🔗 Share this article

Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this fantasy film by actor Aziz Ansari, has been facing challenges in theaters. Many reasons may account for the film's reception: The uninspired title doesn't express the movie's distinctive charm. The screenplay can be preachy and obvious regarding its themes. Its performances seem uninspired and staged, as if the actors were reciting lines directly from a script. Moreover, the film comes at a time of economic anxiety and inequality, that could render viewers less open to a story that suggests rich people have every advantages while those in need possess heart.

However, this is where Good Fortune excels: The film is original, daring, creative, frequently funny, and undoubtedly relevant. And, it provides an unexpectedly great Keanu Reeves hangout experience.

Keanu Reeves as an Guardian: A Familiar Performance

I have never regarded Keanu Reeves a strong performer. His flat speaking style and persistent look of slight concern have always seemed one-note, regardless of his broad variety of characters he has played during the past four decades of his career. Astute filmmakers have often cast Reeves in parts where his rigidity works ideally, from his early work to The Matrix to John Wick. Yet nearly all of these roles called for Reeves to seem tough, closed-off, or removed.

Throughout the film, the actor plays an angel, one low-level guardian celestial being assigned with looking after people who use their phones when behind the wheel. His entire duty is sitting in their vehicles and lightly touching their shoulders as they are close to have an accident, alerting the person so they brake in time. But, when positioned high above his domain, looking down upon the mortal world similar to an alternative version of a celestial figure from the director's classic film the angel story, Gabriel becomes ambitious. Gabriel wants to be an exceptional protector and a savior of wayward individuals.

A Surprising Turn: Keanu as a Human

So, Gabriel reveals himself to struggling odd-jobber a character (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who is living out of a vehicle and cursing his life. Gabriel then exchanges the man with the life of extremely rich tech mogul Jeff (played by the comedian). This idea of the experiment was that the character would understand the wealthy man's existence comes with major downsides, and thankfully go back to his own circumstances, much like the character from It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem is, the character immediately realizes how the mogul's issues (boring appointments, expensive pool-heater bill) are minor and easily resolved using money. Arj further realizes how becoming rich provides endless chances for pleasurable fun. He has no interest in returning to his own situation, and Gabriel can't compel him to go back. Subsequently, more trouble comes: For exceeding his mandate and disrupting the order of the world, the character is fired as an celestial role, and turned to a mortal.

The Revelation: The Actor Smiles

Personally, I remained never persuaded by Reeves as an celestial being who has big aspirations and an intense desire to make a difference. He turns in the same vaguely stiff performance he has been providing for no less than the past three decades. Watching him as an celestial being that has just become human initially, however, proved to be a blast, for a reason that really astonished me at first: This is an element new for the actor. Or more accurately, something old.

Soon into the character's confusing career being a human, staying with the wealthy character (who Gabriel exchanged with the handyman's hand-to-mouth life and underemployed situation), the character begins tentatively trying out everyday activities such as eating and swallowing meals. And Reeves grins. Authentically, cautiously, happily smiles. (This is a lot more convincing than his grin on the promotional image, that looks digitally altered.)

The Reason That Smile Is Significant

It truly took me aback to recognize just how surprising and welcome the expression felt. When was the last time audiences observed Keanu Reeves smile in a film where he was not expressing ill will, sarcasm, or bitterness? He probably tries a smile at some point in 2020's ill-conceived Bill & Ted Face the Music, but I'm not going to revisiting the mess to confirm. The actor has been stuck with serious, violent, introspective, or just solemn characters for so long that merely seeing Reeves smile seemed like observing an entirely different actor.

As the story progresses, Gabriel ends up having to get a dishwashing job, which doesn't pay enough for survival, and Gabriel begins chain-smoking due to disappointment. Just the image of Reeves in a disposable plastic food-service cap, his recent trademark long hair tied in a plain ponytail, leaning against a wall and smoking a cigarette, proves worth watching. His dishwasher getup totally changes his face and body: Suddenly, the lean, well-dressed action star of the John Wick movies is awkward, ordinary, and a lot increasingly human.

The Pleasure of Viewing Reeves Relax

Good Fortune isn't always fun to view, especially when Ansari (who also authored the screenplay) has to create plausible reasons for {Ar