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Good Fortune, the whimsical comedy from comedian the director, is facing challenges in theaters. Several reasons could account for the film's reception: Its uninspired name doesn't convey its movie's distinctive charm. The script can be moralizing and obvious regarding the themes. Its acting seem flat and presentational, as if the cast are reciting lines straight from a script. Moreover, the film comes during an era marked by financial uncertainty and disparity, which may render audiences not very receptive to a story which suggests rich people have every benefits while those in need have spirit.

However, this is where Good Fortune excels: The film is original, daring, creative, frequently humorous, and undoubtedly relevant. And, it offers a enjoyable Keanu Reeves hangout movie.

Reeves as an Angel: His Typical Portrayal

I have never considered Reeves a good actor. The actor's flat speaking style and persistent look of mild concern has always felt one-note, despite the broad range of characters he has taken on during the past 40 years. Smart directors have placed Reeves in parts where that stoic nature works ideally, including his early work to the sci-fi classic to the action series. Yet almost all of those characters required Reeves to appear hardened, distant, and removed.

In the film, Reeves plays Gabriel, a minor guardian angel assigned with watching over people who use their phones when behind the wheel. His whole job involves sitting in their cars and gently making contact with their arms when they're close to crash, alerting them in order that they brake in time. But, while standing overlooking the city, gazing upon the mortal world similar to a interpretation of the angel in the director's renowned movie the angel story, the character becomes ambitious. He desires to become a great guardian and a savior of lost individuals.

The Surprising Shift: Keanu Playing a Mortal

Therefore, Gabriel presents his presence to down-and-out odd-jobber Arj (played by the director), who's living in a vehicle and cursing his situation. Gabriel proceeds to exchanges the man with the existence of stupidly wealthy tech mogul a character (played by the comedian). The idea behind the experiment is for Arj would realize the wealthy man's existence comes with significant drawbacks, and thankfully go back to his original life, much like a figure from the classic film.

Issue was, Arj right away realizes that the mogul's problems (boring meetings, expensive pool-heater invoice) prove minor and easily resolved using money. Arj further realizes how being affluent provides endless chances for self-indulgent fun. The character shows no interest in going back to his own situation, and Gabriel can't force Arj to go back. Subsequently, more trouble arrives: For overstepping his duties and messing with the balance of the world, the character loses his position as an celestial role, and transformed to a human being.

The Discovery: The Actor Grins

Personally, I remained never convinced by the actor playing an angel who has grand aspirations and a burning wish to make a difference. He turns in the same somewhat constipated acting he's been providing for at least the past three decades. Watching him as an angel that has recently turned mortal initially, however, proved to be a blast, for a reason which really surprised viewers initially: This is something different for Reeves. Or more accurately, something old.

Early during his confusing experience as a mortal, clinging to Jeff (whom Gabriel had swapped with Arj's hand-to-mouth existence and underemployed situation), the character begins hesitantly experimenting with everyday experiences like eating and consuming meals. And Reeves grins. Genuinely, hesitantly, happily smiles. (It's a lot more convincing than his grin shown in the promotional image, which appears artificially added.)

The Reason That Grin Matters

The moment really surprised me to recognize how surprising and welcome that smile felt. When did we last we saw Keanu Reeves smile in a film where he wasn't expressing malice, sarcasm, or bitterness? The actor probably attempts a smile at some point in 2020's misbegotten the sequel, but I am not going to returning to the disappointment to find out. The actor has remained typecast with serious, murderous, introspective, or simply serious characters for such a duration that just watching him smile felt like observing an entirely different performer.

As the story goes on, Gabriel finds himself needing to take a kitchen job, which doesn't pay enough for survival, and he begins smoking heavily due to disappointment. Simply the sight of the actor in a cheap plastic food-service hat, with his late-career signature long hair pulled back in an unglamorous bun, slouching on a building and puffing on a cigarette, is worthy of the price of admission. The kitchen worker getup completely changes his face and posture: Suddenly, the slim, suited physical powerhouse of his famous movies becomes awkward, ordinary, and much more relatable.

The Pleasure of Watching Reeves Relax

The film is not always enjoyable to watch, especially when the director (that additionally authored the script) must find believable reasons for {Ar