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Good Fortune, this whimsical film by comedian the director, has been facing challenges in theaters. Many factors may explain the film's performance: The uninspired name fails to express its movie's distinctive appeal. The screenplay can be preachy and heavy-handed regarding its themes. The acting are flat and staged, as if the actors are reciting dialogue directly from a script. Moreover, the film comes during an era of economic uncertainty and inequality, which may make viewers less receptive to a story that implies rich individuals enjoy every benefits while the poor have heart.

However, here's what the movie excels: It's unique, daring, imaginative, frequently humorous, and undoubtedly timely. Plus, it provides an unexpectedly great Keanu Reeves hangout movie.

Reeves in the role of Angel: A Familiar Portrayal

I have not regarded Keanu Reeves to be a strong performer. His flat delivery and persistent expression of mild perturbation have consistently felt one-note, regardless of the wide range of characters he has taken on during the past 40 years. Astute filmmakers have placed him in roles in which his rigidity works ideally, from My Own Private Idaho to the sci-fi classic to the action series. But nearly all of these characters called for Reeves to appear hardened, closed-off, and detached.

Throughout the film, Reeves plays Gabriel, one minor protecting angel tasked with watching over individuals who use their phones while behind the wheel. His whole duty is sitting in their cars and lightly touching the drivers' arms as they're about to have an accident, warning the person in order that they brake before impact. But, while positioned overlooking his domain, looking down on humanity similar to a version of the angel in the director's classic film the angel story, Gabriel gets ambitious. Gabriel wants to become a great protector and a savior of wayward souls.

The Unexpected Shift: Reeves as a Human

So, he reveals himself to struggling odd-jobber Arj (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who's living in his car and cursing his life. Gabriel then swaps the man into the life of extremely rich tech mogul a character (played by Seth Rogen). The point behind the exercise was for Arj to understand Jeff's life has significant downsides, and thankfully go back to his original life, similar to the character in the classic film.

Issue is, the character right away discovers that Jeff's problems (tedious meetings, a pricey pool-heater invoice) prove negligible and readily resolved using wealth. He further sees that being rich provides limitless chances for self-indulgent fun. He has zero interest in returning to his own situation, and Gabriel can't force Arj to return. Subsequently, additional bad news comes: For overstepping his duties and disrupting the balance of the world, Gabriel is fired as an angel job, and turned to a mortal.

A Revelation: The Actor Grins

Personally, I remained not persuaded by Reeves as an angel with grand aspirations and an intense wish to effect change. Reeves turns in the same vaguely constipated acting he has been providing for no less than the last 3 ten-year periods. Watching him as an angel who's recently become mortal for the first time, however, proved to be a blast, due to something which really surprised me at first: It's an element different for the actor. Or perhaps more accurately, an aspect from the past.

Soon into his baffling experience being a human, staying with the wealthy character (who the angel exchanged into the handyman's hand-to-mouth existence and jobless status), the character starts tentatively trying out everyday activities such as eating and consuming meals. And Reeves grins. Authentically, hesitantly, happily smiles. (It's far more convincing than his grin on the poster, that appears digitally altered.)

Why That Grin Matters

It really took me aback to recognize how unexpected and refreshing the smile felt. At what point did we last we observed Keanu Reeves grin in a film in which he was not expressing malice, irony, or bitterness? The actor likely tries a smile at some point in the recent misbegotten the sequel, however I am not going to returning to the mess to confirm. The actor has remained stuck with serious, violent, broody, or simply serious characters for so long that just seeing Reeves grin felt like seeing a completely different performer.

As the plot progresses, Gabriel ends up having to get a dishwashing job, which fails to provide enough for survival, and Gabriel starts chain-smoking due to frustration. Just the sight of the actor in a disposable paper restaurant hat, with his recent signature locks tied in an unglamorous ponytail, slouching on a wall and smoking a cigarette, proves worthy of watching. The kitchen worker getup totally alters his appearance and body: Unexpectedly, the lean, well-dressed physical powerhouse of the John Wick movies is awkward, ordinary, and much more human.

A Joy of Watching Reeves Loosen Up

The film isn't consistently fun to view, particularly when the director (that additionally authored the screenplay) must create believable explanations for {Ar