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Good Fortune, the fantasy film from actor the director, has been facing challenges at the box office. Several reasons may account for the film's reception: Its generic name fails to convey the movie's distinctive charm. Its screenplay can be moralizing and obvious with the messages. The acting are flat and presentational, as if the cast are reciting dialogue straight from a script. And, the film comes during an era marked by economic anxiety and disparity, that may make audiences not very open to a narrative that implies wealthy people enjoy every benefits while the poor have spirit.

However, here's what the movie excels: It's original, daring, imaginative, often funny, and certainly timely. Plus, it provides an unexpectedly enjoyable Keanu Reeves hangout movie.

Reeves as an Angel: His Typical Portrayal

I have not considered Reeves to be a good performer. His flat speaking style and persistent expression of slight perturbation have always seemed limited, despite the broad range of characters he's played during the past 40 years. Astute directors have often cast Reeves in roles in which his rigidity works perfectly, from his early work to the sci-fi classic to the action series. But almost all of those characters required him to appear tough, distant, and detached.

Throughout Good Fortune, the actor plays Gabriel, one minor protecting celestial being assigned with looking after individuals who text when driving. His entire job involves sitting in his vehicles and lightly touching their arms as they are close to have an accident, alerting them so they brake in time. But, when standing overlooking his domain, gazing upon the mortal world like an alternative version of a celestial figure in Wim Wenders' renowned movie the angel story, the character becomes ambitious. He desires to be an exceptional protector and a savior of lost souls.

The Unexpected Turn: Reeves Playing a Mortal

Therefore, he presents his presence to struggling handyman a character (played by Aziz Ansari), who's living in his car and resenting his life. Gabriel then swaps Arj into the life of stupidly rich businessman Jeff (played by Seth Rogen). This point of the exercise was for the character to understand the wealthy man's life has significant downsides, and thankfully return to his own life, similar to the figure in the classic film.

Issue is, Arj immediately discovers that Jeff's issues (boring meetings, a pricey pool-heater bill) prove minor and readily solved using wealth. Arj further sees how becoming rich provides endless chances for pleasurable fun. The character has no interest in returning to his previous situation, and Gabriel can't force Arj to return. Subsequently, more trouble comes: Because of overstepping his mandate and disrupting the order of existence, the character loses his position as an celestial job, and transformed to a mortal.

A Revelation: The Actor Grins

I was never convinced by the actor as an celestial being with grand dreams and an intense wish to effect change. Reeves turns in the same vaguely constipated performance he's been providing for at least the past 3 decades. Watching him in the role of angel who's just become human for the first time, however, was highly entertaining, for a reason that truly astonished viewers initially: It's an element new for the actor. Or to be precise, something old.

Soon during his confusing career as a mortal, staying with Jeff (whom the angel had swapped into Arj's precarious life and jobless situation), the character begins tentatively trying out everyday activities like chewing and consuming food. And the actor grins. Authentically, cautiously, joyously smiles. (It's a lot more convincing than the grin shown in the poster, which looks digitally altered.)

Why That Grin Matters

The moment truly took me aback to realize just how surprising and welcome that expression felt. When did we last audiences saw Keanu Reeves grin in a film where he was not showing ill will, sarcasm, or bitterness? He likely attempts it somewhere in the recent misbegotten the sequel, however I'm not going to revisiting that disappointment to find out. The actor has been stuck with grim, violent, broody, or just solemn characters for such a duration that merely watching Reeves smile felt like seeing an entirely different actor.

While the plot progresses, Gabriel ends up having to get a dishwashing position, which doesn't pay enough for survival, and Gabriel begins smoking heavily due to frustration. Simply the sight of the actor in a cheap paper food-service cap, his recent trademark long hair pulled back in an unglamorous bun, leaning against a building and smoking a smoke, is worth watching. His kitchen worker getup completely alters his face and posture: Unexpectedly, the lean, suited physical powerhouse of the John Wick movies is awkward, unglamorous, and much increasingly human.

The Joy of Viewing Keanu Relax

The film isn't always fun to view, especially when Ansari (who additionally authored the screenplay) must find plausible explanations for {Ar