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Good Fortune, the fantasy comedy by comedian the director, is facing challenges in theaters. Several factors could explain its reception: Its generic title doesn't express the film's unique appeal. Its screenplay can be preachy and obvious regarding the messages. Its acting seem flat and staged, like the actors were reading lines directly from a script. Moreover, it arrives during an era marked by financial uncertainty and inequality, which could render viewers not very receptive to a story that implies rich individuals have every advantages while those in need possess heart.

However, here's what Good Fortune stands out: It's unique, daring, imaginative, frequently funny, and certainly relevant. And, it offers an unexpectedly great Keanu Reeves hangout experience.

Reeves in the role of Angel: A Familiar Performance

Personally, I've not regarded Keanu Reeves a strong performer. The actor's monotonal delivery and persistent expression of mild perturbation has consistently seemed one-note, despite the broad variety of roles he's played over the past four decades years. Smart filmmakers have cast Reeves in roles where his rigidity works perfectly, from his early work to The Matrix to John Wick. But almost every one of these roles called for him to seem hardened, distant, or removed.

Throughout Good Fortune, the actor plays Gabriel, a low-level guardian angel assigned with watching over individuals that use their phones while driving. The character's whole duty involves sitting in his vehicles and lightly making contact with the drivers' shoulders as they are about to have an accident, warning them so they stop in time. But, when standing high above his domain, looking down on the mortal world like an alternative interpretation of the angel in the director's renowned film Wings of Desire, Gabriel becomes ambitious. Gabriel desires to be an exceptional guardian and a savior of lost souls.

A Surprising Turn: Reeves Playing a Human

So, Gabriel presents himself to down-and-out handyman Arj (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who is residing out of a vehicle and resenting his situation. Gabriel proceeds to swaps the man with the existence of extremely rich tech mogul Jeff (acted by Seth Rogen). This point of the exercise is that Arj to understand the wealthy man's existence comes with significant downsides, and thankfully return to his own circumstances, similar to the figure from the classic film.

Issue is, Arj right away realizes how Jeff's issues (boring appointments, expensive heating invoice) are negligible and easily solved with money. He also sees how becoming affluent provides endless chances for self-indulgent fun. He shows zero interest in going back to his previous life, and the angel is unable to force him to go back. Then, additional trouble comes: For overstepping his mandate and messing with the order of the world, the character loses his position from his celestial job, and turned to a mortal.

A Discovery: The Actor Smiles

I was not persuaded by the actor as an angel who has grand aspirations and a burning wish to effect change. Reeves turns in the same somewhat stiff acting he's been providing for at least the past three decades. Viewing him as an angel that has recently become human initially, on the other hand, proved to be highly entertaining, due to something that really surprised viewers at first: This is an element different for Reeves. Or more accurately, an aspect from the past.

Soon during his confusing career being a human, clinging to the wealthy character (whom the angel exchanged into the handyman's precarious life and jobless situation), the character starts hesitantly experimenting with human activities such as eating and swallowing meals. Then Reeves smiles. Genuinely, cautiously, joyously beams. (It's far much believable than his smile shown in the poster, that looks artificially added.)

Why That Grin Is Significant

It really surprised me to recognize just how unexpected and welcome the expression felt. At what point was the last time we saw Keanu Reeves smile in a film where he wasn't expressing malice, sarcasm, or bitterness? He probably tries a smile at some point in the recent misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I am not returning to the disappointment to find out. The actor has been typecast with serious, murderous, introspective, or just solemn characters for such a duration that just watching him grin felt like seeing an entirely new performer.

As the plot progresses, Gabriel ends up having to take a dishwashing position, which doesn't pay enough to live on, and Gabriel starts chain-smoking due to disappointment. Simply the sight of Reeves in a disposable paper food-service hat, with his late-career signature long hair tied in an unglamorous bun, leaning against a building and smoking a cigarette, proves worth the price of admission. The kitchen worker attire completely alters his face and body: Unexpectedly, the lean, suited physical powerhouse of the John Wick movies is gawky, ordinary, and a lot more human.

The Pleasure of Viewing Keanu Relax

The film isn't always fun to view, especially when Ansari (that additionally wrote the screenplay) has to create plausible reasons for {Ar