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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, the fantasy comedy from comedian the director, is struggling at the box office. Several factors may explain the film's performance: Its generic name doesn't convey the movie's distinctive charm. Its script can be preachy and heavy-handed regarding its messages. Its acting are uninspired and staged, as if the actors are reading dialogue straight from the page. And, the film comes at a time marked by financial uncertainty and inequality, that may render audiences less receptive to a narrative which suggests wealthy people enjoy every benefits while the poor possess spirit.

However, here's what the movie stands out: It's unique, bold, imaginative, often humorous, and undoubtedly relevant. And, it offers an unexpectedly enjoyable the actor character-driven movie.

Reeves as an Angel: His Typical Portrayal

I have not regarded Reeves to be a strong performer. The actor's monotonal delivery and consistent look of slight concern have always seemed one-note, regardless of the wide variety of characters he's taken on over the last four decades of his career. Smart directors have often placed him in parts where that stoic nature fits ideally, including his early work to The Matrix to the action series. Yet nearly every one of those roles called for him to seem tough, distant, or removed.

In Good Fortune, Reeves portrays an angel, a minor guardian angel tasked with looking after individuals who use their phones when behind the wheel. The character's entire duty involves sitting in their cars and gently touching the drivers' arms as they are about to crash, alerting them in order that they brake before impact. However, while positioned overlooking his domain, looking down on humanity like a version of the angel from Wim Wenders' classic movie Wings of Desire, the character gets aspirational. He desires to become an exceptional guardian and rescuer of wayward individuals.

A Surprising Turn: Reeves as a Human

Therefore, he reveals himself to struggling odd-jobber a character (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who's residing in his car and cursing his life. The angel then exchanges the man with the existence of stupidly wealthy businessman Jeff (acted by Seth Rogen). The point of the experiment is for Arj would understand the wealthy man's existence has major drawbacks, and thankfully go back to his own life, much like a figure from It's a Wonderful Life.

Issue is, Arj immediately discovers how Jeff's issues (tedious meetings, expensive heating bill) are minor and readily resolved with wealth. He also realizes that being rich opens up endless opportunities for self-indulgent fun. He shows no desire in going back to his own life, and Gabriel can't force him to go back. Subsequently, additional bad news arrives: For exceeding his duties and messing with the order of the world, Gabriel loses his position as an angel role, and transformed to a mortal.

The Revelation: The Actor Grins

I was not convinced by Reeves playing an celestial being with big aspirations and a burning desire to effect change. He delivers a familiar somewhat stiff acting he's consistently offering for at least the past 3 ten-year periods. Watching Reeves as an angel who's just become human initially, however, was highly entertaining, for a reason which truly astonished me initially: This is an element different for the actor. Or perhaps more accurately, something old.

Early during the character's baffling experience being a mortal, staying with the wealthy character (who Gabriel had swapped with the handyman's precarious existence and underemployed situation), Gabriel starts hesitantly trying out human activities like chewing and swallowing food. And Reeves grins. Authentically, cautiously, happily smiles. (It's far more believable than his smile on the promotional image, that appears digitally altered.)

The Reason That Smile Is Significant

It truly surprised me to realize how surprising and refreshing that expression felt. At what point was the last time audiences observed Keanu Reeves smile in a movie where he was not expressing malice, sarcasm, or resentment? He likely tries a smile at some point in 2020's misbegotten the sequel, but I'm not revisiting the disappointment to find out. Reeves has remained typecast with grim, violent, broody, or just serious roles for such a duration that merely watching him grin seemed like seeing a completely new performer.

As the story progresses, Gabriel ends up needing to take a kitchen job, which doesn't pay sufficient to live on, and Gabriel begins chain-smoking due to frustration. Just the image of Reeves in a cheap paper restaurant hat, his late-career signature long hair tied in an unglamorous bun, slouching against a wall and smoking a cigarette, proves worth the price of admission. The kitchen worker getup completely alters his face and body: Suddenly, the lean, suited physical powerhouse of his famous movies becomes awkward, unglamorous, and much more relatable.

The Joy of Watching Keanu Loosen Up

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