🔗 Share this article

Good Fortune, this whimsical comedy from comedian Aziz Ansari, has been struggling at the box office. Several factors may explain its performance: Its uninspired title fails to express the movie's distinctive appeal. The screenplay is often preachy and heavy-handed with the messages. The performances seem flat and staged, like the cast are reading lines directly from a script. Moreover, it arrives during an era marked by financial anxiety and disparity, that could render audiences less receptive to a narrative which suggests rich people enjoy all the benefits while the poor have heart.

But, here's where Good Fortune excels: It's unique, bold, creative, frequently humorous, and certainly timely. And, it offers an unexpectedly great the actor hangout movie.

Keanu Reeves as an Angel: A Familiar Portrayal

I have never considered Keanu Reeves a good actor. The actor's monotonal delivery and persistent look of slight perturbation have consistently felt one-note, despite the broad range of roles he's taken on during the past 40 of his career. Smart filmmakers have often placed him in parts where his stoic nature works perfectly, from My Own Private Idaho to the sci-fi classic to the action series. Yet nearly all of those characters called for Reeves to seem tough, distant, or removed.

In the film, the actor portrays an angel, one minor protecting celestial being assigned with looking after individuals that use their phones while behind the wheel. The character's entire duty is remaining in their cars and lightly touching their shoulders when they are about to have an accident, warning the person so they stop before impact. However, when positioned overlooking the city, looking down upon the mortal world similar to a interpretation of a celestial figure from the director's renowned movie the angel story, the character becomes ambitious. He wants to become an exceptional guardian and rescuer of lost souls.

The Surprising Shift: Reeves as a Mortal

Therefore, he reveals himself to down-and-out odd-jobber Arj (played by Aziz Ansari), who's residing out of a vehicle and cursing his situation. Gabriel then exchanges the man with the existence of extremely wealthy tech mogul a character (played by the comedian). The idea of the exercise is that the character would realize Jeff's existence comes with significant downsides, and thankfully return to his own life, much like the figure from the classic film.

Problem is, the character right away realizes that the mogul's issues (tedious meetings, expensive heating bill) are minor and readily solved using wealth. Arj further realizes how being rich opens up limitless chances for self-indulgent fun. He has no interest in returning to his previous situation, and the angel can't force Arj to return. Subsequently, more bad news comes: For overstepping his mandate and messing with the order of existence, Gabriel loses his position as an celestial job, and turned into a mortal.

A Revelation: Keanu Reeves Smiles

I was never persuaded by the actor as an angel who has grand aspirations and a burning desire to make a difference. He turns in the same vaguely stiff acting he's been providing for no less than the last three ten-year periods. Watching Reeves as an angel that has recently become mortal initially, however, was a blast, due to something that really surprised viewers at first: It's something new for the actor. Or to be precise, an aspect old.

Early into his confusing experience as a human, staying with the wealthy character (who the angel exchanged into Arj's precarious existence and jobless situation), Gabriel starts tentatively experimenting with human experiences like eating and consuming meals. And the actor smiles. Authentically, hesitantly, happily beams. (It's far much believable than his grin on the promotional image, that looks digitally altered.)

The Reason This Smile Matters

The moment truly took me aback to realize how unexpected and refreshing that smile was. At what point was the last time audiences saw Keanu Reeves grin in a movie where he wasn't expressing ill will, sarcasm, or resentment? The actor likely tries a smile at some point in the recent misbegotten the sequel, however I'm not going to revisiting the disappointment to find out. The actor has remained stuck with serious, murderous, broody, or simply serious characters for so long that merely seeing Reeves smile seemed like observing an entirely different actor.

While the story goes on, the character finds himself having to get a dishwashing position, a role that fails to provide enough to live on, and he starts smoking heavily due to frustration. Simply the image of the actor in a disposable paper food-service cap, his late-career trademark long hair pulled back in an unglamorous ponytail, slouching on a building and puffing on a cigarette, is worthy of watching. His kitchen worker attire completely changes his face and posture: Suddenly, the lean, well-dressed action star of the John Wick films is awkward, unglamorous, and a lot more relatable.

A Pleasure of Viewing Reeves Relax

Good Fortune is not always enjoyable to view, particularly when Ansari (who additionally authored the screenplay) has to create plausible explanations for {Ar