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Good Fortune, the whimsical film from actor Aziz Ansari, is struggling at the box office. Several factors could account for its performance: The generic title fails to convey the movie's unique appeal. Its script is often preachy and heavy-handed regarding the themes. Its acting are uninspired and presentational, like the actors are reciting lines straight from a script. Moreover, it arrives at a time marked by financial uncertainty and disparity, that could render viewers less receptive to a narrative that suggests rich people enjoy every benefits while the poor possess spirit.

However, here's what the movie stands out: It's unique, daring, creative, frequently humorous, and certainly timely. Plus, it offers an unexpectedly enjoyable Keanu Reeves hangout experience.

Reeves as an Angel: His Typical Portrayal

Personally, I've never regarded Keanu Reeves a strong performer. The actor's monotonal delivery and consistent expression of slight concern have consistently felt limited, regardless of the wide variety of characters he has played during the last 40 years. Astute filmmakers have often cast Reeves in parts where that stoic nature works ideally, from My Own Private Idaho to the sci-fi classic to the action series. Yet almost all of those characters required Reeves to appear hardened, distant, and detached.

Throughout Good Fortune, the actor plays an angel, a minor protecting celestial being assigned with looking after people that text when behind the wheel. The character's entire job is remaining in their vehicles and gently touching the drivers' shoulders when they're about to crash, warning them in order that they stop before impact. However, when standing high above the city, gazing upon humanity like an alternative version of a celestial figure in the director's renowned film the angel story, the character gets aspirational. Gabriel wants to become an exceptional protector and a savior of wayward souls.

The Unexpected Shift: Reeves as a Human

So, he reveals his presence to struggling odd-jobber Arj (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who's living out of his car and resenting his life. Gabriel then swaps the man with the life of stupidly rich tech mogul a character (played by Seth Rogen). This point of the experiment is for Arj to understand the wealthy man's life has major drawbacks, and thankfully return to his original life, similar to a figure from It's a Wonderful Life.

Issue was, the character right away discovers how Jeff's issues (boring meetings, a pricey pool-heater invoice) prove minor and readily resolved with wealth. Arj further sees how becoming affluent opens up endless opportunities for self-indulgent enjoyment. The character shows zero desire in going back to his own life, and the angel can't compel Arj to go back. Then, more bad news arrives: For exceeding his mandate and messing with the balance of existence, Gabriel loses his position from his angel job, and turned into a human being.

A Discovery: Keanu Reeves Grins

Personally, I remained never persuaded by Reeves as an angel who has grand dreams and an intense desire to effect change. He delivers a familiar vaguely stiff performance he has been offering for at least the past three ten-year periods. Viewing Reeves as an angel who's recently become mortal for the first time, on the other hand, proved to be highly entertaining, due to something which really astonished me at first: This is something different for the actor. Or to be precise, something old.

Soon during his confusing experience being a human, staying with Jeff (whom Gabriel had swapped with Arj's precarious existence and jobless status), Gabriel begins hesitantly trying out human activities like chewing and consuming food. And Reeves grins. Authentically, cautiously, joyously beams. (This is far much believable than his grin on the promotional image, which looks digitally altered.)

Why That Smile Is Significant

It truly surprised me to recognize how surprising and welcome the expression felt. At what point was the last time audiences saw Keanu Reeves smile in a movie in which he was not showing ill will, sarcasm, or resentment? He likely tries it somewhere in the recent misbegotten the sequel, but I am not going to returning to the mess to find out. Reeves has been stuck with serious, murderous, broody, or simply solemn roles for such a duration that just watching him smile felt like observing a completely different performer.

As the story goes on, the character finds himself needing to take a dishwashing position, a role that doesn't pay enough to live on, and Gabriel begins smoking heavily due to disappointment. Just the image of the actor in a disposable paper food-service hat, with his late-career trademark long hair tied in an unglamorous bun, slouching on a wall and smoking a cigarette, is worthy of the price of admission. The dishwasher getup totally changes his face and posture: Suddenly, the slim, well-dressed action star of his famous movies becomes awkward, unglamorous, and much more relatable.

A Pleasure of Viewing Reeves Relax

Good Fortune is not always fun to watch, especially when Ansari (that also wrote the script) has to find plausible reasons for {Ar