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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, the fantasy film by actor the director, has been struggling in theaters. Several factors could explain the film's reception: Its uninspired title doesn't convey its movie's unique appeal. The screenplay is often moralizing and heavy-handed regarding its themes. Its performances are uninspired and presentational, as if the cast were reciting lines straight from a script. And, it arrives at a time of economic anxiety and disparity, that could render viewers not very open to a story that suggests wealthy individuals have every advantages while those in need possess spirit.

However, here's where the movie excels: The film is unique, bold, creative, frequently humorous, and undoubtedly timely. Plus, it offers an unexpectedly great the actor character-driven experience.

Keanu Reeves in the role of Angel: A Familiar Portrayal

I have never regarded Keanu Reeves to be a strong performer. His flat speaking style and consistent look of mild perturbation have always seemed limited, regardless of the wide range of roles he's taken on during the last four decades years. Smart directors have cast Reeves in parts where his stoic nature fits ideally, including his early work to The Matrix to John Wick. Yet almost all of these roles called for him to seem hardened, closed-off, or detached.

In the film, the actor plays Gabriel, a minor guardian celestial being tasked with watching over individuals that use their phones when driving. His entire job is sitting in his vehicles and lightly making contact with their arms when they're about to have an accident, warning the person in order that the driver stop in time. However, while standing overlooking his domain, looking down on humanity similar to a interpretation of a celestial figure in Wim Wenders' renowned movie Wings of Desire, the character gets ambitious. He wants to be a great protector and a savior of wayward souls.

A Surprising Shift: Keanu as a Mortal

So, he reveals his presence to down-and-out handyman a character (portrayed by the director), who's residing in his car and resenting his situation. Gabriel proceeds to exchanges the man into the life of extremely rich tech mogul Jeff (played by Seth Rogen). This idea behind the exercise was for the character to realize Jeff's life comes with major drawbacks, and thankfully return to his own life, much like a figure from It's a Wonderful Life.

Issue is, the character immediately discovers how Jeff's issues (tedious meetings, expensive pool-heater bill) are minor and readily solved with money. He further sees how being affluent opens up limitless chances for pleasurable enjoyment. The character has no desire in going back to his own life, and the angel is unable to force Arj to go back. Subsequently, more trouble comes: For overstepping his mandate and messing with the order of the world, Gabriel loses his position from his angel job, and transformed into a human being.

A Discovery: The Actor Grins

I was not convinced by the actor playing an angel who has big aspirations and a burning wish to make a difference. He turns in a familiar somewhat stiff acting he's consistently providing for at least the last 3 ten-year periods. Viewing him in the role of angel that has recently turned mortal for the first time, on the other hand, was highly entertaining, for a reason that truly astonished me at first: It's an element different for Reeves. Or to be precise, an aspect from the past.

Early into the character's baffling experience being a human, clinging to Jeff (whom Gabriel had swapped with Arj's precarious life and jobless status), Gabriel begins hesitantly trying out everyday experiences such as eating and consuming food. Then the actor grins. Genuinely, cautiously, happily beams. (This is a lot much convincing than his grin on the poster, which appears digitally altered.)

The Reason This Smile Is Significant

The moment truly took me aback to recognize how unexpected and welcome that smile was. When did we last we saw the actor grin in a movie in which he wasn't expressing ill will, irony, or bitterness? The actor likely attempts it at some point in 2020's ill-conceived Bill & Ted Face the Music, but I'm not returning to that disappointment to confirm. The actor has remained typecast with grim, murderous, broody, or simply serious roles for such a duration that merely seeing him smile seemed like observing a completely different performer.

While the plot goes on, Gabriel finds himself needing to take a dishwashing job, a role that doesn't pay enough to live on, and Gabriel starts chain-smoking out of disappointment. Simply the image of the actor in a disposable paper restaurant cap, with his late-career signature long hair tied in an unglamorous bun, leaning on a wall and smoking a smoke, is worthy of watching. The dishwasher attire totally changes his appearance and posture: Unexpectedly, the slim, well-dressed action star of the John Wick movies becomes gawky, ordinary, and much more human.

A Joy of Watching Keanu Relax

Good Fortune is not consistently enjoyable to watch, especially when the director (who also wrote the script) must find believable reasons for {Ar