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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this fantasy comedy by comedian the director, has been facing challenges at the box office. Several reasons may explain the film's reception: The uninspired title doesn't express its movie's distinctive appeal. Its screenplay can be preachy and obvious regarding the themes. Its acting are uninspired and presentational, as if the cast are reading dialogue directly from a script. Moreover, the film comes during an era of financial uncertainty and inequality, that could make viewers not very open to a story which suggests wealthy people enjoy all the benefits while those in need possess spirit.

But, here's where the movie excels: It's unique, bold, imaginative, frequently funny, and undoubtedly timely. Plus, it provides a great the actor character-driven movie.

Reeves as an Angel: His Typical Performance

I have not considered Keanu Reeves a good performer. The actor's flat speaking style and consistent look of mild perturbation has consistently seemed limited, despite his broad variety of characters he has taken on over the past four decades of his career. Smart directors have often cast him in parts where that rigidity works perfectly, including My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to John Wick. But nearly all of these roles called for Reeves to appear tough, distant, or removed.

Throughout Good Fortune, the actor portrays an angel, a low-level guardian celestial being assigned with looking after individuals that text when driving. His whole duty is sitting in their vehicles and gently touching the drivers' arms when they're close to have an accident, warning them in order that they brake before impact. However, while positioned overlooking the city, looking down on the mortal world similar to an alternative interpretation of a celestial figure in the director's renowned movie Wings of Desire, the character gets aspirational. Gabriel wants to be a great guardian and rescuer of wayward individuals.

The Surprising Turn: Reeves as a Mortal

So, Gabriel presents his presence to struggling handyman a character (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who's residing out of a vehicle and cursing his life. Gabriel proceeds to swaps the man with the life of extremely rich tech mogul Jeff (played by Seth Rogen). The idea of the exercise was for the character would realize the wealthy man's existence has major downsides, and gratefully go back to his own circumstances, much like the figure in It's a Wonderful Life.

Issue is, Arj immediately discovers that the mogul's problems (boring meetings, expensive pool-heater bill) are minor and easily solved using money. Arj also sees how becoming rich opens up limitless opportunities for self-indulgent fun. The character shows no interest in returning to his previous situation, and the angel is unable to force him to return. Then, additional bad news comes: For exceeding his mandate and disrupting the order of the world, the character loses his position as an celestial job, and transformed to a human being.

A Revelation: The Actor Smiles

Personally, I remained not persuaded by the actor as an angel who has big dreams and an intense wish to make a difference. He delivers the same somewhat constipated acting he has been offering for at least the past 3 decades. Viewing Reeves in the role of celestial being that has just turned human initially, however, was highly entertaining, due to something that truly surprised viewers initially: It's something new for the actor. Or perhaps to be precise, an aspect old.

Early into the character's baffling career as a mortal, staying with Jeff (whom Gabriel had swapped into the handyman's hand-to-mouth life and underemployed status), Gabriel begins tentatively experimenting with everyday experiences such as eating and consuming meals. Then Reeves smiles. Authentically, cautiously, joyously smiles. (This is far much convincing than his smile shown in the promotional image, that looks digitally altered.)

The Reason That Grin Matters

The moment truly took me aback to recognize how unexpected and refreshing that smile felt. At what point did we last audiences observed the actor grin in a film where he was not showing malice, sarcasm, or bitterness? He probably attempts a smile at some point in the recent misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I am not going to revisiting the mess to find out. The actor has been stuck with grim, violent, broody, or simply serious roles for so long that just seeing Reeves grin felt like seeing an entirely different actor.

While the story goes on, Gabriel ends up having to get a kitchen position, which doesn't pay enough for survival, and he begins smoking heavily out of disappointment. Simply the image of the actor in a disposable paper restaurant cap, his recent trademark locks pulled back in an unglamorous bun, slouching on a wall and smoking a cigarette, is worthy of the price of admission. The kitchen worker attire totally alters his face and body: Unexpectedly, the slim, suited action star of his famous movies becomes gawky, ordinary, and a lot increasingly relatable.

A Joy of Viewing Reeves Relax

Good Fortune isn't consistently fun to watch, especially when the director (that additionally wrote the screenplay) has to create believable explanations for {Ar