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Good Fortune, the whimsical comedy from comedian the director, has been struggling at the box office. Several factors could explain the film's reception: The generic title doesn't express the movie's unique charm. The screenplay is often preachy and obvious with the messages. Its performances are uninspired and presentational, like the actors are reading dialogue directly from the page. And, it arrives during an era marked by economic uncertainty and inequality, that may make viewers less open to a narrative which implies wealthy people enjoy every advantages while those in need possess spirit.

However, this is what Good Fortune stands out: The film is original, bold, creative, often funny, and certainly timely. Plus, it offers an unexpectedly enjoyable Keanu Reeves hangout experience.

Reeves as an Guardian: His Typical Performance

Personally, I've not regarded Keanu Reeves a good performer. The actor's monotonal delivery and consistent expression of slight perturbation has consistently felt limited, regardless of the broad range of characters he's taken on during the past four decades years. Astute directors have often placed Reeves in roles in which his stoic nature works perfectly, from his early work to the sci-fi classic to John Wick. But almost every one of these characters required Reeves to seem hardened, closed-off, or detached.

In Good Fortune, the actor plays Gabriel, a low-level protecting celestial being tasked with looking after people that text when behind the wheel. His whole job is sitting in their cars and lightly touching their arms when they are close to crash, alerting them in order that the driver stop before impact. But, when positioned overlooking his domain, gazing on the mortal world like a interpretation of the angel from the director's classic film Wings of Desire, Gabriel gets aspirational. Gabriel wants to become an exceptional protector and a savior of lost individuals.

The Unexpected Shift: Keanu as a Human

So, he reveals himself to struggling odd-jobber Arj (played by the director), who's living in a vehicle and cursing his life. Gabriel proceeds to exchanges the man into the life of extremely rich tech mogul a character (acted by the comedian). This idea of the experiment was for Arj to understand the wealthy man's life comes with significant downsides, and thankfully go back to his own circumstances, similar to the character in It's a Wonderful Life.

Issue was, Arj right away realizes that Jeff's problems (boring meetings, a pricey pool-heater invoice) are negligible and readily solved using money. Arj also realizes how becoming affluent provides endless chances for self-indulgent enjoyment. The character shows zero interest in going back to his previous life, and Gabriel can't compel Arj to go back. Subsequently, more trouble comes: Because of overstepping his duties and messing with the balance of the world, the character loses his position from his angel role, and turned into a human being.

The Discovery: The Actor Smiles

Personally, I remained never persuaded by Reeves as an angel with big aspirations and an intense wish to make a difference. Reeves delivers a familiar vaguely stiff acting he has consistently providing for at least the past three ten-year periods. Watching him in the role of angel that has just turned mortal for the first time, however, was a blast, due to something that really astonished viewers initially: This is an element new for the actor. Or perhaps more accurately, something from the past.

Soon into the character's baffling career as a mortal, staying with the wealthy character (who Gabriel had swapped with Arj's precarious life and jobless situation), Gabriel begins tentatively trying out human activities like chewing and consuming meals. And the actor smiles. Authentically, hesitantly, happily beams. (This is far more believable than his smile on the poster, which looks artificially added.)

The Reason That Smile Matters

It really surprised me to recognize how unexpected and welcome that expression felt. When did we last we observed Keanu Reeves smile in a movie in which he wasn't showing malice, sarcasm, or resentment? The actor likely attempts it at some point in the recent misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, but I am not revisiting that disappointment to confirm. The actor has remained stuck with serious, violent, broody, or simply solemn roles for so long that just seeing Reeves grin seemed like seeing an entirely different performer.

While the story goes on, the character ends up needing to get a kitchen job, which doesn't pay enough for survival, and Gabriel begins smoking heavily due to disappointment. Just the sight of the actor in a cheap plastic restaurant cap, with his late-career signature long hair tied in a plain bun, leaning against a building and puffing on a cigarette, is worthy of watching. The dishwasher attire completely changes his face and posture: Suddenly, the lean, suited action star of his famous films becomes gawky, ordinary, and a lot increasingly human.

The Joy of Viewing Keanu Relax

The film is not always fun to watch, especially when Ansari (who additionally wrote the screenplay) has to find plausible explanations for {Ar