🔗 Share this article

Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this fantasy comedy by actor Aziz Ansari, is facing challenges in theaters. Many reasons may account for its performance: Its generic name doesn't convey the film's distinctive charm. The script is often moralizing and obvious regarding its messages. Its performances seem uninspired and staged, like the actors are reading dialogue directly from a script. Moreover, the film comes during an era marked by financial uncertainty and disparity, which may render audiences less receptive to a story which suggests rich individuals enjoy every benefits while the poor possess heart.

But, here's what Good Fortune excels: It's unique, bold, creative, frequently funny, and undoubtedly relevant. And, it offers a enjoyable Keanu Reeves character-driven experience.

Keanu Reeves as an Guardian: A Familiar Portrayal

I have never regarded Reeves a good actor. The actor's monotonal delivery and persistent expression of slight concern have always seemed one-note, despite the wide variety of characters he's taken on during the last four decades of his career. Astute directors have placed him in roles in which his stoic nature works ideally, including My Own Private Idaho to the sci-fi classic to John Wick. Yet almost all of those roles called for him to appear hardened, distant, or detached.

In the film, the actor plays Gabriel, one minor protecting celestial being tasked with looking after individuals that text while driving. His whole duty is remaining in their vehicles and lightly touching the drivers' arms as they're close to have an accident, warning them in order that the driver brake before impact. But, when standing high above the city, looking down upon humanity similar to an alternative version of a celestial figure in Wim Wenders' renowned movie Wings of Desire, the character gets aspirational. He wants to be an exceptional protector and rescuer of wayward individuals.

The Unexpected Turn: Reeves Playing a Mortal

So, Gabriel reveals himself to down-and-out odd-jobber Arj (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who is residing in his car and cursing his situation. The angel proceeds to exchanges Arj with the life of stupidly rich businessman a character (played by Seth Rogen). The point of the exercise was that the character to understand the wealthy man's existence comes with significant downsides, and gratefully go back to his original life, much like a figure from the classic film.

Problem is, Arj right away discovers how Jeff's issues (boring appointments, a pricey heating invoice) are minor and readily solved with money. Arj also realizes how being rich provides limitless opportunities for pleasurable enjoyment. The character has zero interest in returning to his own situation, and Gabriel is unable to compel Arj to go back. Then, more bad news comes: For overstepping his mandate and disrupting the order of existence, the character loses his position as an angel job, and turned to a human being.

The Discovery: Keanu Reeves Grins

I was never convinced by Reeves playing an celestial being with big aspirations and a burning wish to effect change. Reeves turns in the same somewhat stiff acting he's consistently providing for no less than the past three decades. Viewing Reeves in the role of celestial being who's recently become human for the first time, on the other hand, was highly entertaining, due to something which really astonished viewers initially: It's something new for Reeves. Or to be precise, something from the past.

Early during the character's confusing career being a human, clinging to the wealthy character (whom Gabriel had swapped with Arj's precarious life and underemployed situation), Gabriel starts hesitantly trying out human activities like eating and swallowing food. And the actor grins. Authentically, cautiously, joyously smiles. (This is a lot more convincing than the smile shown in the poster, that looks digitally altered.)

Why That Grin Matters

The moment truly surprised me to realize how unexpected and refreshing the smile was. At what point did we last we observed Keanu Reeves grin in a film where he wasn't showing ill will, irony, or bitterness? The actor probably tries it at some point in 2020's ill-conceived Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I am not returning to the disappointment to find out. The actor has remained stuck with grim, murderous, introspective, or simply serious characters for such a duration that just seeing Reeves smile felt like observing a completely different actor.

As the story progresses, Gabriel ends up having to take a dishwashing job, a role that fails to provide sufficient for survival, and he begins chain-smoking due to disappointment. Just the sight of the actor in a disposable paper food-service hat, with his late-career trademark long hair tied in a plain ponytail, slouching on a building and smoking a smoke, is worth the price of admission. The dishwasher getup totally alters his face and body: Unexpectedly, the lean, well-dressed action star of his famous films becomes gawky, unglamorous, and a lot increasingly relatable.

A Pleasure of Viewing Keanu Relax

Good Fortune isn't always enjoyable to watch, particularly when the director (that additionally wrote the screenplay) has to find plausible reasons for {Ar