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Good Fortune, the whimsical comedy from actor the director, is struggling at the box office. Many factors may explain the film's performance: The uninspired name doesn't express the film's distinctive charm. Its script is often moralizing and heavy-handed regarding the messages. The performances are flat and presentational, as if the actors were reciting dialogue directly from a script. Moreover, it arrives at a time of financial uncertainty and disparity, which could render viewers not very open to a narrative that suggests wealthy people have all the advantages while the poor possess heart.

However, this is where Good Fortune stands out: The film is unique, bold, imaginative, frequently funny, and undoubtedly timely. Plus, it offers an unexpectedly great the actor character-driven experience.

Keanu Reeves in the role of Guardian: His Typical Performance

Personally, I've never regarded Reeves to be a good actor. His flat delivery and persistent expression of slight perturbation have always seemed limited, regardless of the broad range of roles he has taken on during the past four decades years. Smart filmmakers have placed Reeves in roles where that stoic nature works perfectly, from My Own Private Idaho to the sci-fi classic to John Wick. Yet nearly all of these roles required Reeves to seem tough, closed-off, or removed.

In the film, Reeves portrays an angel, a low-level guardian angel tasked with watching over individuals that text when driving. The character's whole duty is remaining in his cars and gently making contact with their shoulders as they're about to crash, alerting the person so they stop before impact. However, while standing overlooking his domain, looking down on humanity similar to a version of the angel in Wim Wenders' renowned film the angel story, the character becomes ambitious. Gabriel wants to become an exceptional guardian and rescuer of wayward souls.

A Surprising Turn: Keanu Playing a Human

Therefore, he reveals himself to struggling odd-jobber Arj (played by the director), who is living out of his car and resenting his life. Gabriel proceeds to swaps Arj into the life of extremely rich businessman Jeff (acted by Seth Rogen). The idea behind the experiment was that Arj to realize Jeff's life comes with significant drawbacks, and thankfully return to his original circumstances, much like the character from the classic film.

Problem was, Arj immediately realizes how the mogul's problems (boring meetings, expensive heating invoice) are negligible and easily solved with wealth. He also sees that being affluent opens up limitless chances for self-indulgent fun. The character shows zero interest in going back to his previous situation, and Gabriel is unable to force him to go back. Then, more bad news comes: For overstepping his mandate and disrupting the balance of existence, the character is fired from his celestial role, and transformed into a mortal.

The Discovery: Keanu Reeves Smiles

I was not convinced by the actor as an celestial being with big aspirations and a burning wish to make a difference. Reeves delivers the same somewhat constipated acting he's been providing for no less than the past 3 decades. Viewing Reeves in the role of angel that has just become human initially, however, was highly entertaining, for a reason which truly surprised viewers at first: It's something new for Reeves. Or perhaps to be precise, an aspect old.

Early during the character's baffling career as a mortal, clinging to the wealthy character (who the angel exchanged with Arj's precarious life and jobless situation), the character starts hesitantly trying out human activities like chewing and consuming food. And the actor grins. Authentically, cautiously, happily beams. (This is a lot much believable than the smile on the poster, that looks artificially added.)

The Reason That Grin Is Significant

The moment truly took me aback to realize just how surprising and refreshing that expression felt. When did we last we saw the actor grin in a movie in which he was not expressing ill will, sarcasm, or resentment? He likely tries a smile at some point in 2020's ill-conceived Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I'm not returning to the disappointment to confirm. The actor has been typecast with serious, murderous, broody, or just solemn characters for such a duration that merely seeing Reeves smile seemed like observing a completely different actor.

While the plot goes on, the character ends up having to get a dishwashing position, which doesn't pay enough for survival, and he begins chain-smoking out of disappointment. Just the sight of Reeves in a cheap plastic restaurant hat, his late-career trademark long hair pulled back in an unglamorous bun, slouching against a building and smoking a smoke, is worthy of the price of admission. The dishwasher getup completely changes his face and body: Unexpectedly, the lean, suited physical powerhouse of his famous films becomes awkward, ordinary, and much more human.

The Pleasure of Watching Keanu Loosen Up

Good Fortune isn't always fun to view, especially when the director (who also authored the script) must create believable reasons for {Ar