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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, the whimsical comedy from actor Aziz Ansari, is struggling in theaters. Several reasons could explain the film's performance: Its generic title fails to convey its movie's unique appeal. The screenplay is often preachy and heavy-handed regarding the messages. Its acting are uninspired and staged, as if the cast are reading dialogue straight from the page. And, the film comes during an era marked by financial uncertainty and disparity, which could render viewers not very receptive to a narrative which suggests rich people enjoy all the benefits while the poor possess spirit.

However, here's where Good Fortune stands out: The film is original, bold, creative, frequently humorous, and undoubtedly relevant. And, it provides a enjoyable the actor character-driven movie.

Reeves in the role of Angel: A Familiar Performance

Personally, I've not regarded Keanu Reeves to be a strong actor. His monotonal speaking style and persistent look of mild perturbation have always felt one-note, despite his broad variety of characters he's played during the last four decades of his career. Smart directors have often placed him in parts in which his stoic nature fits ideally, from My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to the action series. Yet nearly every one of these characters required him to seem tough, distant, or removed.

In the film, Reeves plays an angel, one minor guardian angel assigned with looking after people that text when behind the wheel. The character's whole duty is sitting in his cars and lightly making contact with their shoulders when they're about to have an accident, alerting them so they stop before impact. However, when standing high above his domain, gazing upon humanity like a version of a celestial figure in the director's classic film the angel story, Gabriel gets aspirational. He desires to become an exceptional protector and rescuer of lost souls.

The Unexpected Turn: Keanu Playing a Human

So, he reveals his presence to struggling handyman Arj (played by Aziz Ansari), who's living in a vehicle and resenting his situation. The angel then swaps the man into the existence of extremely rich tech mogul Jeff (acted by Seth Rogen). The point of the experiment was for the character would realize the wealthy man's life comes with major drawbacks, and thankfully go back to his original life, much like a figure in It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem is, Arj immediately discovers that Jeff's problems (boring meetings, a pricey pool-heater invoice) prove negligible and readily resolved with wealth. He further realizes that becoming rich provides endless chances for pleasurable fun. He has no interest in returning to his previous life, and Gabriel is unable to force him to return. Subsequently, more bad news arrives: For overstepping his duties and messing with the order of the world, the character is fired as an angel job, and turned into a human being.

The Discovery: Keanu Reeves Grins

Personally, I remained not convinced by the actor playing an angel who has grand aspirations and a burning wish to make a difference. He delivers the same somewhat constipated acting he has consistently offering for at least the past 3 ten-year periods. Viewing him in the role of angel who's just turned human for the first time, however, proved to be highly entertaining, for a reason that really surprised me at first: It's an element new for Reeves. Or more accurately, something old.

Soon during his confusing experience being a mortal, staying with the wealthy character (who the angel exchanged with Arj's hand-to-mouth existence and jobless status), Gabriel starts hesitantly trying out human activities like chewing and swallowing meals. And Reeves grins. Genuinely, hesitantly, happily beams. (This is far much believable than his smile on the promotional image, that appears artificially added.)

The Reason This Grin Matters

It truly surprised me to recognize just how surprising and refreshing that smile felt. At what point did we last we observed the actor grin in a movie where he was not showing ill will, sarcasm, or resentment? He likely tries it at some point in the recent ill-conceived Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I'm not revisiting that mess to find out. Reeves has been typecast with serious, violent, introspective, or just solemn characters for such a duration that merely watching Reeves smile seemed like observing a completely different performer.

While the plot progresses, the character finds himself having to get a kitchen job, which doesn't pay enough for survival, and Gabriel begins chain-smoking out of frustration. Just the image of the actor in a disposable plastic restaurant cap, his late-career signature long hair pulled back in an unglamorous ponytail, slouching against a building and smoking a cigarette, proves worthy of watching. His dishwasher attire totally changes his appearance and posture: Suddenly, the lean, well-dressed action star of his famous movies becomes gawky, unglamorous, and much more human.

The Joy of Viewing Reeves Relax

The film isn't consistently fun to watch, especially when Ansari (that additionally wrote the screenplay) must find believable reasons for {Ar