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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this fantasy comedy by actor the director, is facing challenges in theaters. Many factors could explain the film's reception: The uninspired title doesn't convey its movie's unique charm. Its screenplay can be moralizing and obvious with its messages. Its acting seem uninspired and staged, like the cast were reading dialogue directly from a script. And, the film comes at a time of economic uncertainty and inequality, which could render audiences not very open to a narrative which suggests rich people enjoy every benefits while those in need possess heart.

But, this is where the movie excels: It's original, daring, creative, often funny, and undoubtedly timely. Plus, it offers a enjoyable Keanu Reeves character-driven movie.

Reeves as an Guardian: His Typical Performance

Personally, I've not regarded Keanu Reeves a strong performer. The actor's flat speaking style and consistent expression of slight concern has consistently seemed one-note, regardless of his broad variety of characters he's played over the past four decades of his career. Smart filmmakers have often placed Reeves in roles in which that stoic nature fits ideally, from his early work to the sci-fi classic to the action series. But nearly all of these roles required Reeves to seem tough, distant, or detached.

Throughout Good Fortune, Reeves portrays Gabriel, a low-level protecting angel assigned with watching over individuals who use their phones when behind the wheel. His whole job involves remaining in their cars and lightly touching the drivers' shoulders as they're close to have an accident, alerting them so the driver brake in time. However, while positioned overlooking his domain, looking down on the mortal world like a interpretation of a celestial figure in the director's classic movie Wings of Desire, the character gets aspirational. Gabriel desires to be a great protector and rescuer of lost souls.

The Surprising Turn: Reeves as a Mortal

So, Gabriel presents his presence to struggling odd-jobber Arj (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who is residing out of a vehicle and resenting his situation. The angel then swaps Arj into the existence of stupidly wealthy tech mogul a character (acted by the comedian). This idea of the exercise is that the character to realize Jeff's existence has major drawbacks, and thankfully go back to his own life, similar to a character in the classic film.

Issue is, the character right away realizes that the mogul's issues (boring appointments, expensive pool-heater invoice) prove negligible and readily resolved using wealth. He further sees that becoming rich opens up endless chances for self-indulgent enjoyment. He has no interest in going back to his previous life, and the angel is unable to force Arj to go back. Then, more trouble comes: Because of overstepping his duties and disrupting the balance of existence, the character loses his position from his celestial job, and transformed into a mortal.

A Discovery: Keanu Reeves Grins

Personally, I remained not convinced by Reeves playing an celestial being with big aspirations and an intense wish to effect change. Reeves turns in a familiar vaguely stiff performance he's consistently offering for at least the past 3 decades. Viewing him as an celestial being who's recently become human initially, on the other hand, was a blast, for a reason that really astonished me at first: This is an element new for Reeves. Or perhaps to be precise, an aspect old.

Early during his baffling experience as a mortal, clinging to the wealthy character (who Gabriel exchanged with the handyman's precarious existence and underemployed situation), Gabriel begins tentatively experimenting with human activities like eating and swallowing meals. And the actor grins. Genuinely, cautiously, happily smiles. (It's far more believable than the grin shown in the poster, that appears digitally altered.)

Why This Smile Matters

It really surprised me to realize how surprising and welcome the smile felt. When did we last we saw the actor grin in a movie in which he was not showing ill will, sarcasm, or resentment? He probably tries a smile somewhere in the recent misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, but I am not returning to the mess to confirm. Reeves has been stuck with grim, murderous, broody, or simply serious characters for such a duration that merely seeing him smile seemed like observing an entirely different performer.

As the plot progresses, the character ends up having to take a kitchen position, a role that doesn't pay sufficient for survival, and he begins chain-smoking due to disappointment. Just the image of Reeves in a disposable paper food-service hat, his late-career trademark long hair pulled back in a plain bun, slouching on a wall and puffing on a smoke, is worthy of the price of admission. His kitchen worker attire totally changes his face and posture: Unexpectedly, the lean, well-dressed action star of the John Wick films is gawky, ordinary, and a lot increasingly human.

A Joy of Viewing Keanu Relax

The film isn't consistently enjoyable to watch, particularly when the director (that also authored the screenplay) must create plausible reasons for {Ar