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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this fantasy comedy from comedian the director, has been facing challenges in theaters. Several factors may account for its reception: The uninspired name fails to express the movie's distinctive appeal. Its screenplay is often preachy and obvious regarding the themes. Its performances seem flat and presentational, like the actors were reading dialogue straight from a script. And, it arrives during an era marked by economic anxiety and inequality, that could make viewers less receptive to a story which suggests wealthy individuals enjoy every benefits while those in need possess heart.

But, this is what the movie stands out: It's original, bold, imaginative, frequently funny, and certainly relevant. Plus, it offers an unexpectedly great Keanu Reeves character-driven movie.

Keanu Reeves in the role of Angel: His Typical Performance

I have never regarded Keanu Reeves a good actor. His flat speaking style and persistent look of mild concern has always felt limited, despite the wide range of roles he has played over the last 40 years. Astute filmmakers have placed Reeves in roles where that rigidity fits ideally, from his early work to the sci-fi classic to the action series. But almost every one of those roles called for him to appear hardened, distant, and removed.

In Good Fortune, Reeves plays Gabriel, one low-level protecting angel assigned with looking after individuals who use their phones while driving. The character's whole job is sitting in their vehicles and lightly making contact with the drivers' arms as they're close to have an accident, alerting the person in order that they stop in time. But, while positioned overlooking his domain, looking down on humanity like a version of a celestial figure in Wim Wenders' classic movie Wings of Desire, the character gets aspirational. He wants to be an exceptional protector and rescuer of wayward souls.

The Unexpected Turn: Keanu Playing a Human

Therefore, Gabriel reveals himself to down-and-out handyman a character (played by Aziz Ansari), who's residing out of a vehicle and cursing his situation. The angel then exchanges the man with the existence of stupidly wealthy tech mogul a character (played by Seth Rogen). The point of the experiment is for the character would understand the wealthy man's existence has major downsides, and thankfully go back to his own life, much like the figure from It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem is, the character immediately realizes how the mogul's issues (boring meetings, a pricey pool-heater bill) prove minor and easily resolved using money. He also sees how being rich provides endless chances for self-indulgent fun. He shows zero desire in going back to his own life, and the angel can't compel him to go back. Then, additional trouble arrives: Because of overstepping his mandate and disrupting the balance of existence, Gabriel is fired as an angel job, and turned into a mortal.

A Revelation: Keanu Reeves Smiles

Personally, I remained never persuaded by Reeves as an angel who has grand dreams and a burning desire to effect change. Reeves delivers a familiar somewhat constipated performance he's consistently offering for no less than the past 3 ten-year periods. Viewing Reeves as an angel who's recently become human initially, however, proved to be a blast, for a reason that really astonished me initially: This is something new for the actor. Or to be precise, an aspect old.

Soon into the character's baffling experience being a human, clinging to Jeff (whom the angel exchanged with the handyman's precarious life and jobless status), the character begins tentatively trying out human experiences such as chewing and swallowing food. And the actor grins. Authentically, cautiously, joyously beams. (It's far more believable than his grin on the promotional image, that looks artificially added.)

The Reason This Smile Is Significant

It truly surprised me to realize how unexpected and welcome that expression was. At what point did we last we saw the actor grin in a movie in which he wasn't showing ill will, irony, or resentment? He likely tries it somewhere in the recent misbegotten the sequel, but I'm not going to returning to that mess to confirm. Reeves has remained stuck with grim, violent, broody, or just solemn characters for so long that just watching him grin felt like observing a completely new actor.

As the plot progresses, Gabriel ends up needing to get a kitchen job, which doesn't pay enough for survival, and he begins chain-smoking out of frustration. Just the sight of the actor in a cheap plastic restaurant cap, his late-career trademark long hair tied in an unglamorous bun, leaning on a wall and puffing on a cigarette, is worth the price of admission. His dishwasher attire completely alters his appearance and body: Suddenly, the lean, suited physical powerhouse of his famous movies is awkward, unglamorous, and a lot increasingly human.

A Joy of Watching Reeves Relax

Good Fortune is not consistently fun to watch, especially when Ansari (who additionally authored the screenplay) has to find plausible reasons for {Ar