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Good Fortune, this whimsical comedy by actor Aziz Ansari, has been struggling in theaters. Several reasons may explain its reception: Its generic title doesn't convey its movie's distinctive appeal. The screenplay is often moralizing and obvious regarding the themes. The acting are flat and presentational, as if the cast were reading dialogue straight from the page. And, it arrives at a time of economic anxiety and disparity, that could make audiences less open to a story which implies rich people enjoy every advantages while the poor possess heart.

However, this is what Good Fortune excels: It's unique, daring, creative, often humorous, and undoubtedly timely. Plus, it provides a great Keanu Reeves character-driven movie.

Reeves in the role of Angel: A Familiar Performance

Personally, I've never regarded Keanu Reeves a strong actor. The actor's monotonal delivery and consistent look of slight perturbation have consistently seemed one-note, regardless of the wide range of characters he's taken on during the past 40 years. Smart directors have often cast Reeves in parts where his stoic nature works ideally, including My Own Private Idaho to the sci-fi classic to John Wick. But nearly all of those characters required him to seem tough, closed-off, and detached.

In Good Fortune, Reeves plays Gabriel, one low-level protecting celestial being tasked with watching over individuals that use their phones when behind the wheel. The character's whole job involves sitting in his vehicles and lightly making contact with their shoulders when they're close to crash, warning them so the driver brake in time. However, when standing high above the city, gazing on the mortal world similar to a version of the angel from Wim Wenders' renowned film the angel story, the character becomes ambitious. Gabriel wants to be a great guardian and a savior of wayward souls.

A Unexpected Turn: Keanu Playing a Human

So, Gabriel presents his presence to struggling odd-jobber a character (played by the director), who's living out of a vehicle and cursing his life. The angel then exchanges Arj into the existence of stupidly rich businessman Jeff (played by Seth Rogen). This point behind the exercise is that Arj would understand Jeff's life comes with significant drawbacks, and gratefully return to his own circumstances, similar to a character in the classic film.

Issue was, the character right away discovers that Jeff's issues (tedious appointments, expensive heating invoice) prove negligible and readily resolved using wealth. Arj further sees that becoming rich opens up endless chances for self-indulgent fun. The character has zero desire in returning to his previous life, and the angel is unable to force him to return. Subsequently, more trouble arrives: For overstepping his mandate and messing with the balance of the world, Gabriel loses his position as an angel role, and transformed to a mortal.

A Revelation: Keanu Reeves Smiles

I was not convinced by the actor as an angel who has grand dreams and a burning desire to make a difference. He delivers the same vaguely stiff acting he has been providing for at least the last 3 decades. Viewing him as an celestial being who's recently become human initially, on the other hand, proved to be highly entertaining, for a reason which truly astonished viewers initially: This is an element different for Reeves. Or perhaps more accurately, an aspect old.

Soon during the character's baffling experience as a human, staying with the wealthy character (whom Gabriel exchanged into the handyman's hand-to-mouth life and underemployed status), Gabriel starts tentatively trying out human activities such as chewing and consuming food. And the actor smiles. Genuinely, hesitantly, happily smiles. (This is far much convincing than his smile shown in the poster, that appears digitally altered.)

The Reason That Smile Matters

The moment really took me aback to recognize how unexpected and refreshing that expression felt. At what point did we last we observed Keanu Reeves smile in a film where he was not expressing malice, sarcasm, or bitterness? He likely attempts a smile at some point in the recent ill-conceived Bill & Ted Face the Music, but I am not going to returning to that disappointment to find out. Reeves has been stuck with serious, violent, broody, or just solemn characters for so long that merely seeing him grin seemed like seeing an entirely different actor.

While the plot goes on, the character finds himself having to take a dishwashing position, a role that fails to provide enough for survival, and he begins smoking heavily due to disappointment. Simply the sight of the actor in a disposable plastic restaurant hat, his recent signature locks pulled back in a plain bun, slouching against a building and puffing on a smoke, is worth the price of admission. His kitchen worker attire completely changes his face and posture: Unexpectedly, the slim, well-dressed physical powerhouse of the John Wick movies is awkward, unglamorous, and much increasingly relatable.

The Joy of Viewing Keanu Relax

Good Fortune is not always enjoyable to view, especially when the director (that additionally wrote the script) has to create plausible explanations for {Ar