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Good Fortune, the whimsical film from comedian Aziz Ansari, is facing challenges at the box office. Several factors could explain the film's reception: The generic name doesn't convey its film's distinctive appeal. Its script can be preachy and heavy-handed with its themes. Its acting are flat and presentational, like the actors are reading dialogue directly from the page. And, the film comes during an era of financial uncertainty and inequality, which could render audiences less open to a story which suggests wealthy individuals enjoy all the advantages while those in need possess heart.

But, this is where the movie excels: It's unique, bold, creative, frequently humorous, and undoubtedly timely. Plus, it offers an unexpectedly great the actor hangout movie.

Reeves as an Angel: A Familiar Portrayal

I have not considered Keanu Reeves a strong performer. The actor's flat delivery and consistent look of mild perturbation has consistently felt one-note, despite his wide variety of characters he has played over the past four decades of his career. Smart filmmakers have often cast him in parts where his rigidity fits ideally, from his early work to The Matrix to John Wick. But nearly all of these roles required Reeves to appear hardened, closed-off, or removed.

Throughout Good Fortune, the actor plays Gabriel, one minor protecting angel tasked with watching over people who text while behind the wheel. The character's whole job is sitting in their vehicles and gently touching their shoulders when they are close to crash, warning them in order that the driver stop before impact. But, while positioned overlooking his domain, gazing on the mortal world similar to an alternative interpretation of a celestial figure in Wim Wenders' renowned movie Wings of Desire, the character becomes aspirational. Gabriel desires to become an exceptional guardian and rescuer of wayward individuals.

The Unexpected Shift: Keanu as a Human

So, Gabriel presents himself to down-and-out handyman Arj (played by Aziz Ansari), who's living out of a vehicle and resenting his life. Gabriel proceeds to swaps Arj with the life of extremely rich businessman a character (acted by Seth Rogen). The point of the experiment is for the character to realize the wealthy man's life has significant drawbacks, and gratefully go back to his own life, much like the figure in the classic film.

Problem is, Arj right away realizes that Jeff's problems (tedious meetings, a pricey heating invoice) are minor and easily resolved using wealth. Arj further sees that becoming affluent opens up endless opportunities for self-indulgent fun. He has zero interest in going back to his previous situation, and Gabriel is unable to force Arj to return. Subsequently, more bad news arrives: Because of exceeding his duties and disrupting the balance of the world, Gabriel loses his position as an angel job, and turned into a mortal.

The Discovery: Keanu Reeves Grins

Personally, I remained never persuaded by the actor as an angel with grand aspirations and an intense wish to make a difference. He turns in a familiar somewhat stiff acting he has consistently offering for at least the past three ten-year periods. Watching Reeves in the role of celestial being who's just turned human initially, on the other hand, proved to be highly entertaining, due to something which really surprised me at first: This is something different for Reeves. Or to be precise, an aspect from the past.

Soon into his baffling experience as a human, clinging to the wealthy character (who Gabriel exchanged with Arj's hand-to-mouth existence and underemployed situation), Gabriel starts tentatively trying out human experiences like chewing and swallowing food. And Reeves grins. Genuinely, hesitantly, happily smiles. (It's a lot more believable than his smile on the promotional image, which appears artificially added.)

Why That Grin Is Significant

It truly surprised me to recognize just how surprising and refreshing the expression felt. At what point was the last time we saw the actor smile in a movie where he was not showing ill will, sarcasm, or resentment? He probably tries it somewhere in the recent ill-conceived the sequel, however I am not going to returning to that disappointment to confirm. The actor has remained stuck with serious, violent, introspective, or just solemn characters for such a duration that just watching Reeves smile seemed like seeing a completely new performer.

While the story progresses, Gabriel finds himself having to get a kitchen job, which fails to provide enough for survival, and he starts chain-smoking due to frustration. Just the sight of the actor in a disposable paper food-service hat, with his late-career trademark locks tied in an unglamorous ponytail, leaning on a wall and puffing on a smoke, proves worth the price of admission. His dishwasher attire completely alters his face and body: Suddenly, the slim, suited action star of his famous movies is gawky, ordinary, and much more relatable.

The Pleasure of Watching Keanu Relax

The film isn't always enjoyable to view, particularly when Ansari (that additionally wrote the screenplay) must create plausible explanations for {Ar