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Good Fortune, this fantasy comedy from comedian the director, has been facing challenges in theaters. Many factors may account for the film's reception: Its generic name fails to convey its film's unique appeal. The screenplay is often preachy and obvious regarding the themes. The performances are uninspired and presentational, like the cast were reading dialogue directly from a script. And, the film comes at a time of economic anxiety and inequality, that could make audiences less open to a story which implies wealthy people have every benefits while the poor possess heart.

But, this is where Good Fortune excels: The film is original, bold, imaginative, often funny, and undoubtedly timely. Plus, it provides an unexpectedly enjoyable Keanu Reeves hangout movie.

Reeves as an Angel: A Familiar Portrayal

Personally, I've not regarded Keanu Reeves a strong performer. His flat speaking style and consistent expression of slight perturbation have consistently felt one-note, regardless of the wide variety of characters he has played during the last four decades years. Smart directors have placed him in roles where his stoic nature fits perfectly, from his early work to the sci-fi classic to the action series. But almost all of those characters called for Reeves to seem hardened, distant, and removed.

In Good Fortune, Reeves portrays Gabriel, a minor guardian angel assigned with watching over individuals who text while behind the wheel. His entire job involves sitting in his vehicles and gently touching their shoulders as they are close to have an accident, alerting them so they stop before impact. But, while positioned high above the city, gazing upon the mortal world similar to an alternative interpretation of a celestial figure from the director's classic film Wings of Desire, the character gets aspirational. Gabriel desires to become a great guardian and rescuer of wayward individuals.

A Surprising Shift: Keanu as a Human

Therefore, he reveals himself to down-and-out handyman a character (played by Aziz Ansari), who is living out of a vehicle and cursing his life. The angel proceeds to swaps Arj with the life of stupidly wealthy tech mogul a character (acted by Seth Rogen). This idea of the exercise was that the character would realize the wealthy man's life comes with major drawbacks, and thankfully return to his own circumstances, similar to the figure in the classic film.

Issue was, Arj right away discovers that Jeff's problems (boring appointments, a pricey heating invoice) are minor and easily solved using wealth. He also sees how becoming affluent opens up endless opportunities for self-indulgent fun. He has zero desire in returning to his previous life, and Gabriel is unable to force Arj to go back. Then, additional trouble comes: For overstepping his mandate and messing with the balance of existence, Gabriel loses his position as an angel role, and turned to a human being.

The Revelation: Keanu Reeves Smiles

Personally, I remained never convinced by Reeves as an celestial being with grand aspirations and a burning desire to make a difference. He delivers a familiar vaguely stiff performance he has consistently providing for no less than the past three decades. Viewing him in the role of celestial being that has just turned human for the first time, however, was highly entertaining, due to something that truly surprised viewers initially: It's something new for the actor. Or more accurately, something old.

Soon into his baffling career as a mortal, staying with the wealthy character (whom Gabriel had swapped with Arj's precarious existence and jobless situation), Gabriel begins tentatively trying out human activities such as chewing and swallowing meals. And Reeves smiles. Authentically, cautiously, happily beams. (This is far much believable than the grin shown in the poster, which looks digitally altered.)

The Reason That Smile Is Significant

It truly surprised me to realize just how unexpected and welcome the smile was. At what point did we last audiences observed Keanu Reeves smile in a movie where he was not showing malice, sarcasm, or resentment? He probably attempts a smile somewhere in the recent ill-conceived the sequel, however I'm not going to revisiting that mess to confirm. The actor has been stuck with grim, murderous, broody, or simply serious characters for such a duration that merely watching him smile felt like observing an entirely different actor.

While the plot goes on, the character ends up having to take a kitchen job, which doesn't pay sufficient to live on, and he starts smoking heavily due to frustration. Just the sight of Reeves in a cheap plastic food-service cap, with his recent signature long hair tied in a plain bun, slouching on a wall and puffing on a cigarette, proves worth the price of admission. His dishwasher attire totally alters his appearance and posture: Suddenly, the slim, well-dressed action star of his famous films is awkward, ordinary, and much increasingly human.

A Pleasure of Watching Reeves Relax

The film isn't consistently fun to watch, particularly when Ansari (that also wrote the script) must find believable explanations for {Ar