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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this whimsical film from actor the director, is struggling in theaters. Several factors may account for the film's performance: The uninspired name fails to convey its movie's distinctive appeal. Its screenplay is often preachy and obvious with the messages. Its performances seem flat and presentational, like the cast are reading dialogue directly from the page. And, it arrives at a time of financial uncertainty and disparity, that could make viewers not very receptive to a story that implies rich people enjoy all the advantages while the poor possess heart.

However, here's what Good Fortune excels: The film is original, daring, imaginative, frequently funny, and undoubtedly relevant. And, it offers a great the actor character-driven experience.

Reeves in the role of Guardian: A Familiar Performance

I have not considered Keanu Reeves to be a strong actor. The actor's flat delivery and consistent look of slight perturbation has always seemed one-note, despite the broad range of roles he has played during the last 40 of his career. Astute filmmakers have placed him in parts where that rigidity fits perfectly, from his early work to The Matrix to the action series. Yet nearly all of those characters required him to appear tough, closed-off, or removed.

In the film, the actor portrays Gabriel, a minor guardian celestial being assigned with looking after people that text while behind the wheel. His whole duty involves remaining in his cars and lightly touching their shoulders as they're about to crash, alerting the person so the driver brake before impact. But, when standing high above his domain, looking down on humanity similar to an alternative interpretation of the angel from Wim Wenders' classic film the angel story, the character becomes ambitious. He wants to be a great protector and a savior of lost souls.

A Surprising Shift: Reeves as a Mortal

So, he reveals himself to down-and-out handyman a character (portrayed by the director), who's living out of his car and resenting his life. Gabriel then exchanges Arj into the existence of extremely wealthy tech mogul Jeff (played by the comedian). The idea of the exercise is for the character would realize Jeff's existence comes with significant downsides, and gratefully return to his original circumstances, similar to a figure in the classic film.

Problem is, Arj immediately discovers how the mogul's problems (boring meetings, a pricey heating bill) prove negligible and readily resolved with money. Arj further sees how becoming rich provides limitless chances for pleasurable fun. He shows no interest in returning to his own life, and the angel is unable to force Arj to go back. Subsequently, more trouble comes: Because of exceeding his mandate and messing with the order of the world, Gabriel is fired as an angel role, and turned into a human being.

A Discovery: Keanu Reeves Grins

I was not convinced by the actor playing an angel with big aspirations and a burning desire to effect change. Reeves turns in the same somewhat constipated performance he has been providing for at least the last 3 ten-year periods. Viewing Reeves in the role of celestial being who's recently turned mortal initially, on the other hand, was a blast, for a reason that really astonished me initially: This is an element different for the actor. Or perhaps to be precise, something from the past.

Soon into his baffling career being a human, clinging to the wealthy character (whom the angel exchanged with the handyman's hand-to-mouth existence and jobless status), Gabriel begins hesitantly trying out human experiences such as eating and swallowing food. And the actor grins. Authentically, cautiously, happily smiles. (It's a lot much believable than the smile shown in the poster, that looks digitally altered.)

The Reason That Smile Is Significant

It truly surprised me to recognize just how surprising and refreshing that expression was. When did we last audiences observed the actor smile in a movie in which he was not expressing ill will, irony, or bitterness? He probably attempts a smile somewhere in the recent misbegotten the sequel, but I'm not revisiting the disappointment to find out. Reeves has remained typecast with grim, violent, broody, or simply serious roles for such a duration that merely watching Reeves smile felt like observing an entirely different actor.

As the story progresses, the character finds himself needing to get a dishwashing position, a role that fails to provide enough for survival, and he begins smoking heavily due to disappointment. Simply the sight of the actor in a cheap paper restaurant hat, his recent trademark long hair pulled back in an unglamorous bun, slouching against a wall and smoking a smoke, is worthy of watching. The dishwasher getup completely changes his appearance and body: Unexpectedly, the slim, well-dressed action star of the John Wick films becomes gawky, unglamorous, and a lot increasingly human.

The Joy of Watching Keanu Loosen Up

Good Fortune isn't always fun to view, especially when Ansari (who also authored the screenplay) has to create believable explanations for {Ar