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Good Fortune, the fantasy comedy from comedian the director, has been struggling at the box office. Several factors may account for its reception: The generic title fails to express the movie's distinctive charm. Its script is often moralizing and heavy-handed regarding the themes. Its performances seem flat and staged, as if the cast were reading dialogue straight from a script. Moreover, the film comes during an era marked by financial uncertainty and disparity, which may render viewers not very open to a story that implies wealthy individuals have every advantages while the poor have spirit.

However, this is where Good Fortune excels: The film is original, daring, imaginative, often humorous, and undoubtedly relevant. And, it offers an unexpectedly enjoyable Keanu Reeves character-driven movie.

Reeves as an Guardian: A Familiar Portrayal

Personally, I've never considered Keanu Reeves to be a good actor. His flat delivery and consistent expression of mild concern has consistently felt one-note, despite the wide variety of roles he's taken on over the last four decades years. Smart directors have often placed Reeves in roles where his stoic nature fits ideally, from My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to John Wick. But almost every one of those roles required him to seem hardened, distant, or removed.

Throughout the film, the actor portrays Gabriel, one low-level guardian celestial being assigned with looking after individuals that use their phones while driving. The character's entire duty is sitting in his vehicles and lightly making contact with their shoulders as they are close to have an accident, alerting them in order that they brake in time. However, while positioned high above the city, looking down on the mortal world similar to a interpretation of a celestial figure in Wim Wenders' classic movie the angel story, Gabriel gets aspirational. He desires to become an exceptional protector and a savior of wayward souls.

A Surprising Shift: Reeves Playing a Human

So, he reveals his presence to struggling handyman Arj (played by Aziz Ansari), who's residing in his car and resenting his life. Gabriel proceeds to exchanges the man into the existence of extremely wealthy tech mogul a character (acted by the comedian). This point of the exercise is for the character to realize the wealthy man's existence has significant downsides, and thankfully return to his original circumstances, much like a figure in the classic film.

Issue is, Arj right away discovers how Jeff's issues (tedious appointments, a pricey pool-heater invoice) prove minor and readily solved using wealth. He further sees that becoming affluent opens up endless chances for self-indulgent enjoyment. The character has no desire in going back to his own life, and the angel is unable to compel him to go back. Subsequently, additional trouble arrives: For exceeding his mandate and disrupting the balance of existence, the character loses his position as an angel job, and transformed into a human being.

A Revelation: Keanu Reeves Grins

Personally, I remained not persuaded by the actor playing an celestial being with big aspirations and a burning wish to effect change. Reeves delivers the same somewhat stiff performance he's consistently providing for no less than the past 3 decades. Watching Reeves in the role of celestial being that has recently become mortal for the first time, on the other hand, was highly entertaining, for a reason which truly surprised viewers initially: This is an element new for the actor. Or perhaps more accurately, something from the past.

Early into his confusing experience as a human, staying with the wealthy character (whom Gabriel exchanged with the handyman's precarious life and jobless situation), Gabriel starts hesitantly trying out everyday experiences like chewing and swallowing meals. And the actor smiles. Genuinely, hesitantly, joyously smiles. (It's far much convincing than the smile on the poster, that appears artificially added.)

The Reason That Smile Is Significant

The moment truly surprised me to realize how surprising and refreshing the smile felt. When was the last time we saw Keanu Reeves grin in a film where he was not expressing ill will, sarcasm, or resentment? He likely tries it somewhere in 2020's misbegotten the sequel, however I am not returning to the mess to confirm. The actor has remained stuck with serious, murderous, introspective, or just serious roles for so long that just watching him smile seemed like observing a completely different performer.

While the plot progresses, the character ends up having to take a dishwashing position, a role that doesn't pay enough for survival, and Gabriel begins smoking heavily out of disappointment. Simply the sight of Reeves in a disposable plastic restaurant hat, his recent signature long hair pulled back in a plain ponytail, slouching against a building and puffing on a smoke, is worthy of the price of admission. The kitchen worker getup totally changes his appearance and posture: Suddenly, the slim, well-dressed action star of his famous movies is gawky, ordinary, and a lot increasingly relatable.

A Joy of Watching Reeves Relax

The film isn't consistently fun to watch, particularly when the director (who also authored the screenplay) has to find plausible reasons for {Ar