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Good Fortune, the fantasy film by comedian Aziz Ansari, has been facing challenges at the box office. Many reasons could explain the film's performance: The generic title doesn't express its movie's distinctive appeal. The screenplay is often preachy and obvious with its themes. The performances seem flat and staged, like the cast were reciting dialogue directly from a script. Moreover, the film comes at a time of economic uncertainty and inequality, that could make audiences less open to a narrative that suggests rich people enjoy every benefits while those in need have heart.

However, here's what Good Fortune stands out: The film is original, daring, creative, frequently funny, and undoubtedly relevant. Plus, it provides a enjoyable the actor character-driven movie.

Keanu Reeves as an Angel: A Familiar Portrayal

I have not considered Reeves a good actor. The actor's flat speaking style and consistent expression of mild concern has always seemed limited, regardless of his wide variety of characters he has taken on during the past 40 years. Smart filmmakers have often cast him in roles in which that rigidity fits ideally, from My Own Private Idaho to the sci-fi classic to the action series. But nearly every one of these roles required him to seem hardened, closed-off, or detached.

In the film, the actor plays an angel, a low-level protecting celestial being assigned with watching over people who text while driving. The character's whole duty involves sitting in his cars and lightly making contact with the drivers' arms as they are about to have an accident, warning the person so the driver stop in time. But, when positioned overlooking the city, gazing upon the mortal world similar to a interpretation of the angel in Wim Wenders' classic movie the angel story, the character becomes ambitious. He desires to become a great guardian and a savior of wayward souls.

The Surprising Turn: Reeves Playing a Mortal

So, he reveals his presence to down-and-out odd-jobber Arj (played by Aziz Ansari), who's residing out of his car and resenting his life. The angel then swaps Arj with the existence of stupidly rich businessman a character (played by the comedian). This idea of the exercise is for the character would understand Jeff's life has significant drawbacks, and gratefully go back to his original circumstances, much like a character in the classic film.

Issue is, Arj immediately realizes how Jeff's problems (tedious appointments, expensive pool-heater invoice) are minor and readily resolved using wealth. Arj also sees that becoming affluent provides endless opportunities for self-indulgent enjoyment. The character shows zero interest in returning to his own life, and the angel can't compel him to return. Subsequently, more bad news comes: For overstepping his mandate and disrupting the balance of existence, the character loses his position from his angel role, and turned into a human being.

A Revelation: Keanu Reeves Smiles

Personally, I remained not convinced by the actor playing an angel who has big aspirations and an intense wish to effect change. He delivers a familiar somewhat constipated acting he has consistently offering for at least the past 3 ten-year periods. Watching Reeves in the role of celestial being that has just turned human initially, on the other hand, proved to be highly entertaining, for a reason which truly astonished viewers initially: It's something different for Reeves. Or perhaps more accurately, an aspect from the past.

Soon during the character's confusing experience being a human, clinging to the wealthy character (who the angel had swapped with Arj's precarious life and underemployed status), the character begins tentatively experimenting with human activities such as eating and swallowing meals. And Reeves grins. Authentically, cautiously, joyously smiles. (This is a lot much believable than the smile on the promotional image, that looks artificially added.)

Why That Grin Is Significant

It really took me aback to realize just how surprising and refreshing that expression was. At what point was the last time audiences observed Keanu Reeves grin in a film in which he wasn't expressing malice, sarcasm, or bitterness? The actor likely tries a smile somewhere in the recent misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, but I am not going to returning to the disappointment to confirm. Reeves has been typecast with grim, murderous, broody, or just solemn characters for such a duration that merely watching him grin felt like seeing an entirely new actor.

As the plot goes on, the character ends up needing to get a kitchen position, a role that fails to provide sufficient to live on, and Gabriel starts smoking heavily due to disappointment. Simply the image of Reeves in a disposable plastic food-service cap, with his recent trademark locks tied in a plain ponytail, slouching on a building and smoking a cigarette, is worthy of watching. His kitchen worker attire completely alters his face and body: Suddenly, the slim, well-dressed physical powerhouse of his famous movies is gawky, ordinary, and much more relatable.

A Pleasure of Viewing Reeves Loosen Up

The film isn't consistently fun to watch, especially when the director (who also wrote the script) must create believable reasons for {Ar