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Good Fortune, this whimsical comedy by actor the director, has been facing challenges at the box office. Many reasons could account for the film's reception: The uninspired name fails to convey the movie's distinctive appeal. The screenplay can be moralizing and obvious regarding the messages. Its performances are flat and staged, as if the actors are reading dialogue directly from a script. And, the film comes at a time marked by economic uncertainty and disparity, which could make viewers not very open to a narrative which implies wealthy people have every benefits while the poor have spirit.

But, here's what Good Fortune stands out: The film is original, daring, creative, frequently humorous, and certainly relevant. Plus, it offers an unexpectedly enjoyable the actor hangout experience.

Keanu Reeves as an Guardian: A Familiar Portrayal

I have never considered Reeves a strong performer. The actor's monotonal speaking style and consistent look of mild concern has consistently seemed limited, regardless of the wide range of roles he has played over the last 40 years. Smart filmmakers have often cast him in parts where that stoic nature works ideally, including My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to John Wick. But nearly every one of these roles required Reeves to seem hardened, distant, and detached.

In Good Fortune, the actor plays Gabriel, a low-level guardian celestial being tasked with watching over people who text when behind the wheel. The character's entire duty is sitting in their vehicles and gently touching the drivers' shoulders as they're about to crash, warning them in order that they brake in time. But, when positioned overlooking his domain, gazing upon the mortal world similar to a interpretation of a celestial figure in Wim Wenders' classic film Wings of Desire, the character gets ambitious. He desires to be a great protector and rescuer of lost souls.

A Surprising Shift: Keanu Playing a Human

So, he presents his presence to down-and-out handyman Arj (portrayed by the director), who's residing in a vehicle and cursing his life. The angel proceeds to swaps the man with the existence of extremely rich businessman Jeff (acted by the comedian). The point behind the experiment is for the character would realize the wealthy man's life has major downsides, and gratefully go back to his original circumstances, similar to the figure in It's a Wonderful Life.

Issue is, the character right away discovers how the mogul's issues (boring meetings, expensive pool-heater invoice) are minor and easily solved using money. He further realizes that becoming affluent opens up endless chances for self-indulgent enjoyment. He has zero desire in going back to his previous situation, and the angel is unable to force him to return. Then, more trouble arrives: For exceeding his mandate and disrupting the balance of existence, the character loses his position as an angel job, and turned into a mortal.

A Discovery: Keanu Reeves Grins

I was never persuaded by the actor as an angel who has big dreams and an intense wish to make a difference. Reeves turns in a familiar somewhat stiff acting he's consistently providing for at least the past 3 decades. Watching Reeves in the role of angel that has recently turned human for the first time, however, was highly entertaining, due to something which really surprised me at first: This is an element new for Reeves. Or perhaps to be precise, something old.

Soon during the character's baffling career as a human, clinging to the wealthy character (whom the angel exchanged with Arj's precarious existence and underemployed status), Gabriel begins hesitantly trying out human activities such as eating and consuming food. Then Reeves grins. Authentically, hesitantly, happily smiles. (This is a lot more believable than the smile shown in the poster, which looks digitally altered.)

The Reason This Grin Is Significant

It really took me aback to realize how unexpected and refreshing the expression was. At what point was the last time audiences saw Keanu Reeves smile in a film in which he wasn't expressing ill will, sarcasm, or bitterness? He likely attempts a smile somewhere in 2020's misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I'm not going to revisiting the mess to confirm. Reeves has been typecast with serious, violent, introspective, or simply solemn characters for such a duration that just seeing him grin seemed like observing a completely new performer.

While the plot progresses, the character ends up needing to take a kitchen position, which fails to provide sufficient to live on, and Gabriel begins chain-smoking due to disappointment. Simply the sight of the actor in a cheap paper food-service cap, his recent signature long hair tied in an unglamorous bun, slouching against a wall and puffing on a cigarette, is worthy of the price of admission. The dishwasher getup totally alters his appearance and body: Suddenly, the slim, well-dressed physical powerhouse of the John Wick films becomes awkward, unglamorous, and a lot more human.

The Pleasure of Viewing Reeves Relax

Good Fortune is not consistently enjoyable to watch, particularly when Ansari (who additionally wrote the script) must find believable reasons for {Ar