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Good Fortune, this fantasy comedy by comedian Aziz Ansari, is facing challenges at the box office. Several factors could explain its performance: The uninspired title doesn't express its movie's distinctive charm. Its screenplay is often moralizing and heavy-handed with its themes. The performances are uninspired and presentational, as if the actors were reading lines straight from a script. And, the film comes at a time marked by economic uncertainty and inequality, which could render viewers not very open to a narrative that suggests wealthy individuals have all the benefits while those in need possess spirit.

But, here's what the movie stands out: The film is original, bold, creative, often humorous, and certainly relevant. Plus, it provides a great the actor hangout experience.

Keanu Reeves as an Guardian: A Familiar Performance

Personally, I've not regarded Reeves a good actor. His monotonal speaking style and consistent expression of slight perturbation have always felt one-note, regardless of the broad variety of roles he has taken on over the past four decades of his career. Astute filmmakers have placed him in roles where his rigidity fits ideally, including his early work to The Matrix to the action series. But almost every one of those characters required him to appear hardened, closed-off, or detached.

In the film, the actor plays Gabriel, one minor protecting angel assigned with watching over people that use their phones while driving. His entire job involves remaining in his cars and lightly making contact with the drivers' shoulders as they're about to have an accident, warning the person so they brake in time. But, when positioned high above the city, gazing on humanity similar to a interpretation of a celestial figure in the director's renowned film the angel story, Gabriel gets aspirational. Gabriel desires to become a great guardian and rescuer of lost individuals.

A Surprising Turn: Reeves as a Human

So, he presents his presence to struggling odd-jobber Arj (played by the director), who's residing in a vehicle and resenting his situation. The angel then exchanges Arj into the existence of stupidly rich businessman a character (played by Seth Rogen). The point of the experiment is for Arj to realize Jeff's existence has significant drawbacks, and thankfully go back to his original circumstances, much like the character from the classic film.

Problem is, the character right away realizes that Jeff's issues (boring appointments, a pricey pool-heater bill) are minor and readily solved with wealth. Arj further sees that becoming rich provides endless chances for pleasurable fun. The character shows no interest in going back to his previous situation, and the angel is unable to force Arj to return. Then, additional bad news comes: For overstepping his duties and messing with the order of existence, the character loses his position as an celestial job, and turned to a mortal.

A Discovery: The Actor Smiles

I was not persuaded by Reeves as an angel who has grand dreams and an intense wish to effect change. Reeves delivers a familiar somewhat stiff acting he's been providing for at least the last three ten-year periods. Watching Reeves as an angel that has recently turned human initially, however, proved to be highly entertaining, for a reason which truly astonished me initially: It's something different for the actor. Or perhaps more accurately, an aspect from the past.

Early into his confusing career as a human, staying with the wealthy character (whom Gabriel exchanged into Arj's hand-to-mouth life and jobless situation), Gabriel starts tentatively experimenting with human activities such as chewing and swallowing food. Then Reeves smiles. Genuinely, hesitantly, joyously smiles. (It's far much believable than his grin shown in the promotional image, which looks artificially added.)

The Reason That Smile Matters

It truly surprised me to realize how surprising and refreshing that expression was. At what point was the last time we observed the actor grin in a movie where he was not showing malice, irony, or bitterness? He probably attempts a smile somewhere in the recent ill-conceived Bill & Ted Face the Music, but I'm not revisiting the disappointment to confirm. The actor has been stuck with serious, violent, broody, or just serious characters for so long that merely seeing him smile seemed like observing an entirely new actor.

As the story goes on, Gabriel ends up needing to take a dishwashing position, a role that fails to provide sufficient to live on, and he starts smoking heavily due to frustration. Simply the sight of Reeves in a disposable paper restaurant hat, his recent signature locks tied in an unglamorous ponytail, leaning against a wall and puffing on a cigarette, is worth watching. The dishwasher attire completely changes his face and posture: Unexpectedly, the lean, suited physical powerhouse of his famous movies becomes gawky, ordinary, and a lot increasingly relatable.

A Joy of Watching Keanu Relax

Good Fortune is not always fun to watch, especially when Ansari (that also authored the script) must create believable reasons for {Ar