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Good Fortune, the fantasy film from comedian Aziz Ansari, is struggling in theaters. Several reasons could explain its performance: Its generic name doesn't convey the movie's unique charm. The script is often preachy and heavy-handed with its themes. The acting seem uninspired and presentational, like the cast are reading dialogue straight from a script. Moreover, it arrives at a time of financial uncertainty and disparity, which may render viewers not very receptive to a narrative that suggests wealthy individuals enjoy all the advantages while the poor have spirit.

But, this is where the movie excels: The film is unique, daring, imaginative, frequently humorous, and undoubtedly timely. Plus, it provides a enjoyable Keanu Reeves character-driven movie.

Keanu Reeves in the role of Guardian: His Typical Performance

I have not considered Reeves a strong performer. The actor's monotonal delivery and consistent look of mild concern has always seemed limited, regardless of his wide range of roles he's played over the last 40 of his career. Smart directors have often cast him in roles where his stoic nature works perfectly, from My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to the action series. Yet nearly every one of those characters required him to seem hardened, closed-off, and removed.

In the film, the actor plays Gabriel, a minor guardian angel tasked with looking after individuals that text while behind the wheel. His entire job is remaining in his vehicles and lightly making contact with their shoulders when they're close to have an accident, warning them so the driver brake before impact. However, while standing high above his domain, gazing on humanity similar to a interpretation of the angel from the director's classic film Wings of Desire, Gabriel gets ambitious. He desires to be an exceptional protector and a savior of wayward souls.

The Unexpected Shift: Reeves as a Mortal

Therefore, he presents his presence to struggling odd-jobber a character (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who is living out of a vehicle and resenting his situation. Gabriel then exchanges Arj with the existence of extremely rich businessman a character (acted by Seth Rogen). This point behind the experiment is that Arj to realize Jeff's existence has major drawbacks, and gratefully return to his own circumstances, much like the figure in the classic film.

Issue is, Arj right away discovers that the mogul's issues (tedious appointments, expensive pool-heater bill) prove minor and easily solved with wealth. Arj further sees that being affluent provides endless chances for pleasurable fun. The character shows no interest in returning to his own situation, and Gabriel is unable to force Arj to go back. Subsequently, more bad news comes: Because of overstepping his duties and messing with the order of the world, the character loses his position as an angel job, and transformed into a human being.

A Revelation: Keanu Reeves Grins

I was not persuaded by the actor as an celestial being who has big aspirations and a burning wish to effect change. He turns in a familiar somewhat constipated performance he has been providing for no less than the past 3 ten-year periods. Viewing him as an angel who's just become mortal for the first time, however, proved to be a blast, due to something that truly astonished me initially: It's an element different for the actor. Or perhaps to be precise, an aspect old.

Soon during his confusing experience as a human, staying with Jeff (who Gabriel had swapped with the handyman's precarious life and underemployed status), the character starts hesitantly experimenting with human activities such as eating and swallowing food. Then the actor smiles. Authentically, hesitantly, happily smiles. (This is a lot much believable than his grin shown in the poster, which looks digitally altered.)

The Reason This Smile Matters

The moment really took me aback to realize how unexpected and refreshing that expression was. At what point did we last audiences observed Keanu Reeves grin in a film in which he was not showing ill will, irony, or resentment? The actor probably tries it at some point in the recent misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I am not going to revisiting the disappointment to find out. Reeves has remained stuck with grim, murderous, introspective, or just serious roles for so long that merely seeing Reeves smile felt like seeing a completely different actor.

As the plot goes on, Gabriel finds himself having to take a kitchen job, a role that doesn't pay enough for survival, and he begins smoking heavily out of frustration. Just the image of Reeves in a disposable paper food-service cap, with his late-career trademark locks tied in an unglamorous ponytail, slouching against a building and smoking a cigarette, proves worthy of watching. His dishwasher attire totally alters his face and posture: Unexpectedly, the lean, well-dressed physical powerhouse of his famous movies is gawky, unglamorous, and a lot more relatable.

A Joy of Viewing Keanu Relax

The film isn't always fun to watch, particularly when Ansari (who additionally authored the script) has to find plausible reasons for {Ar