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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, the fantasy comedy by comedian Aziz Ansari, has been struggling at the box office. Many reasons may account for its performance: The uninspired name fails to convey the film's distinctive charm. Its screenplay can be preachy and obvious regarding its themes. Its performances seem flat and staged, as if the actors are reciting dialogue straight from the page. And, the film comes during an era of economic anxiety and disparity, which could make viewers not very receptive to a narrative which implies wealthy individuals have every advantages while the poor possess heart.

But, this is what Good Fortune stands out: The film is unique, bold, imaginative, frequently funny, and undoubtedly relevant. And, it offers a great the actor hangout movie.

Reeves as an Angel: A Familiar Portrayal

I have not considered Reeves to be a strong actor. The actor's monotonal delivery and consistent expression of mild perturbation has consistently felt limited, despite the wide range of characters he's played during the last 40 years. Astute directors have often placed him in roles where that stoic nature fits ideally, from his early work to the sci-fi classic to the action series. Yet almost every one of those characters called for him to appear tough, distant, and removed.

Throughout Good Fortune, Reeves portrays Gabriel, one minor guardian angel tasked with watching over people who text while driving. The character's whole job involves sitting in his cars and lightly making contact with the drivers' arms when they are about to have an accident, warning the person in order that they brake before impact. But, while standing overlooking the city, gazing on the mortal world like an alternative version of the angel from Wim Wenders' renowned film Wings of Desire, Gabriel gets ambitious. Gabriel desires to be an exceptional protector and rescuer of lost individuals.

The Unexpected Turn: Keanu Playing a Mortal

So, he reveals himself to struggling handyman a character (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who's residing out of his car and resenting his situation. The angel then exchanges Arj into the life of extremely wealthy tech mogul Jeff (acted by Seth Rogen). This point of the experiment was that Arj to realize Jeff's life comes with significant downsides, and thankfully return to his own life, much like a figure from It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem is, Arj right away discovers that Jeff's issues (boring meetings, expensive pool-heater invoice) are minor and easily solved with wealth. Arj also sees that becoming rich opens up limitless opportunities for pleasurable fun. He has zero interest in returning to his own situation, and Gabriel is unable to force Arj to go back. Then, additional trouble comes: For exceeding his duties and messing with the balance of existence, the character is fired as an celestial job, and transformed to a mortal.

The Discovery: Keanu Reeves Smiles

Personally, I remained never persuaded by Reeves playing an celestial being who has big dreams and an intense wish to effect change. Reeves delivers a familiar vaguely stiff performance he's been offering for no less than the past three decades. Watching Reeves as an celestial being who's recently turned mortal for the first time, however, was a blast, for a reason which truly surprised me at first: It's an element different for Reeves. Or perhaps to be precise, an aspect from the past.

Early during the character's baffling experience being a human, clinging to the wealthy character (whom the angel exchanged into Arj's precarious existence and underemployed situation), Gabriel starts tentatively trying out human activities such as eating and swallowing food. Then the actor grins. Genuinely, hesitantly, joyously beams. (It's far much convincing than his smile shown in the poster, that looks digitally altered.)

The Reason That Grin Is Significant

It truly surprised me to recognize how surprising and welcome the smile was. At what point did we last we saw the actor smile in a film in which he wasn't showing ill will, sarcasm, or resentment? The actor likely attempts it at some point in 2020's ill-conceived the sequel, but I am not returning to the disappointment to find out. The actor has remained typecast with serious, murderous, introspective, or just solemn roles for such a duration that just watching him smile seemed like observing a completely different actor.

As the story goes on, the character ends up needing to get a dishwashing position, which fails to provide sufficient to live on, and he begins chain-smoking due to frustration. Simply the image of Reeves in a disposable paper restaurant cap, his recent trademark long hair tied in a plain ponytail, slouching on a building and smoking a smoke, proves worthy of watching. His dishwasher attire completely alters his face and body: Unexpectedly, the lean, well-dressed physical powerhouse of his famous movies becomes gawky, ordinary, and much more relatable.

A Joy of Watching Reeves Loosen Up

The film isn't always fun to watch, particularly when the director (that additionally wrote the screenplay) must create plausible reasons for {Ar