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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, the whimsical film by comedian the director, is struggling in theaters. Several factors could account for its performance: The generic name doesn't express the film's distinctive appeal. The screenplay is often moralizing and heavy-handed with the messages. The performances are flat and presentational, like the actors are reciting lines directly from a script. And, the film comes during an era of financial anxiety and inequality, that could render viewers not very receptive to a narrative that suggests rich individuals have all the advantages while those in need possess spirit.

But, here's where the movie stands out: The film is unique, bold, creative, often funny, and undoubtedly relevant. And, it provides an unexpectedly great Keanu Reeves character-driven experience.

Keanu Reeves as an Angel: His Typical Portrayal

Personally, I've not regarded Keanu Reeves to be a strong performer. The actor's flat delivery and persistent expression of mild perturbation have consistently seemed limited, regardless of the broad range of characters he's played over the past 40 years. Smart directors have cast him in parts in which that rigidity fits ideally, from his early work to the sci-fi classic to the action series. Yet almost all of these roles required Reeves to appear tough, distant, and detached.

Throughout Good Fortune, the actor portrays Gabriel, a minor guardian celestial being assigned with watching over individuals that text when behind the wheel. The character's whole job involves sitting in their vehicles and lightly touching the drivers' shoulders as they are close to have an accident, warning the person so the driver brake in time. However, while standing overlooking the city, gazing upon the mortal world like an alternative version of the angel in Wim Wenders' renowned movie Wings of Desire, the character gets aspirational. He wants to become an exceptional guardian and a savior of wayward individuals.

The Unexpected Shift: Keanu Playing a Mortal

Therefore, he reveals himself to struggling odd-jobber Arj (played by the director), who is residing out of a vehicle and resenting his life. The angel then swaps Arj with the life of stupidly rich businessman Jeff (acted by Seth Rogen). This point of the exercise was for Arj would understand the wealthy man's existence has significant downsides, and thankfully go back to his original life, similar to a figure from the classic film.

Issue was, Arj right away discovers that Jeff's problems (boring appointments, a pricey heating bill) are minor and readily resolved using wealth. Arj further sees how being affluent provides endless chances for pleasurable enjoyment. He shows zero desire in returning to his own life, and Gabriel is unable to force Arj to go back. Then, more bad news arrives: For exceeding his mandate and disrupting the order of the world, the character is fired as an celestial role, and turned into a human being.

A Revelation: The Actor Grins

Personally, I remained never persuaded by the actor as an angel with big dreams and a burning wish to effect change. Reeves delivers a familiar vaguely constipated acting he's been providing for at least the past 3 decades. Viewing Reeves as an celestial being that has recently become human initially, on the other hand, proved to be a blast, for a reason which truly surprised viewers at first: This is something new for Reeves. Or to be precise, an aspect from the past.

Soon into the character's baffling career as a human, staying with the wealthy character (who Gabriel had swapped with Arj's hand-to-mouth existence and jobless status), Gabriel starts tentatively experimenting with human activities like eating and swallowing food. Then the actor smiles. Genuinely, hesitantly, joyously beams. (It's a lot much believable than the grin on the poster, which looks digitally altered.)

Why This Smile Is Significant

It truly surprised me to recognize just how surprising and refreshing that smile was. At what point was the last time we saw the actor smile in a film in which he was not expressing ill will, irony, or resentment? The actor likely attempts it somewhere in 2020's misbegotten the sequel, however I'm not going to revisiting that disappointment to find out. Reeves has been typecast with serious, murderous, broody, or simply solemn characters for such a duration that merely watching Reeves smile felt like observing an entirely different performer.

As the plot goes on, Gabriel ends up needing to get a dishwashing job, a role that doesn't pay sufficient for survival, and he starts smoking heavily due to disappointment. Simply the image of the actor in a cheap paper restaurant hat, with his recent trademark long hair tied in a plain bun, slouching on a wall and smoking a cigarette, proves worthy of the price of admission. The dishwasher attire totally alters his face and posture: Suddenly, the slim, suited action star of his famous films is gawky, unglamorous, and a lot more human.

The Pleasure of Viewing Keanu Relax

The film isn't consistently enjoyable to watch, especially when the director (who also authored the screenplay) must create plausible reasons for {Ar