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Good Fortune, this fantasy film by actor Aziz Ansari, has been facing challenges at the box office. Many factors may account for its performance: Its uninspired title doesn't convey the movie's distinctive appeal. Its script can be moralizing and heavy-handed regarding the messages. Its acting are uninspired and staged, like the actors are reciting dialogue directly from the page. And, it arrives during an era of financial anxiety and inequality, which may render audiences less receptive to a narrative that suggests wealthy people enjoy every advantages while the poor have heart.

However, this is what Good Fortune stands out: The film is original, daring, creative, frequently humorous, and undoubtedly relevant. And, it offers a great Keanu Reeves hangout movie.

Reeves as an Angel: His Typical Performance

I have never considered Reeves to be a strong actor. His monotonal delivery and consistent look of slight concern have always felt limited, despite the wide range of characters he's played during the past four decades years. Smart directors have placed him in roles in which that stoic nature fits ideally, from his early work to The Matrix to John Wick. But almost all of those roles called for Reeves to appear tough, closed-off, or detached.

In Good Fortune, Reeves portrays an angel, one minor guardian celestial being assigned with looking after people that use their phones when driving. His entire job involves remaining in their vehicles and gently making contact with their shoulders when they are about to crash, warning the person in order that they stop before impact. But, while positioned overlooking his domain, looking down upon the mortal world similar to an alternative interpretation of a celestial figure in the director's renowned film Wings of Desire, Gabriel gets ambitious. Gabriel wants to become an exceptional protector and rescuer of lost souls.

The Surprising Turn: Reeves Playing a Mortal

Therefore, he presents himself to struggling odd-jobber a character (played by Aziz Ansari), who's living out of a vehicle and cursing his life. Gabriel proceeds to swaps the man with the life of stupidly rich businessman Jeff (acted by Seth Rogen). This idea behind the exercise was that the character would understand Jeff's life comes with significant drawbacks, and thankfully go back to his own life, much like a character in the classic film.

Problem is, Arj right away discovers how the mogul's problems (boring appointments, expensive pool-heater bill) prove minor and readily resolved with money. He further sees how becoming affluent provides limitless chances for self-indulgent fun. He has zero desire in going back to his previous situation, and Gabriel can't compel him to go back. Then, additional trouble arrives: Because of exceeding his mandate and messing with the balance of existence, the character loses his position from his angel job, and turned to a human being.

The Discovery: Keanu Reeves Grins

Personally, I remained never convinced by the actor as an angel who has grand aspirations and a burning wish to make a difference. Reeves turns in a familiar somewhat stiff performance he has been offering for at least the last 3 ten-year periods. Watching Reeves as an angel that has just turned human initially, on the other hand, proved to be highly entertaining, due to something that truly surprised me initially: This is something new for Reeves. Or more accurately, an aspect from the past.

Early into his confusing experience being a human, staying with Jeff (whom the angel had swapped with Arj's precarious life and underemployed status), Gabriel starts hesitantly experimenting with human experiences like chewing and consuming meals. And the actor smiles. Genuinely, cautiously, joyously beams. (This is far more convincing than his smile on the promotional image, that looks artificially added.)

The Reason That Grin Matters

The moment really surprised me to realize just how unexpected and welcome that smile was. At what point was the last time audiences saw Keanu Reeves smile in a movie in which he wasn't expressing malice, sarcasm, or bitterness? The actor likely attempts it somewhere in 2020's ill-conceived Bill & Ted Face the Music, but I'm not returning to that disappointment to find out. Reeves has remained typecast with grim, violent, broody, or simply serious roles for so long that merely seeing Reeves grin seemed like seeing an entirely different performer.

While the plot progresses, Gabriel finds himself having to take a dishwashing position, which fails to provide sufficient for survival, and Gabriel starts chain-smoking out of disappointment. Just the image of Reeves in a disposable plastic restaurant cap, with his late-career trademark long hair tied in a plain bun, slouching on a wall and smoking a smoke, proves worthy of the price of admission. The dishwasher attire completely changes his appearance and body: Suddenly, the lean, suited physical powerhouse of the John Wick films is gawky, unglamorous, and much more relatable.

The Pleasure of Viewing Keanu Loosen Up

Good Fortune is not always enjoyable to view, particularly when the director (that additionally wrote the screenplay) has to find believable reasons for {Ar