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Good Fortune, the whimsical comedy from actor the director, is struggling at the box office. Several factors could explain its reception: Its uninspired title fails to convey its movie's distinctive charm. Its screenplay can be moralizing and heavy-handed with its themes. Its acting are uninspired and presentational, like the actors were reciting lines directly from a script. Moreover, the film comes at a time marked by economic uncertainty and disparity, that may render audiences less receptive to a story which suggests rich people have all the benefits while the poor possess heart.

But, this is where Good Fortune stands out: The film is original, daring, imaginative, frequently humorous, and certainly timely. Plus, it offers a great the actor character-driven movie.

Keanu Reeves as an Angel: His Typical Portrayal

Personally, I've never regarded Keanu Reeves a good performer. His monotonal speaking style and consistent expression of mild perturbation has consistently seemed limited, despite the broad range of roles he has taken on during the last four decades years. Astute filmmakers have often placed Reeves in roles in which that rigidity fits perfectly, from My Own Private Idaho to the sci-fi classic to John Wick. Yet almost all of these characters called for Reeves to appear tough, closed-off, or detached.

Throughout the film, the actor plays Gabriel, a minor guardian celestial being tasked with watching over people who use their phones when driving. His entire job involves sitting in their cars and lightly touching their arms when they are about to crash, warning them so they brake before impact. But, when positioned high above the city, gazing on the mortal world similar to a interpretation of the angel in the director's renowned movie Wings of Desire, the character becomes ambitious. He desires to become a great guardian and rescuer of lost individuals.

A Unexpected Shift: Reeves Playing a Human

Therefore, Gabriel presents his presence to down-and-out handyman a character (played by the director), who is residing out of a vehicle and cursing his situation. The angel proceeds to exchanges the man with the life of extremely rich tech mogul a character (acted by the comedian). The point behind the exercise is that Arj would understand the wealthy man's existence comes with major downsides, and gratefully return to his original life, much like the character from It's a Wonderful Life.

Issue is, the character right away discovers that the mogul's problems (boring appointments, expensive pool-heater bill) are negligible and easily solved with wealth. Arj also realizes how being affluent provides endless opportunities for self-indulgent fun. He has zero interest in returning to his own life, and Gabriel can't compel him to return. Then, more bad news comes: Because of exceeding his duties and disrupting the order of existence, the character loses his position as an angel job, and turned into a mortal.

A Revelation: The Actor Grins

Personally, I remained never convinced by the actor playing an celestial being who has grand dreams and an intense wish to make a difference. Reeves turns in a familiar vaguely constipated acting he has consistently providing for no less than the last 3 ten-year periods. Viewing him in the role of celestial being that has just become mortal for the first time, however, was highly entertaining, for a reason that really surprised me initially: This is something different for the actor. Or to be precise, something from the past.

Early during the character's baffling experience being a human, staying with the wealthy character (who the angel had swapped with Arj's hand-to-mouth existence and jobless situation), Gabriel starts hesitantly experimenting with everyday activities like eating and consuming food. And Reeves smiles. Authentically, cautiously, joyously smiles. (It's a lot more believable than the smile shown in the promotional image, which appears artificially added.)

Why That Smile Is Significant

It really took me aback to realize just how surprising and refreshing the smile was. At what point was the last time we observed the actor grin in a film where he was not showing ill will, irony, or resentment? He probably attempts it somewhere in 2020's ill-conceived the sequel, however I am not revisiting the disappointment to find out. Reeves has remained stuck with serious, murderous, broody, or just solemn roles for such a duration that just seeing him smile felt like observing a completely new performer.

As the plot goes on, Gabriel ends up having to take a dishwashing position, which doesn't pay enough for survival, and he starts smoking heavily due to disappointment. Simply the image of Reeves in a cheap paper food-service cap, his late-career signature locks tied in a plain ponytail, leaning on a building and smoking a cigarette, is worthy of watching. His dishwasher attire completely alters his appearance and body: Suddenly, the lean, suited physical powerhouse of the John Wick movies is awkward, unglamorous, and a lot more relatable.

A Joy of Viewing Reeves Relax

The film is not consistently fun to watch, particularly when Ansari (who additionally authored the script) must create plausible reasons for {Ar