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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this whimsical comedy from comedian Aziz Ansari, has been facing challenges at the box office. Several reasons may account for its performance: Its generic title doesn't convey the movie's distinctive charm. Its script is often preachy and obvious with the themes. The performances seem uninspired and staged, as if the cast were reading lines directly from a script. And, the film comes at a time of financial anxiety and inequality, that may make viewers less open to a story that implies rich individuals have all the advantages while those in need have heart.

But, here's what the movie excels: It's original, daring, creative, frequently funny, and undoubtedly timely. And, it offers an unexpectedly great the actor character-driven experience.

Reeves as an Guardian: A Familiar Performance

I have not considered Reeves a strong performer. The actor's monotonal delivery and consistent look of mild perturbation has always seemed limited, despite his wide range of roles he's taken on during the last 40 of his career. Astute directors have cast Reeves in parts in which that stoic nature fits ideally, from his early work to the sci-fi classic to John Wick. But almost every one of those roles required him to appear hardened, distant, or detached.

Throughout Good Fortune, the actor portrays an angel, one low-level protecting angel tasked with looking after people that use their phones when behind the wheel. His entire duty involves sitting in their vehicles and lightly touching their shoulders when they are about to have an accident, warning the person so the driver stop in time. But, while standing overlooking his domain, gazing upon the mortal world similar to a version of the angel from Wim Wenders' classic film Wings of Desire, the character becomes ambitious. He desires to be an exceptional guardian and rescuer of lost souls.

The Surprising Shift: Keanu as a Mortal

So, Gabriel presents his presence to down-and-out odd-jobber a character (portrayed by the director), who's living out of a vehicle and cursing his life. The angel then swaps the man into the existence of stupidly wealthy businessman Jeff (played by Seth Rogen). This idea of the experiment was for Arj would realize the wealthy man's life has significant downsides, and gratefully go back to his original life, similar to the character from the classic film.

Issue was, Arj right away realizes that the mogul's problems (boring meetings, a pricey pool-heater bill) are negligible and easily solved using wealth. Arj also sees how becoming affluent opens up endless opportunities for self-indulgent enjoyment. The character has zero interest in returning to his own situation, and Gabriel is unable to force Arj to go back. Then, more bad news comes: For exceeding his duties and messing with the order of the world, the character loses his position as an angel job, and turned to a human being.

A Revelation: The Actor Smiles

Personally, I remained never persuaded by the actor playing an angel who has grand aspirations and an intense desire to make a difference. Reeves delivers the same vaguely constipated performance he has consistently providing for no less than the past three decades. Viewing him as an angel who's recently turned human initially, on the other hand, proved to be highly entertaining, for a reason that really surprised me at first: It's something different for Reeves. Or perhaps more accurately, something from the past.

Early into his baffling experience being a mortal, staying with Jeff (whom Gabriel had swapped into the handyman's precarious life and underemployed situation), the character starts hesitantly trying out human activities like eating and swallowing meals. And the actor grins. Authentically, hesitantly, joyously smiles. (It's far more convincing than his smile on the promotional image, that looks digitally altered.)

The Reason That Smile Matters

The moment truly took me aback to realize how surprising and refreshing the smile was. When did we last audiences saw Keanu Reeves smile in a movie where he was not expressing ill will, irony, or bitterness? He likely tries a smile at some point in 2020's ill-conceived the sequel, however I am not going to returning to that mess to confirm. The actor has been typecast with serious, murderous, introspective, or simply serious characters for so long that merely seeing him grin seemed like observing a completely different performer.

As the plot progresses, Gabriel ends up needing to get a dishwashing position, which fails to provide sufficient for survival, and he begins smoking heavily due to disappointment. Simply the image of the actor in a cheap plastic restaurant hat, his recent trademark locks pulled back in an unglamorous bun, slouching on a building and puffing on a cigarette, proves worth the price of admission. His dishwasher attire totally changes his appearance and posture: Unexpectedly, the lean, well-dressed physical powerhouse of his famous films becomes awkward, ordinary, and much more relatable.

The Joy of Viewing Reeves Loosen Up

The film isn't always enjoyable to watch, particularly when Ansari (who additionally authored the screenplay) has to find plausible reasons for {Ar