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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this fantasy comedy by actor Aziz Ansari, has been facing challenges at the box office. Many factors may account for the film's performance: Its generic title doesn't express the film's distinctive appeal. Its screenplay can be preachy and heavy-handed regarding the themes. Its acting are flat and presentational, as if the cast are reciting lines directly from the page. And, the film comes at a time marked by economic anxiety and disparity, that may make audiences not very receptive to a story which implies wealthy individuals enjoy every advantages while the poor possess heart.

But, here's where Good Fortune excels: The film is unique, bold, imaginative, frequently funny, and undoubtedly relevant. And, it provides an unexpectedly great the actor hangout movie.

Reeves in the role of Guardian: A Familiar Performance

Personally, I've not regarded Keanu Reeves a strong performer. The actor's flat delivery and consistent look of mild perturbation have consistently felt one-note, regardless of the wide range of characters he has taken on over the past 40 years. Smart filmmakers have often placed him in roles in which that stoic nature fits ideally, from My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to John Wick. But nearly every one of these roles called for Reeves to appear hardened, distant, and removed.

In the film, the actor plays Gabriel, a minor protecting celestial being tasked with watching over individuals that text when driving. The character's whole duty involves remaining in his cars and gently making contact with their arms as they're about to have an accident, warning the person so the driver brake before impact. However, while standing high above the city, gazing on the mortal world like an alternative version of the angel from Wim Wenders' renowned film the angel story, the character gets aspirational. Gabriel desires to be a great protector and rescuer of wayward individuals.

A Surprising Shift: Reeves Playing a Mortal

So, Gabriel presents his presence to struggling odd-jobber a character (portrayed by the director), who is residing out of his car and cursing his situation. Gabriel then swaps the man with the existence of extremely wealthy businessman a character (acted by the comedian). The idea of the exercise is for the character to realize Jeff's life has significant drawbacks, and thankfully return to his own life, similar to the character from It's a Wonderful Life.

Issue was, the character right away discovers that the mogul's issues (boring meetings, expensive pool-heater bill) prove minor and easily solved with money. Arj also realizes that becoming rich provides endless chances for pleasurable enjoyment. The character shows no desire in returning to his own situation, and Gabriel is unable to compel Arj to go back. Subsequently, additional bad news comes: Because of exceeding his duties and disrupting the order of the world, the character is fired from his angel job, and transformed into a mortal.

A Revelation: Keanu Reeves Smiles

Personally, I remained never persuaded by Reeves playing an celestial being with big aspirations and a burning wish to effect change. Reeves delivers the same vaguely stiff performance he has consistently providing for at least the last 3 ten-year periods. Viewing him in the role of angel who's just become mortal for the first time, however, was a blast, due to something which really surprised me at first: It's an element different for the actor. Or perhaps more accurately, an aspect from the past.

Soon during his baffling experience as a mortal, staying with the wealthy character (who the angel had swapped with the handyman's hand-to-mouth existence and jobless status), Gabriel begins tentatively trying out human experiences like eating and swallowing food. Then the actor smiles. Authentically, hesitantly, joyously smiles. (It's a lot more believable than his smile shown in the poster, which appears artificially added.)

Why That Grin Is Significant

It really surprised me to realize how unexpected and welcome that expression felt. At what point did we last audiences observed the actor grin in a film where he wasn't expressing ill will, irony, or resentment? He probably tries a smile at some point in the recent ill-conceived Bill & Ted Face the Music, but I'm not returning to the disappointment to confirm. The actor has remained typecast with serious, murderous, broody, or just serious roles for so long that merely watching him smile seemed like seeing an entirely different actor.

While the story goes on, the character ends up needing to take a kitchen job, which fails to provide enough for survival, and Gabriel starts chain-smoking due to disappointment. Just the image of Reeves in a disposable paper food-service cap, with his late-career trademark long hair tied in an unglamorous bun, leaning against a building and puffing on a cigarette, is worthy of watching. The kitchen worker attire completely changes his appearance and body: Suddenly, the lean, suited physical powerhouse of the John Wick films becomes awkward, ordinary, and a lot more human.

The Pleasure of Watching Reeves Loosen Up

The film isn't always fun to watch, especially when Ansari (that also wrote the script) has to find plausible explanations for {Ar