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Good Fortune, the whimsical film from comedian the director, has been facing challenges in theaters. Many factors may account for the film's performance: Its uninspired title doesn't convey the film's distinctive appeal. The script is often moralizing and obvious regarding the messages. Its acting seem uninspired and staged, like the cast are reading lines directly from the page. Moreover, it arrives during an era of economic uncertainty and inequality, which could make audiences not very receptive to a narrative that suggests wealthy individuals have all the advantages while those in need have spirit.

However, here's what Good Fortune excels: The film is original, bold, creative, often funny, and undoubtedly timely. Plus, it offers an unexpectedly enjoyable Keanu Reeves character-driven movie.

Keanu Reeves in the role of Angel: His Typical Portrayal

Personally, I've never regarded Reeves a strong performer. His monotonal speaking style and consistent expression of slight concern have consistently seemed one-note, regardless of his wide variety of roles he's taken on during the last 40 years. Smart directors have cast Reeves in parts in which his rigidity fits ideally, from My Own Private Idaho to the sci-fi classic to John Wick. Yet nearly all of those roles called for Reeves to appear hardened, closed-off, and removed.

In Good Fortune, the actor plays an angel, one low-level protecting celestial being tasked with looking after people that text when behind the wheel. His entire duty involves sitting in their cars and lightly touching the drivers' shoulders when they are about to crash, warning them so they brake in time. However, while standing overlooking his domain, gazing upon humanity like a interpretation of a celestial figure in the director's renowned movie the angel story, Gabriel becomes ambitious. Gabriel desires to become an exceptional protector and a savior of wayward souls.

A Unexpected Turn: Keanu Playing a Mortal

So, he reveals himself to down-and-out handyman a character (played by the director), who's residing out of a vehicle and cursing his life. The angel proceeds to exchanges Arj into the life of stupidly rich businessman Jeff (played by the comedian). The idea of the exercise was for Arj would understand Jeff's life has significant downsides, and gratefully go back to his own circumstances, similar to the figure in the classic film.

Problem is, Arj right away discovers how the mogul's problems (boring meetings, a pricey pool-heater invoice) are negligible and readily solved with money. Arj further realizes that being rich provides limitless opportunities for self-indulgent fun. He has zero interest in returning to his own life, and Gabriel can't force him to return. Subsequently, more bad news arrives: For overstepping his duties and disrupting the order of the world, the character is fired from his angel role, and transformed to a mortal.

A Revelation: Keanu Reeves Grins

Personally, I remained not convinced by Reeves as an celestial being with grand dreams and an intense desire to make a difference. Reeves delivers the same vaguely constipated performance he's been offering for at least the last three decades. Viewing him in the role of angel that has just turned human for the first time, on the other hand, was highly entertaining, due to something which truly astonished viewers initially: This is an element new for the actor. Or perhaps to be precise, something old.

Soon during his baffling experience being a mortal, clinging to the wealthy character (who the angel exchanged with the handyman's hand-to-mouth existence and jobless situation), Gabriel starts tentatively trying out everyday activities such as chewing and swallowing meals. Then the actor smiles. Authentically, cautiously, happily beams. (It's far more believable than his smile on the promotional image, which appears artificially added.)

Why This Smile Matters

The moment really surprised me to recognize how unexpected and refreshing that expression felt. When was the last time we saw the actor grin in a film where he wasn't showing malice, irony, or bitterness? He probably attempts it somewhere in 2020's misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I am not going to revisiting that disappointment to find out. Reeves has been typecast with serious, murderous, introspective, or just solemn roles for so long that just watching Reeves grin seemed like seeing an entirely different performer.

While the plot progresses, the character ends up needing to get a kitchen job, which doesn't pay sufficient to live on, and Gabriel begins chain-smoking out of disappointment. Simply the image of the actor in a cheap plastic restaurant cap, his late-career trademark long hair tied in an unglamorous bun, leaning against a wall and smoking a cigarette, is worth watching. His dishwasher getup completely alters his face and body: Unexpectedly, the lean, well-dressed physical powerhouse of his famous films is gawky, ordinary, and much more human.

The Pleasure of Viewing Reeves Loosen Up

Good Fortune is not consistently enjoyable to view, especially when Ansari (who also authored the screenplay) has to create believable reasons for {Ar