🔗 Share this article

Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, the whimsical comedy from comedian Aziz Ansari, is facing challenges in theaters. Several reasons could explain its reception: The uninspired name doesn't convey the movie's distinctive charm. Its screenplay can be moralizing and obvious with the messages. The performances seem flat and presentational, as if the cast were reading dialogue directly from the page. And, the film comes during an era of economic anxiety and inequality, which could make viewers less receptive to a story which implies wealthy individuals enjoy all the benefits while those in need possess spirit.

However, here's what the movie excels: The film is unique, daring, imaginative, often humorous, and certainly relevant. Plus, it provides an unexpectedly great Keanu Reeves character-driven movie.

Keanu Reeves in the role of Guardian: His Typical Portrayal

Personally, I've not considered Keanu Reeves a strong performer. The actor's flat speaking style and persistent expression of slight concern have consistently felt one-note, despite his broad variety of characters he's taken on over the past four decades years. Smart directors have cast him in parts where that rigidity fits ideally, from his early work to The Matrix to the action series. Yet almost every one of those characters called for him to seem hardened, closed-off, and removed.

Throughout Good Fortune, Reeves portrays Gabriel, a minor guardian celestial being tasked with looking after individuals who text when behind the wheel. The character's whole duty involves remaining in their cars and gently touching the drivers' shoulders as they're about to crash, alerting the person in order that they stop in time. However, while positioned high above his domain, looking down upon humanity like a interpretation of the angel from Wim Wenders' renowned movie the angel story, the character gets aspirational. Gabriel wants to become a great protector and rescuer of lost individuals.

The Surprising Shift: Reeves Playing a Mortal

So, Gabriel presents his presence to down-and-out handyman a character (played by the director), who's residing in his car and cursing his life. The angel proceeds to swaps the man into the existence of extremely wealthy businessman a character (played by Seth Rogen). This point behind the experiment was that Arj to realize Jeff's life has significant drawbacks, and thankfully go back to his original circumstances, similar to the figure from It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem is, Arj immediately realizes how the mogul's problems (tedious meetings, expensive heating bill) are negligible and readily resolved with money. Arj further realizes how becoming rich provides limitless opportunities for pleasurable enjoyment. The character shows no desire in returning to his own situation, and Gabriel can't compel him to go back. Subsequently, additional bad news arrives: Because of exceeding his mandate and disrupting the balance of existence, Gabriel loses his position from his celestial job, and transformed into a human being.

The Revelation: The Actor Grins

I was not convinced by the actor as an celestial being who has big dreams and a burning desire to make a difference. Reeves turns in a familiar vaguely stiff acting he's been offering for at least the last 3 decades. Viewing him as an celestial being that has recently become mortal initially, on the other hand, was highly entertaining, for a reason that truly surprised viewers initially: This is something different for the actor. Or to be precise, an aspect old.

Soon during his baffling career being a mortal, clinging to the wealthy character (who the angel had swapped into the handyman's hand-to-mouth existence and underemployed status), the character starts tentatively trying out everyday activities like eating and consuming food. Then Reeves grins. Genuinely, cautiously, happily smiles. (This is far much convincing than his smile shown in the poster, that looks digitally altered.)

Why That Grin Matters

The moment truly surprised me to recognize how surprising and refreshing that smile felt. When did we last audiences observed the actor smile in a film in which he was not expressing malice, irony, or bitterness? The actor likely attempts a smile at some point in the recent misbegotten the sequel, but I am not revisiting that mess to find out. Reeves has been typecast with serious, violent, broody, or just solemn characters for so long that just seeing him smile seemed like seeing an entirely new actor.

As the story progresses, the character ends up needing to take a dishwashing position, a role that doesn't pay enough for survival, and Gabriel begins chain-smoking due to disappointment. Simply the sight of Reeves in a cheap paper food-service hat, with his late-career signature long hair pulled back in a plain ponytail, leaning on a building and smoking a smoke, proves worth 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 increasingly human.

A Pleasure of Watching Keanu Loosen Up

Good Fortune isn't consistently enjoyable to view, especially when the director (who additionally authored the screenplay) must find believable reasons for {Ar