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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, the fantasy comedy from actor Aziz Ansari, is facing challenges at the box office. Many factors could account for its performance: Its uninspired title doesn't convey its film's distinctive charm. Its script is often preachy and obvious regarding the messages. The acting are uninspired and staged, like the actors were reciting dialogue straight from a script. Moreover, the film comes at a time marked by financial anxiety and disparity, which may render audiences less open to a narrative that suggests rich people enjoy every advantages while the poor have heart.

But, here's where the movie excels: It's original, bold, imaginative, frequently humorous, and undoubtedly relevant. And, it offers a enjoyable Keanu Reeves hangout movie.

Reeves as an Angel: His Typical Portrayal

Personally, I've not considered Keanu Reeves to be a good performer. His flat speaking style and persistent expression of slight perturbation has consistently felt one-note, regardless of his wide range of roles he has played over the last four decades years. Smart directors have often placed him in roles where his rigidity fits perfectly, from his early work to The Matrix to John Wick. But almost all of those roles called for him to appear tough, closed-off, or removed.

In Good Fortune, Reeves plays Gabriel, one low-level protecting angel assigned with watching over people who use their phones while driving. The character's entire duty is sitting in his cars and lightly making contact with the drivers' arms when they're close to have an accident, alerting them in order that they brake before impact. However, while standing high above his domain, gazing upon the mortal world similar to a interpretation of the angel from the director's renowned movie the angel story, the character becomes ambitious. Gabriel wants to become an exceptional guardian and rescuer of wayward individuals.

The Unexpected Turn: Keanu as a Human

So, he presents himself to down-and-out odd-jobber Arj (played by Aziz Ansari), who is living in a vehicle and resenting his situation. The angel proceeds to swaps the man into the existence of extremely wealthy tech mogul a character (played by Seth Rogen). The idea of the experiment is for Arj to realize the wealthy man's life has major drawbacks, and gratefully return to his original life, similar to a character in the classic film.

Problem is, the character immediately discovers how Jeff's issues (boring meetings, a pricey heating bill) are minor and readily solved using money. He also realizes how becoming affluent opens up endless opportunities for self-indulgent fun. The character shows zero desire in returning to his own life, and Gabriel is unable to compel Arj to return. Subsequently, additional bad news arrives: Because of exceeding his duties and disrupting the balance of existence, the character loses his position from his angel role, and transformed to a human being.

The Revelation: Keanu Reeves Grins

Personally, I remained not convinced by the actor as an angel who has big aspirations and an intense wish to effect change. Reeves delivers a familiar vaguely stiff performance he has consistently offering for no less than the past three ten-year periods. Watching Reeves in the role of angel who's recently become human initially, on the other hand, was highly entertaining, for a reason that really surprised me at first: It's something different for Reeves. Or perhaps to be precise, an aspect from the past.

Soon into his baffling experience being a mortal, staying with Jeff (who Gabriel had swapped into the handyman's hand-to-mouth existence and underemployed situation), the character starts hesitantly trying out human experiences such as eating and swallowing food. And the actor grins. Authentically, hesitantly, joyously smiles. (It's a lot much believable than the smile on the promotional image, which looks artificially added.)

Why This Grin Matters

The moment truly surprised me to realize how surprising and refreshing that expression felt. When did we last we observed Keanu Reeves grin in a movie in which he was not showing ill will, sarcasm, or bitterness? The actor probably tries it somewhere in 2020's misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I'm not going to returning to that disappointment to confirm. Reeves has been stuck with grim, violent, introspective, or just solemn characters for so long that just seeing him smile felt like seeing a completely new performer.

As the plot goes on, the character ends up needing to get a kitchen job, which doesn't pay enough for survival, and he begins chain-smoking due to frustration. Just the image of the actor in a cheap paper food-service hat, his recent trademark long hair pulled back in a plain ponytail, leaning against a building and smoking a cigarette, is worth the price of admission. His kitchen worker attire totally changes his face and body: Suddenly, the slim, suited action star of the John Wick movies is gawky, unglamorous, and a lot more relatable.

A Joy of Watching Keanu Relax

Good Fortune is not always fun to watch, especially when the director (who also authored the script) has to find plausible reasons for {Ar