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Good Fortune, this whimsical comedy from comedian Aziz Ansari, is facing challenges in theaters. Many factors could explain its performance: The uninspired name doesn't convey the movie's unique appeal. The screenplay is often preachy and heavy-handed with its themes. Its acting are flat and presentational, as if the cast are reciting lines straight from the page. And, it arrives at a time marked by economic anxiety and inequality, that could render viewers not very open to a narrative that suggests rich people enjoy all the advantages while those in need possess heart.

However, here's where the movie stands out: It's unique, bold, imaginative, often funny, and undoubtedly relevant. Plus, it provides a great Keanu Reeves hangout movie.

Keanu Reeves as an Guardian: His Typical Performance

Personally, I've not considered Reeves a strong performer. The actor's monotonal delivery and persistent look of mild concern have consistently seemed one-note, regardless of the broad variety of roles he's played over the last four decades of his career. Smart directors have often placed Reeves in parts where that stoic nature works ideally, including his early work to The Matrix to John Wick. But almost all of these characters required Reeves to seem hardened, distant, or detached.

In Good Fortune, Reeves portrays Gabriel, a minor guardian angel tasked with watching over individuals that use their phones when driving. His whole job is sitting in their cars and gently touching the drivers' arms as they're close to have an accident, alerting them so the driver stop in time. But, when standing high above the city, looking down on the mortal world like an alternative version of the angel in the director's renowned film Wings of Desire, the character gets aspirational. He desires to become an exceptional protector and a savior of lost souls.

A Surprising Turn: Reeves as a Mortal

So, he reveals his presence to down-and-out handyman Arj (played by the director), who's residing in a vehicle and resenting his life. Gabriel proceeds to swaps Arj into the existence of stupidly rich tech mogul a character (acted by the comedian). The point behind the exercise is that Arj to understand the wealthy man's existence comes with significant downsides, and gratefully go back to his own life, much like a figure in It's a Wonderful Life.

Issue was, the character right away realizes that Jeff's issues (tedious meetings, expensive heating invoice) are negligible and readily resolved with wealth. He further realizes how being affluent opens up endless chances for pleasurable fun. He shows zero interest in going back to his previous life, and the angel is unable to compel him to go back. Then, additional bad news arrives: Because of exceeding his duties and disrupting the balance of existence, the character is fired as an celestial job, and transformed to a mortal.

A Revelation: Keanu Reeves Smiles

I was never persuaded by the actor playing an angel with big aspirations and a burning desire to effect change. Reeves turns in the same vaguely constipated acting he has been providing for at least the last 3 ten-year periods. Watching Reeves in the role of angel who's just turned human for the first time, on the other hand, proved to be highly entertaining, for a reason that truly surprised viewers at first: This is an element new for the actor. Or more accurately, an aspect from the past.

Early into his baffling career being a mortal, clinging to Jeff (whom the angel had swapped into Arj's precarious existence and jobless situation), Gabriel begins hesitantly trying out human activities like chewing and swallowing meals. Then Reeves grins. Genuinely, cautiously, joyously smiles. (It's far more believable than the grin shown in the poster, that looks digitally altered.)

The Reason This Smile Matters

The moment really surprised me to realize how unexpected and refreshing the smile was. At what point did we last we saw the actor smile in a movie where he wasn't showing ill will, sarcasm, or bitterness? The actor likely tries it somewhere in the recent ill-conceived the sequel, however I am not going to returning to that mess to find out. Reeves has remained typecast with serious, violent, broody, or simply solemn characters for so long that just watching Reeves grin seemed like seeing an entirely new performer.

While the plot goes on, Gabriel ends up needing to get a kitchen position, which fails to provide enough to live on, and he begins chain-smoking due to disappointment. Simply the image of the actor in a disposable plastic restaurant hat, his late-career trademark locks tied in a plain ponytail, leaning on a building and smoking a smoke, is worthy of the price of admission. The kitchen worker getup completely alters his appearance and posture: Suddenly, the lean, well-dressed action star of the John Wick films is gawky, ordinary, and a lot more human.

The Joy of Viewing Keanu Relax

Good Fortune isn't consistently enjoyable to watch, particularly when the director (that additionally authored the script) must create plausible reasons for {Ar