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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, the fantasy comedy by comedian the director, has been struggling in theaters. Many reasons could account for the film's performance: Its generic name doesn't express the movie's unique charm. Its screenplay is often moralizing and heavy-handed regarding the messages. The performances are flat and presentational, like the cast are reciting lines directly from a script. Moreover, it arrives during an era of financial anxiety and disparity, which may make audiences not very receptive to a story that suggests wealthy individuals have every benefits while the poor possess spirit.

However, here's what Good Fortune excels: It's unique, bold, imaginative, often humorous, and certainly timely. And, it provides a great the actor character-driven movie.

Reeves in the role of Guardian: His Typical Performance

I have never regarded Keanu Reeves to be a strong performer. The actor's flat delivery and consistent look of slight perturbation have always seemed limited, despite his wide range of roles he's taken on during the last four decades years. Astute filmmakers have often placed him in parts in which that rigidity fits ideally, including his early work to the sci-fi classic to the action series. But almost all of those characters called for Reeves to seem tough, closed-off, and detached.

Throughout the film, Reeves portrays an angel, one minor protecting angel assigned with watching over people that text while behind the wheel. His entire duty is remaining in his vehicles and gently touching their shoulders as they are close to have an accident, warning the person in order that the driver brake in time. But, when positioned overlooking his domain, gazing on the mortal world similar to an alternative version of a celestial figure in Wim Wenders' renowned movie Wings of Desire, the character gets ambitious. Gabriel wants to be a great guardian and rescuer of lost souls.

A Unexpected Shift: Keanu as a Mortal

Therefore, he presents himself to struggling handyman Arj (portrayed by the director), who is living in his car and cursing his situation. The angel proceeds to swaps Arj into the life of stupidly wealthy businessman Jeff (acted by Seth Rogen). The idea of the exercise is for Arj to understand the wealthy man's existence comes with major downsides, and thankfully return to his own circumstances, much like the character from It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem is, the character immediately realizes that Jeff's issues (tedious appointments, a pricey heating bill) are negligible and easily resolved with money. He also realizes that becoming affluent opens up limitless chances for self-indulgent fun. He shows no interest in going back to his previous situation, and the angel can't compel him to go back. Subsequently, more bad news arrives: For overstepping his mandate and disrupting the balance of existence, the character is fired from his celestial role, and transformed to a mortal.

A Discovery: The Actor Smiles

Personally, I remained not persuaded by Reeves as an celestial being with grand aspirations and a burning wish to effect change. He turns in a familiar somewhat stiff performance he's consistently providing for at least the last three decades. Viewing him as an celestial being who's just become human for the first time, however, proved to be highly entertaining, for a reason that really astonished me at first: This is an element new for Reeves. Or more accurately, something from the past.

Early into the character's confusing career being a mortal, staying with the wealthy character (whom the angel exchanged into the handyman's hand-to-mouth existence and jobless status), the character begins tentatively trying out everyday activities such as eating and consuming meals. Then the actor grins. Authentically, cautiously, joyously smiles. (It's a lot more believable than his smile shown in the promotional image, which appears artificially added.)

Why This Grin Is Significant

It really surprised me to realize just how unexpected and welcome the expression was. When was the last time we saw Keanu Reeves smile in a film in which he was not expressing ill will, irony, or bitterness? The actor likely tries a smile at some point in 2020's ill-conceived Bill & Ted Face the Music, but I'm not going to returning to the disappointment to find out. Reeves has been typecast with grim, violent, broody, or simply serious roles for such a duration that just seeing him smile felt like observing an entirely different performer.

While the story progresses, Gabriel ends up having to get a dishwashing position, which doesn't pay sufficient for survival, and he begins smoking heavily out of frustration. Simply the sight of Reeves in a disposable paper food-service hat, with his late-career trademark locks tied in a plain bun, slouching on a building and puffing on a cigarette, proves worth watching. His dishwasher attire totally changes his face and posture: Suddenly, the lean, suited action star of his famous movies becomes gawky, ordinary, and much more human.

A Joy of Viewing Reeves Relax

Good Fortune is not always fun to view, particularly when Ansari (who also wrote the screenplay) has to find believable explanations for {Ar