Let the actor Grin More Often: A Look at His Role in the New Film

Good Fortune, the fantasy comedy from comedian Aziz Ansari, has been struggling in theaters. Many reasons could explain its reception: The uninspired name doesn't express the film's distinctive appeal. Its screenplay can be moralizing and obvious regarding its messages. Its performances are flat and presentational, as if the actors were reciting dialogue straight from a script. And, it arrives at a time of financial anxiety and inequality, that may make viewers less open to a story that suggests rich people have all the benefits while the poor possess heart.

But, this is what the movie excels: The film is original, bold, creative, often humorous, and undoubtedly relevant. And, it offers an unexpectedly enjoyable Keanu Reeves character-driven experience.

Keanu Reeves as an Angel: His Typical Portrayal

I have never regarded Keanu Reeves a good actor. The actor's flat delivery and persistent look of slight perturbation has consistently seemed one-note, regardless of the wide range of characters he has taken on during the last four decades of his career. Smart filmmakers have often cast Reeves in roles in which his rigidity works ideally, including My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to John Wick. Yet nearly all of these characters required Reeves to appear tough, closed-off, or detached.

Throughout Good Fortune, Reeves portrays Gabriel, a minor guardian angel assigned with watching over people that text while behind the wheel. The character's whole job is sitting in their vehicles and gently touching the drivers' shoulders when they are close to have an accident, alerting them so they stop before impact. But, while standing high above his domain, gazing on the mortal world like a version of the angel in the director's renowned movie the angel story, the character gets ambitious. He desires to become a great guardian and a savior of lost souls.

The Unexpected Shift: Reeves Playing a Human

Therefore, he presents his presence to struggling handyman Arj (played by Aziz Ansari), who is residing out of his car and cursing his life. Gabriel then swaps Arj with the existence of extremely wealthy businessman Jeff (acted by the comedian). This point of the exercise is for Arj would realize the wealthy man's existence comes with significant drawbacks, and thankfully return to his own life, similar to a figure from It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem is, Arj immediately discovers how Jeff's issues (boring meetings, expensive heating bill) are negligible and readily resolved using money. Arj further realizes how becoming affluent opens up limitless chances for self-indulgent fun. He shows zero interest in returning to his own situation, and Gabriel can't force him to return. Subsequently, additional trouble arrives: For overstepping his mandate and disrupting the balance of existence, Gabriel loses his position from his celestial job, and turned into a mortal.

A Revelation: The Actor Grins

I was never persuaded by Reeves playing an celestial being who has big aspirations and an intense desire to effect change. Reeves turns in the same vaguely stiff acting he's consistently offering for no less than the last three ten-year periods. Viewing Reeves as an celestial being who's just turned mortal initially, on the other hand, was a blast, due to something which really surprised me initially: It's an element new for Reeves. Or perhaps more accurately, an aspect from the past.

Early into his baffling career as a human, staying with the wealthy character (whom Gabriel exchanged with Arj's precarious existence and jobless status), Gabriel starts hesitantly experimenting with everyday experiences like eating and swallowing food. Then the actor grins. Genuinely, hesitantly, happily beams. (It's far much convincing than the grin on the poster, which appears artificially added.)

The Reason That Smile Matters

It really surprised me to realize how surprising and refreshing the expression felt. When was the last time audiences saw the actor smile in a movie in which he wasn't showing ill will, sarcasm, or resentment? The actor likely attempts a smile somewhere in 2020's misbegotten the sequel, but I am not going to returning to that mess to confirm. Reeves has remained stuck with grim, murderous, broody, or just solemn characters for such a duration that just watching him smile seemed like observing a completely different performer.

While the story progresses, Gabriel finds himself needing to take a kitchen job, a role that fails to provide enough for survival, and he starts chain-smoking due to frustration. Simply the image of Reeves in a cheap plastic restaurant cap, his late-career signature long hair pulled back in an unglamorous bun, slouching on a building and puffing on a cigarette, is worth the price of admission. The kitchen worker attire totally alters his appearance and posture: Suddenly, the slim, well-dressed action star of his famous films becomes awkward, unglamorous, and a lot more relatable.

The Joy of Viewing Keanu Relax

Good Fortune isn't always enjoyable to watch, particularly when Ansari (that also authored the script) has to create believable reasons for {Ar