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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this whimsical comedy from comedian Aziz Ansari, is struggling at the box office. Many reasons may account for its performance: Its uninspired title fails to convey the movie's distinctive appeal. The screenplay can be preachy and heavy-handed regarding its messages. The performances are flat and presentational, like the cast were reciting dialogue directly from a script. Moreover, the film comes during an era of economic uncertainty and disparity, which could make audiences not very receptive to a narrative that implies wealthy individuals enjoy all the benefits while those in need possess spirit.

But, here's what the movie excels: The film is unique, daring, imaginative, frequently funny, and certainly timely. Plus, it offers an unexpectedly enjoyable Keanu Reeves character-driven experience.

Keanu Reeves in the role of Angel: His Typical Performance

Personally, I've never considered Reeves to be a strong performer. The actor's monotonal speaking style and persistent look of mild perturbation has consistently seemed one-note, regardless of his broad variety of characters he's played over the past 40 of his career. Smart filmmakers have placed Reeves in roles where his stoic nature works ideally, from My Own Private Idaho to the sci-fi classic to the action series. Yet almost all of those characters required Reeves to seem hardened, closed-off, or removed.

In Good Fortune, Reeves plays Gabriel, a low-level protecting angel tasked with looking after individuals that use their phones when behind the wheel. The character's whole job involves remaining in their vehicles and gently making contact with the drivers' arms when they're about to crash, warning them so they brake in time. But, when positioned high above his domain, gazing on the mortal world similar to an alternative version of a celestial figure from Wim Wenders' renowned movie Wings of Desire, the character becomes aspirational. He wants to be a great guardian and rescuer of wayward individuals.

The Surprising Shift: Keanu as a Mortal

Therefore, Gabriel reveals himself to struggling odd-jobber Arj (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who is residing in a vehicle and cursing his situation. Gabriel then swaps the man with the life of extremely wealthy businessman Jeff (played by Seth Rogen). This idea of the experiment is for the character would understand the wealthy man's life has major drawbacks, and gratefully return to his original circumstances, much like a figure from It's a Wonderful Life.

Issue is, Arj immediately realizes how Jeff's issues (boring appointments, a pricey pool-heater bill) prove negligible and readily resolved with wealth. Arj further sees that becoming rich provides limitless chances for self-indulgent fun. He has zero desire in returning to his previous situation, and the angel can't force him to return. Subsequently, additional bad news comes: For exceeding his mandate and messing with the order of the world, the character is fired as an angel role, and turned into a mortal.

The Discovery: Keanu Reeves Smiles

Personally, I remained never convinced by Reeves playing an celestial being who has grand dreams and an intense wish to effect change. He turns in the same vaguely constipated acting he has consistently offering for at least the past 3 decades. Watching him in the role of celestial being who's recently turned mortal for the first time, on the other hand, was highly entertaining, for a reason that truly astonished me at first: This is an element different for Reeves. Or perhaps more accurately, something from the past.

Soon during his baffling career being a human, staying with the wealthy character (whom the angel exchanged into the handyman's hand-to-mouth life and underemployed situation), the character begins tentatively trying out human experiences such as eating and consuming food. Then Reeves grins. Genuinely, cautiously, happily smiles. (It's far much believable than his grin on the poster, that looks artificially added.)

Why This Grin Is Significant

It truly took me aback to recognize how unexpected and welcome that smile was. When did we last we observed Keanu Reeves smile in a movie where he wasn't expressing malice, sarcasm, or bitterness? He probably attempts a smile somewhere in 2020's ill-conceived Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I am not going to revisiting that mess to confirm. Reeves has remained stuck with grim, murderous, broody, or simply serious characters for such a duration that merely seeing Reeves smile seemed like observing an entirely different performer.

As the story goes on, Gabriel ends up needing to take a dishwashing position, which fails to provide sufficient to live on, and Gabriel begins chain-smoking due to disappointment. Just the sight of the actor in a disposable plastic restaurant hat, his late-career signature long hair pulled back in an unglamorous bun, leaning against a wall and puffing on a smoke, is worthy of watching. His dishwasher getup completely changes his appearance and body: Suddenly, the lean, well-dressed physical powerhouse of the John Wick films is awkward, unglamorous, and much increasingly relatable.

A Pleasure of Watching Keanu Loosen Up

The film isn't consistently enjoyable to watch, particularly when Ansari (that additionally wrote the script) must find believable explanations for {Ar