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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, the fantasy comedy by actor Aziz Ansari, is struggling at the box office. Several factors may account for the film's reception: The uninspired name fails to convey its movie's distinctive appeal. Its script is often preachy and obvious regarding its themes. The performances are flat and presentational, like the cast were reciting lines directly from the page. And, the film comes during an era marked by economic uncertainty and disparity, which may make audiences less open to a story that implies wealthy people have every benefits while the poor have heart.

But, this is what Good Fortune stands out: The film is original, bold, imaginative, often funny, and certainly timely. And, it provides a great Keanu Reeves hangout experience.

Keanu Reeves in the role of Guardian: His Typical Portrayal

I have not regarded Reeves a strong performer. The actor's monotonal speaking style and consistent expression of mild concern have consistently felt limited, despite his broad range of roles he's taken on during the past 40 of his career. Astute filmmakers have often placed Reeves in parts where his rigidity fits ideally, including his early work to The Matrix to the action series. Yet almost all of those characters called for him to appear tough, closed-off, or removed.

In Good Fortune, the actor portrays Gabriel, a low-level protecting celestial being assigned with looking after individuals who text when behind the wheel. The character's whole duty involves sitting in his cars and gently touching the drivers' shoulders as they are about to have an accident, alerting the person so they brake before impact. However, while standing overlooking the city, looking down upon humanity like an alternative version of a celestial figure from the director's classic film the angel story, the character gets ambitious. He desires to be an exceptional protector and rescuer of lost souls.

The Surprising Shift: Keanu Playing a Human

So, he reveals himself to struggling handyman a character (played by Aziz Ansari), who's residing in his car and cursing his situation. The angel then swaps Arj into the existence of stupidly rich businessman Jeff (played by the comedian). The idea behind the exercise is for the character to realize the wealthy man's life has major downsides, and thankfully return to his original circumstances, much like a figure from the classic film.

Issue is, the character right away realizes that the mogul's problems (tedious meetings, a pricey heating invoice) prove minor and easily resolved with wealth. He also sees how becoming rich opens up limitless opportunities for pleasurable fun. He has no desire in returning to his previous life, and the angel can't force Arj to go back. Subsequently, more trouble arrives: For exceeding his duties and disrupting the balance of existence, Gabriel loses his position from his celestial job, and turned into a human being.

The Discovery: Keanu Reeves Grins

I was never persuaded by the actor as an celestial being with grand aspirations and a burning wish to make a difference. He delivers the same vaguely constipated performance he's been providing for no less than the last three ten-year periods. Viewing Reeves in the role of angel who's recently turned human initially, on the other hand, proved to be a blast, due to something that truly surprised me at first: It's something different for the actor. Or more accurately, something old.

Soon into his confusing career as a mortal, clinging to Jeff (whom Gabriel exchanged with Arj's hand-to-mouth existence and jobless situation), Gabriel begins hesitantly trying out everyday activities such as eating and consuming meals. And Reeves grins. Authentically, hesitantly, joyously beams. (It's far more convincing than his grin shown in the promotional image, which appears artificially added.)

Why This Grin Matters

The moment truly took me aback to recognize how surprising and refreshing that expression felt. When was the last time we saw the actor smile in a film where he wasn't expressing ill will, irony, or resentment? He likely attempts a smile somewhere in 2020's ill-conceived the sequel, however I am not going to returning to the mess to confirm. The actor has been typecast with grim, violent, introspective, or just serious roles for so long that just seeing Reeves grin felt like seeing an entirely different actor.

As the story progresses, the character ends up needing to get a kitchen position, which fails to provide sufficient to live on, and Gabriel begins chain-smoking out of frustration. Just the sight of the actor in a disposable plastic food-service cap, with his recent signature locks tied in a plain ponytail, slouching on a building and puffing on a cigarette, is worth the price of admission. His dishwasher getup totally changes his face and posture: Unexpectedly, the lean, suited action star of the John Wick movies becomes gawky, unglamorous, and much more relatable.

A Joy of Viewing Reeves Loosen Up

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