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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, the whimsical film from comedian the director, is struggling in theaters. Several reasons may account for the film's reception: The uninspired name doesn't express the movie's distinctive appeal. The script can be moralizing and obvious regarding its themes. Its performances are uninspired and presentational, as if the actors are reciting lines directly from the page. Moreover, the film comes during an era of financial anxiety and inequality, that may render viewers not very open to a story which suggests wealthy individuals have all the benefits while the poor have heart.

However, this is where the movie excels: It's original, bold, imaginative, often humorous, and certainly timely. Plus, it provides a great Keanu Reeves character-driven movie.

Keanu Reeves as an Guardian: His Typical Performance

Personally, I've not regarded Reeves a strong performer. The actor's monotonal delivery and persistent look of slight perturbation have consistently felt one-note, despite the broad variety of characters he has played over the last 40 years. Smart directors have often cast him in roles in which that rigidity fits ideally, from his early work to the sci-fi classic to John Wick. But nearly every one of these characters called for him to seem tough, closed-off, or removed.

In the film, Reeves plays Gabriel, one minor guardian celestial being assigned with looking after individuals that text when behind the wheel. His entire duty involves remaining in their vehicles and lightly making contact with their shoulders as they're about to have an accident, warning them so they stop in time. But, while standing high above his domain, looking down upon the mortal world like a interpretation of a celestial figure from Wim Wenders' classic movie Wings of Desire, Gabriel gets ambitious. Gabriel wants to be an exceptional protector and rescuer of lost individuals.

The Surprising Turn: Keanu as a Mortal

Therefore, he reveals himself to down-and-out handyman a character (played by Aziz Ansari), who is living out of his car and resenting his life. The angel then swaps Arj with the life of extremely wealthy tech mogul a character (played by Seth Rogen). The point of the experiment is for Arj would understand the wealthy man's existence comes with major drawbacks, and thankfully go back to his original life, similar to the character in It's a Wonderful Life.

Issue is, Arj right away realizes how the mogul's issues (tedious appointments, a pricey heating bill) are negligible and easily resolved with money. He also realizes that being rich opens up limitless opportunities for pleasurable fun. The character shows no desire in returning to his previous life, and Gabriel is unable to force Arj to go back. Then, more trouble comes: For overstepping his duties and messing with the order of the world, Gabriel loses his position as an angel role, and turned to a mortal.

The Revelation: The Actor Grins

I was never convinced by the actor playing an angel with grand aspirations and an intense desire to make a difference. He delivers a familiar somewhat constipated acting he has consistently offering for at least the last 3 decades. Viewing him in the role of celestial being who's recently become mortal for the first time, on the other hand, was highly entertaining, for a reason which truly astonished viewers initially: It's an element new for Reeves. Or perhaps more accurately, something from the past.

Soon during the character's baffling experience as a human, clinging to Jeff (who the angel had swapped into Arj's precarious existence and underemployed situation), the character starts hesitantly trying out everyday activities like chewing and consuming food. And Reeves smiles. Authentically, cautiously, happily smiles. (It's a lot more convincing than the smile shown in the promotional image, that looks digitally altered.)

Why That Grin Is Significant

It truly took me aback to realize just how unexpected and refreshing the expression felt. At what point was the last time audiences observed Keanu Reeves grin in a film where he was not expressing malice, irony, or bitterness? He probably attempts it at some point in the recent misbegotten the sequel, but I'm not revisiting that mess to confirm. Reeves has remained typecast with serious, violent, broody, or simply serious characters for so long that just watching Reeves smile felt like seeing a completely different performer.

While the plot progresses, Gabriel ends up having to get a kitchen job, which doesn't pay enough for survival, and Gabriel starts smoking heavily due to frustration. Just the image of the actor in a disposable paper food-service hat, his late-career signature long hair pulled back in an unglamorous ponytail, leaning on a wall and smoking a cigarette, is worth watching. The kitchen worker attire totally changes his appearance and body: Unexpectedly, the slim, suited action star of the John Wick movies becomes gawky, unglamorous, and a lot increasingly human.

The Pleasure of Viewing Reeves Loosen Up

Good Fortune is not consistently fun to watch, especially when Ansari (who additionally wrote the script) must create plausible reasons for {Ar