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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this whimsical film by actor the director, has been struggling at the box office. Many factors could account for its performance: The uninspired title fails to express its movie's unique appeal. The screenplay can be moralizing and heavy-handed regarding its messages. The acting are uninspired and presentational, as if the cast were reciting lines directly from a script. And, the film comes at a time marked by economic uncertainty and disparity, that may render viewers not very receptive to a story which implies wealthy people enjoy all the benefits while the poor possess spirit.

However, this is where Good Fortune stands out: It's original, daring, imaginative, frequently funny, and certainly relevant. Plus, it provides a great Keanu Reeves character-driven movie.

Reeves as an Guardian: His Typical Portrayal

Personally, I've never considered Reeves a good performer. His flat speaking style and persistent look of mild perturbation have consistently seemed one-note, regardless of his broad variety of roles he has played during the past four decades of his career. Smart directors have placed Reeves in parts in which his rigidity fits ideally, including his early work to the sci-fi classic to John Wick. Yet almost every one of those characters called for Reeves to appear hardened, distant, or detached.

In the film, the actor plays Gabriel, one minor protecting angel assigned with looking after individuals who use their phones while behind the wheel. His entire job involves remaining in his vehicles and lightly making contact with their arms as they're about to have an accident, alerting the person so they stop in time. However, while standing high above the city, looking down upon the mortal world like a version of a celestial figure from Wim Wenders' renowned film Wings of Desire, the character gets ambitious. He desires to be an exceptional protector and rescuer of wayward souls.

A Unexpected Turn: Reeves Playing a Mortal

Therefore, he reveals himself to struggling odd-jobber Arj (played by Aziz Ansari), who is residing in his car and cursing his life. The angel proceeds to exchanges Arj with the life of stupidly wealthy tech mogul a character (played by the comedian). The idea of the exercise was that Arj would understand the wealthy man's life comes with significant downsides, and thankfully return to his own life, similar to the character from It's a Wonderful Life.

Issue was, Arj immediately realizes that Jeff's issues (boring meetings, expensive heating bill) prove negligible and easily solved with wealth. He also sees that being affluent opens up endless opportunities for pleasurable enjoyment. The character shows no desire in returning to his own life, and the angel is unable to compel Arj to return. Subsequently, more trouble arrives: For overstepping his mandate and disrupting the order of existence, Gabriel loses his position from his angel role, and transformed to a mortal.

The Revelation: The Actor Grins

Personally, I remained not persuaded by the actor playing an angel with big aspirations and an intense desire to effect change. He turns in a familiar somewhat constipated acting he's consistently offering for at least the last three decades. Viewing him in the role of angel that has just become mortal initially, however, proved to be a blast, due to something which really astonished me initially: This is something new for the actor. Or perhaps to be precise, something from the past.

Early into the character's confusing career being a human, clinging to the wealthy character (whom Gabriel had swapped into the handyman's precarious existence and underemployed situation), the character starts tentatively trying out human experiences such as chewing and consuming food. And the actor smiles. Authentically, hesitantly, joyously beams. (This is a lot more convincing than the grin on the promotional image, which appears digitally altered.)

Why This Grin Matters

The moment truly took me aback to realize just how unexpected and welcome the expression felt. At what point did we last we saw Keanu Reeves grin in a movie where he was not showing ill will, irony, or bitterness? He likely tries it at some point in the recent misbegotten the sequel, but I'm not returning to that disappointment to confirm. Reeves has been typecast with grim, murderous, introspective, or just solemn roles for so long that just watching Reeves smile felt like observing an entirely new actor.

As the plot goes on, the character finds himself needing to get a kitchen job, a role that doesn't pay enough to live on, and Gabriel starts smoking heavily due to disappointment. Simply the image of the actor in a disposable paper restaurant hat, his recent trademark locks tied in a plain bun, leaning on a wall and puffing on a cigarette, proves worth the price of admission. His kitchen worker attire totally changes his appearance and posture: Suddenly, the slim, well-dressed physical powerhouse of his famous films is awkward, ordinary, and much more human.

A Pleasure of Watching Keanu Loosen Up

Good Fortune isn't always enjoyable to view, especially when the director (who also wrote the script) must find plausible explanations for {Ar