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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this whimsical film by actor Aziz Ansari, has been facing challenges at the box office. Many reasons may explain the film's reception: The uninspired name fails to express its film's distinctive charm. Its script can be preachy and obvious with its themes. Its performances are flat and staged, as if the actors were reading lines straight from the page. Moreover, the film comes at a time of economic anxiety and disparity, which could make viewers less receptive to a story that suggests rich individuals have every advantages while the poor possess spirit.

However, this is what Good Fortune stands out: It's unique, daring, creative, frequently humorous, and certainly timely. And, it provides an unexpectedly enjoyable Keanu Reeves hangout movie.

Reeves as an Angel: A Familiar Performance

Personally, I've never considered Reeves a good performer. His monotonal delivery and persistent look of mild perturbation has consistently felt one-note, regardless of his wide variety of characters he has taken on during the past 40 of his career. Smart filmmakers have placed him in parts in which his stoic nature works perfectly, from his early work to The Matrix to John Wick. Yet nearly all of these roles called for him to seem tough, closed-off, or removed.

Throughout the film, the actor plays an angel, a low-level guardian angel assigned with watching over people who use their phones when behind the wheel. His entire job involves remaining in his cars and gently touching the drivers' shoulders when they are about to have an accident, warning them in order that they stop in time. However, when standing overlooking the city, looking down upon the mortal world similar to an alternative version of a celestial figure from Wim Wenders' classic movie the angel story, Gabriel becomes aspirational. He desires to be an exceptional guardian and a savior of lost souls.

A Unexpected Turn: Reeves as a Mortal

So, he presents his presence to down-and-out odd-jobber Arj (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who's residing out of a vehicle and resenting his life. Gabriel proceeds to swaps the man with the existence of stupidly rich tech mogul a character (acted by Seth Rogen). This idea of the exercise was that the character would understand Jeff's existence comes with significant drawbacks, and gratefully return to his own circumstances, similar to a figure in It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem is, Arj right away realizes that Jeff's issues (tedious meetings, a pricey pool-heater invoice) prove minor and easily resolved with money. Arj further realizes how becoming affluent provides limitless chances for self-indulgent enjoyment. The character shows no desire in returning to his own life, and the angel can't force Arj to return. Subsequently, additional bad news comes: Because of overstepping his duties and disrupting the order of the world, the character is fired from his angel job, and transformed into a mortal.

The Discovery: The Actor Smiles

I was not persuaded by the actor playing an angel with big aspirations and an intense wish to effect change. Reeves delivers a familiar vaguely stiff acting he has consistently offering for no less than the past three decades. Watching Reeves in the role of celestial being that has just turned mortal initially, on the other hand, proved to be highly entertaining, for a reason that truly surprised viewers at first: This is an element new for Reeves. Or perhaps to be precise, something old.

Soon during his baffling career being a mortal, clinging to Jeff (who Gabriel had swapped with the handyman's hand-to-mouth existence and jobless status), the character starts tentatively experimenting with human activities like chewing and consuming food. And Reeves smiles. Authentically, cautiously, joyously smiles. (It's a lot more convincing than the grin shown in the poster, which appears artificially added.)

The Reason This Grin Is Significant

The moment truly surprised me to recognize just how surprising and welcome that smile was. When did we last we observed Keanu Reeves smile in a movie where he wasn't showing ill will, sarcasm, or resentment? He probably attempts it at some point in the recent misbegotten the sequel, however I'm not going to returning to the disappointment to find out. Reeves has been stuck with grim, murderous, introspective, or just serious characters for such a duration that just seeing him grin seemed like seeing a completely different performer.

While the plot goes on, the character finds himself needing to get a kitchen job, which doesn't pay enough for survival, and Gabriel begins chain-smoking due to frustration. Simply the sight of the actor in a disposable paper food-service cap, his late-career signature long hair tied in a plain ponytail, slouching against a building and puffing on a cigarette, is worthy of the price of admission. The dishwasher attire completely changes his face and posture: Unexpectedly, the slim, well-dressed physical powerhouse of his famous movies is gawky, ordinary, and much increasingly relatable.

A Joy of Watching Keanu Loosen Up

Good Fortune is not consistently enjoyable to watch, especially when Ansari (that additionally authored the script) has to create believable explanations for {Ar