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Good Fortune, this fantasy film from actor Aziz Ansari, has been struggling in theaters. Many reasons may account for the film's performance: Its uninspired title doesn't convey its movie's distinctive charm. Its script can be moralizing and obvious regarding the themes. The performances seem flat and staged, as if the cast were reciting lines straight from a script. And, the film comes during an era of financial uncertainty and inequality, that could render audiences less open to a story which suggests rich people have all the benefits while the poor possess spirit.

However, this is what the movie stands out: It's unique, bold, creative, frequently humorous, and undoubtedly timely. And, it provides an unexpectedly great Keanu Reeves character-driven experience.

Keanu Reeves in the role of Angel: His Typical Portrayal

Personally, I've not regarded Keanu Reeves a good actor. His flat delivery and consistent expression of mild perturbation has always seemed limited, regardless of the wide range of characters he has taken on over the past 40 of his career. Astute filmmakers have placed him in roles in which that stoic nature fits perfectly, from his early work to The Matrix to the action series. Yet almost all of those roles called for Reeves to seem hardened, distant, or removed.

Throughout the film, Reeves portrays an angel, a minor guardian celestial being assigned with watching over individuals that text when behind the wheel. His whole duty involves sitting in his cars and gently touching the drivers' arms as they're close to have an accident, warning the person so they stop before impact. However, while standing high above the city, looking down on the mortal world like a version of a celestial figure in the director's renowned movie Wings of Desire, Gabriel becomes ambitious. Gabriel desires to become an exceptional protector and rescuer of lost individuals.

The Unexpected Turn: Keanu as a Mortal

So, he reveals himself to down-and-out odd-jobber a character (played by Aziz Ansari), who is residing out of a vehicle and resenting his situation. Gabriel then swaps the man with the existence of extremely rich tech mogul a character (played by Seth Rogen). This point behind the exercise was for the character to realize Jeff's existence comes with significant downsides, and gratefully return to his own life, much like the character from the classic film.

Issue is, the character right away realizes that the mogul's problems (boring appointments, a pricey heating invoice) are negligible and readily resolved using wealth. Arj also sees how being rich opens up endless opportunities for pleasurable fun. He has zero interest in going back to his own life, and Gabriel is unable to compel him to return. Subsequently, more bad news arrives: Because of exceeding his duties and disrupting the order of existence, the character loses his position from his angel job, and turned into a mortal.

A Discovery: Keanu Reeves Grins

I was never persuaded by the actor playing an celestial being with grand aspirations and a burning wish to make a difference. Reeves delivers the same somewhat stiff acting he has consistently providing for at least the past 3 ten-year periods. Watching Reeves in the role of celestial being that has just become mortal for the first time, on the other hand, proved to be a blast, for a reason which truly astonished me initially: It's an element different for Reeves. Or to be precise, an aspect old.

Early into his confusing experience as a mortal, staying with the wealthy character (who the angel exchanged into Arj's precarious existence and jobless situation), Gabriel begins tentatively trying out human activities like chewing and swallowing meals. And Reeves smiles. Authentically, hesitantly, happily beams. (This is a lot much believable than his smile on the promotional image, that appears digitally altered.)

The Reason This Smile Matters

It really took me aback to realize how unexpected and refreshing that smile felt. At what point was the last time we saw Keanu Reeves grin in a film where he wasn't expressing malice, sarcasm, or bitterness? He probably attempts it somewhere in 2020's misbegotten the sequel, however I am not revisiting the disappointment to find out. Reeves has been typecast with grim, violent, introspective, or just solemn roles for such a duration that merely seeing him grin felt like seeing an entirely new performer.

While the plot goes on, the character ends up needing to take a kitchen job, which doesn't pay enough to live on, and he starts smoking heavily due to frustration. Just the image of Reeves in a disposable plastic food-service hat, his recent signature long hair tied in a plain ponytail, leaning against a wall and puffing on a smoke, is worth the price of admission. His kitchen worker getup totally changes his face and body: Unexpectedly, the lean, well-dressed physical powerhouse of his famous movies becomes gawky, ordinary, and a lot increasingly relatable.

A Joy of Viewing Keanu Relax

The film is not consistently fun to view, particularly when the director (who also authored the script) has to create plausible explanations for {Ar