonal speaking style and consistent look of mild perturbation have consistently felt limited, regardless of his wide range of roles he has played during the last four decades years. Smart directors have placed Reeves in parts in which his rigidity works ideally, from My Own Private Idaho to the sci-fi classic to the action series. Yet nearly every one of these roles called for Reeves to seem tough, distant, or removed.

In the film, Reeves plays Gabriel, a minor protecting celestial being assigned with looking after individuals who text when driving. The character's whole duty is remaining in their vehicles and lightly making contact with the drivers' arms as they are close to have an accident, warning them in order that they brake in time. But, when standing overlooking his domain, looking down upon the mortal world similar to an alternative interpretation of the angel from the director's classic film Wings of Desire, Gabriel gets ambitious. He wants to be a great guardian and rescuer of lost individuals.

A Surprising Shift: Keanu Playing a Mortal

Therefore, he presents his presence to struggling handyman a character (played by Aziz Ansari), who's residing out of a vehicle and resenting his situation. The angel then exchanges the man with the existence of stupidly rich tech mogul a character (acted by Seth Rogen). This point of the experiment was that the character would understand Jeff's life has major drawbacks, and thankfully go back to his own circumstances, much like the character in the classic film.

Problem is, Arj right away discovers that the mogul's issues (boring appointments, expensive pool-heater bill) are minor and readily solved using wealth. He further realizes that becoming rich provides endless chances for pleasurable fun. The character shows no interest in returning to his own situation, and Gabriel is unable to compel him to go back. Then, more trouble arrives: For exceeding his mandate and disrupting the balance of existence, Gabriel loses his position from his angel role, and turned into a mortal.

The Revelation: Keanu Reeves Grins

I was never persuaded by Reeves playing an angel with big dreams and an intense desire to make a difference. He turns in the same somewhat stiff performance he's consistently offering for at least the past three decades. Watching him as an celestial being who's just turned mortal for the first time, however, was highly entertaining, for a reason which truly astonished viewers initially: This is something different for Reeves. Or perhaps more accurately, something from the past.

Early during the character's confusing career as a human, staying with the wealthy character (whom the angel had swapped with Arj's precarious life and underemployed situation), the character starts tentatively trying out everyday activities like chewing and consuming food. And the actor smiles. Authentically, cautiously, joyously smiles. (This is far much convincing than his grin on the poster, which looks digitally altered.)

The Reason This Grin Is Significant

It really surprised me to realize just how unexpected and welcome that expression was. At what point did we last audiences observed the actor grin in a film where he wasn't expressing malice, irony, or bitterness? He likely tries it at some point in the recent ill-conceived the sequel, but I'm not going to returning to that disappointment to find out. The actor has been typecast with serious, murderous, introspective, or simply serious roles for so long that merely seeing him grin seemed like observing a completely different performer.

As the story goes on, Gabriel ends up having to get a kitchen position, a role that doesn't pay sufficient for survival, and Gabriel begins smoking heavily due to frustration. Just the image of Reeves in a disposable plastic restaurant cap, his recent trademark locks pulled back in a plain bun, slouching against a building and puffing on a cigarette, proves worthy of the price of admission. The kitchen worker getup totally alters his appearance and body: Unexpectedly, the slim, well-dressed physical powerhouse of the John Wick films becomes gawky, ordinary, and much more human.

The Joy of Viewing Reeves Relax

The film is not consistently fun to view, especially when Ansari (who additionally wrote the screenplay) must create believable explanations for {Ar