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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, the fantasy comedy by actor Aziz Ansari, is facing challenges at the box office. Several reasons may account for its performance: Its generic name fails to convey its movie's distinctive appeal. The script can be preachy and obvious with its messages. The performances seem flat and presentational, as if the cast were reciting lines straight from the page. Moreover, it arrives at a time marked by financial anxiety and inequality, that could render viewers less receptive to a narrative which implies wealthy people enjoy all the benefits while those in need have spirit.

But, here's where Good Fortune excels: It's original, bold, creative, frequently humorous, and certainly relevant. And, it offers an unexpectedly enjoyable Keanu Reeves character-driven experience.

Keanu Reeves as an Guardian: His Typical Portrayal

I have not considered Reeves to be a good actor. The actor's monotonal delivery and persistent look of mild perturbation has consistently felt one-note, despite his wide range of characters he's played during the past four decades of his career. Astute directors have often placed him in parts in which his stoic nature fits ideally, including his early work to the sci-fi classic to John Wick. Yet almost all of those characters called for him to appear hardened, closed-off, or detached.

Throughout the film, the actor plays Gabriel, a low-level protecting angel tasked with watching over people who text when behind the wheel. His whole job involves remaining in his cars and gently making contact with their arms when they are close to crash, warning the person so the driver stop before impact. However, while positioned high above the city, gazing on the mortal world like an alternative interpretation of a celestial figure from Wim Wenders' classic film Wings of Desire, Gabriel gets ambitious. He desires to become an exceptional guardian and a savior of lost individuals.

The Surprising Turn: Reeves Playing a Mortal

So, he presents himself to down-and-out odd-jobber Arj (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who's living in a vehicle and cursing his life. The angel proceeds to swaps Arj into the life of extremely rich tech mogul a character (played by the comedian). This idea of the exercise is for Arj to realize the wealthy man's life has significant downsides, and gratefully return to his own life, similar to the character from It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem is, the character right away realizes how Jeff's issues (boring meetings, expensive heating invoice) prove minor and easily solved with money. Arj further realizes how being affluent provides endless opportunities for pleasurable enjoyment. He has zero desire in going back to his previous situation, and the angel can't force him to return. Subsequently, additional trouble comes: Because of overstepping his duties and messing with the balance of existence, the character is fired from his celestial role, and transformed into a human being.

The Revelation: The Actor Grins

Personally, I remained not convinced by the actor playing an angel with grand dreams and an intense wish to effect change. He turns in a familiar somewhat stiff performance he has been providing for no less than the past 3 ten-year periods. Viewing him as an celestial being who's recently turned mortal initially, however, proved to be highly entertaining, for a reason which really surprised viewers initially: It's something different for the actor. Or more accurately, an aspect from the past.

Early during the character's confusing career as a human, staying with Jeff (who Gabriel exchanged with Arj's hand-to-mouth life and jobless situation), the character starts tentatively experimenting with everyday experiences like eating and swallowing food. And Reeves grins. Genuinely, hesitantly, joyously beams. (It's a lot more believable than his smile on the poster, that looks artificially added.)

The Reason This Smile Matters

The moment truly surprised me to recognize just how unexpected and welcome the smile felt. When was the last time audiences observed Keanu Reeves grin in a film in which he was not expressing ill will, sarcasm, or resentment? The actor probably tries it at some point in 2020's misbegotten the sequel, however I am not going to returning to that disappointment to find out. Reeves has been typecast with grim, murderous, broody, or just serious characters for such a duration that just watching him smile felt like observing an entirely new performer.

As the story goes on, Gabriel finds himself needing to take a dishwashing job, which doesn't pay sufficient to live on, and Gabriel begins chain-smoking out of frustration. Just the image of Reeves in a cheap paper restaurant hat, his recent trademark long hair tied in a plain ponytail, slouching on a building and smoking a smoke, proves worthy of watching. His kitchen worker attire totally changes his face and body: Suddenly, the slim, well-dressed physical powerhouse of his famous films becomes awkward, unglamorous, and a lot increasingly human.

The Pleasure of Viewing Reeves Loosen Up

The film isn't always fun to watch, particularly when the director (who also authored the script) has to find believable reasons for {Ar