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Good Fortune, the whimsical comedy by comedian the director, has been facing challenges at the box office. Many factors may explain its performance: Its uninspired name fails to convey its film's unique appeal. Its script is often moralizing and heavy-handed with the themes. The performances seem flat and presentational, as if the actors are reading dialogue directly from the page. Moreover, it arrives at a time of economic uncertainty and disparity, that could render audiences less open to a narrative that suggests wealthy people enjoy every benefits while the poor have heart.

However, here's what Good Fortune stands out: The film is original, bold, imaginative, often funny, and certainly timely. And, it provides a great Keanu Reeves hangout experience.

Reeves in the role of Guardian: His Typical Portrayal

Personally, I've never considered Keanu Reeves to be a strong performer. His flat speaking style and consistent look of slight concern have consistently seemed limited, despite the broad range of characters he has taken on over the past four decades of his career. Smart directors have often placed Reeves in parts in which his stoic nature fits perfectly, including his early work to The Matrix to John Wick. But almost all of those roles required Reeves to appear hardened, closed-off, and detached.

Throughout the film, Reeves portrays an angel, one minor guardian celestial being assigned with watching over people who text while driving. The character's entire job is sitting in their cars and lightly touching their shoulders when they're about to have an accident, warning them in order that they brake before impact. But, when standing overlooking his domain, looking down on humanity similar to a version of a celestial figure in Wim Wenders' renowned movie Wings of Desire, the character gets ambitious. Gabriel desires to be a great protector and rescuer of lost souls.

A Unexpected Turn: Reeves Playing a Mortal

So, Gabriel reveals himself to down-and-out handyman Arj (played by the director), who's living out of a vehicle and cursing his life. The angel proceeds to exchanges the man into the existence of extremely wealthy businessman Jeff (acted by Seth Rogen). This idea behind the experiment was for Arj would realize the wealthy man's existence comes with major drawbacks, and gratefully go back to his original circumstances, much like the character from the classic film.

Issue was, Arj immediately discovers how the mogul's problems (boring appointments, a pricey pool-heater invoice) are minor and easily solved with wealth. He further realizes how being affluent provides limitless chances for pleasurable fun. He shows no desire in going back to his own situation, and Gabriel can't compel him to return. Then, additional trouble arrives: For exceeding his mandate and messing with the order of the world, Gabriel is fired as an celestial role, and turned to a mortal.

The Revelation: The Actor Grins

Personally, I remained never persuaded by the actor as an celestial being with grand aspirations and a burning desire to make a difference. He turns in a familiar somewhat constipated acting he has consistently offering for at least the past three decades. Viewing him in the role of angel that has just become mortal for the first time, on the other hand, proved to be highly entertaining, due to something that really surprised me initially: It's something new for Reeves. Or more accurately, an aspect old.

Soon during the character's confusing experience being a mortal, staying with Jeff (whom Gabriel had swapped with the handyman's hand-to-mouth existence and underemployed status), the character starts hesitantly experimenting with human activities such as eating and consuming meals. Then the actor grins. Genuinely, cautiously, joyously smiles. (It's a lot more believable than the grin on the poster, which appears digitally altered.)

The Reason That Smile Matters

It truly surprised me to realize just how unexpected and refreshing that expression felt. At what point was the last time we saw Keanu Reeves grin in a film in which he was not expressing ill will, irony, or bitterness? He likely attempts a smile at some point in 2020's ill-conceived Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I'm not going to revisiting the disappointment to find out. The actor has been stuck with grim, murderous, introspective, or just solemn characters for such a duration that merely watching Reeves grin seemed like observing a completely new actor.

While the plot goes on, Gabriel ends up needing to get a dishwashing position, a role that doesn't pay enough to live on, and Gabriel starts chain-smoking out of disappointment. Simply the sight of the actor in a cheap plastic food-service cap, his late-career signature locks pulled back in a plain bun, slouching on a wall and puffing on a cigarette, is worth watching. The kitchen worker getup totally changes his appearance and body: Unexpectedly, the slim, suited action star of his famous movies becomes gawky, ordinary, and a lot increasingly relatable.

A Joy of Viewing Reeves Relax

The film isn't always enjoyable to view, particularly when the director (who additionally authored the script) must create believable explanations for {Ar