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Good Fortune, this whimsical film from comedian Aziz Ansari, has been facing challenges at the box office. Several factors may account for its performance: Its uninspired name doesn't convey its movie's distinctive appeal. Its script can be preachy and heavy-handed regarding its themes. The acting seem uninspired and presentational, as if the cast were reading lines directly from the page. Moreover, it arrives at a time of economic uncertainty and inequality, which may make audiences less open to a story which implies rich people have all the benefits while the poor possess heart.

But, this is where the movie stands out: It's original, bold, imaginative, often funny, and undoubtedly timely. And, it provides an unexpectedly great Keanu Reeves character-driven movie.

Reeves in the role of Angel: His Typical Performance

Personally, I've not regarded Reeves to be a strong actor. The actor's monotonal speaking style and persistent look of slight perturbation have always seemed limited, regardless of his broad variety of roles he has taken on over the past 40 of his career. Astute filmmakers have cast Reeves in roles in which his stoic nature works ideally, including My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to the action series. Yet almost all of those roles required Reeves to seem tough, distant, or removed.

In Good Fortune, the actor portrays an angel, one minor guardian angel assigned with watching over people who text when driving. The character's entire duty involves sitting in his vehicles and gently touching the drivers' shoulders when they're close to have an accident, alerting the person in order that the driver brake before impact. However, while positioned high above the city, looking down upon the mortal world like a interpretation of the angel in Wim Wenders' classic movie Wings of Desire, Gabriel gets aspirational. He desires to be a great guardian and a savior of wayward souls.

The Surprising Shift: Reeves as a Human

Therefore, he presents his presence to struggling odd-jobber Arj (portrayed by the director), who's living out of a vehicle and cursing his situation. Gabriel then swaps the man with the life of extremely wealthy businessman Jeff (acted by the comedian). The point behind the exercise was that Arj would understand the wealthy man's existence comes with major downsides, and thankfully return to his own life, much like a character from It's a Wonderful Life.

Issue is, Arj right away discovers that Jeff's issues (tedious meetings, expensive heating bill) are minor and readily solved with wealth. He further realizes that becoming rich opens up endless opportunities for self-indulgent fun. The character has zero interest in returning to his own situation, and Gabriel can't force him to return. Then, additional bad news comes: For overstepping his mandate and messing with the balance of the world, Gabriel is fired as an angel role, and transformed to a mortal.

A Revelation: The Actor Smiles

I was not convinced by the actor playing an celestial being who has big aspirations and a burning wish to make a difference. He turns in a familiar somewhat stiff acting he has been offering for no less than the past 3 ten-year periods. Viewing him as an celestial being that has just turned human for the first time, on the other hand, proved to be a blast, for a reason that really surprised me at first: This is an element new for Reeves. Or more accurately, something from the past.

Soon into the character's confusing experience being a mortal, staying with Jeff (whom Gabriel had swapped into the handyman's precarious life and jobless situation), Gabriel starts hesitantly experimenting with everyday experiences like chewing and swallowing food. And Reeves grins. Genuinely, cautiously, happily beams. (It's a lot much believable than the grin on the poster, that looks digitally altered.)

Why That Smile Matters

It really took me aback to recognize how unexpected and welcome that expression was. When was the last time we observed the actor smile in a film in which he was not expressing malice, irony, or bitterness? The actor likely tries a smile at some point in 2020's misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, but I am not going to revisiting that mess to confirm. The actor has remained typecast with serious, violent, introspective, or simply serious characters for such a duration that just seeing him grin seemed like observing a completely different performer.

While the story goes on, Gabriel finds himself having to get a dishwashing position, which doesn't pay enough for survival, and he starts smoking heavily out of disappointment. Just the image of the actor in a cheap plastic food-service cap, his recent trademark long hair pulled back in an unglamorous ponytail, leaning on a building and puffing on a cigarette, proves worth the price of admission. His dishwasher getup completely changes his appearance and body: Unexpectedly, the lean, suited physical powerhouse of his famous movies is awkward, ordinary, and a lot more human.

The Joy of Watching Reeves Relax

The film isn't always enjoyable to watch, especially when Ansari (who also authored the script) must create believable reasons for {Ar