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Good Fortune, the fantasy comedy by comedian the director, is facing challenges in theaters. Many reasons may explain the film's reception: Its uninspired title fails to convey its film's unique charm. The script can be moralizing and heavy-handed with the messages. Its acting are uninspired and presentational, like the actors were reading lines straight from the page. And, it arrives during an era marked by financial anxiety and disparity, which could make audiences less receptive to a story which implies rich individuals enjoy every benefits while the poor possess spirit.

But, here's where the movie stands out: It's unique, bold, imaginative, often humorous, and certainly timely. Plus, it provides an unexpectedly great Keanu Reeves character-driven movie.

Keanu Reeves in the role of Guardian: A Familiar Performance

I have not regarded Reeves a strong performer. The actor's monotonal delivery and consistent expression of mild concern has always felt one-note, despite his broad range of characters he has played over the last four decades of his career. Astute directors have often placed Reeves in roles where his stoic nature fits ideally, including My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to the action series. But nearly every one of these roles called for Reeves to appear hardened, closed-off, or removed.

Throughout the film, the actor plays an angel, one minor protecting angel tasked with watching over people that use their phones while behind the wheel. His whole duty is sitting in their vehicles and gently touching their shoulders when they are close to have an accident, warning them so they stop in time. But, when standing overlooking the city, gazing on humanity similar to a version of the angel from Wim Wenders' renowned film the angel story, Gabriel gets aspirational. He desires to be a great protector and rescuer of lost individuals.

The Unexpected Shift: Keanu as a Human

So, he reveals his presence to struggling handyman a character (played by the director), who's residing out of a vehicle and cursing his life. The angel then swaps Arj into the life of stupidly rich tech mogul a character (played by Seth Rogen). The idea behind the exercise is that the character would understand the wealthy man's life has significant drawbacks, and gratefully go back to his original circumstances, much like the character from the classic film.

Issue is, Arj right away realizes how the mogul's problems (boring meetings, expensive pool-heater invoice) are minor and readily resolved using money. Arj also realizes that becoming rich provides endless chances for self-indulgent enjoyment. The character has zero desire in returning to his own life, and Gabriel can't force Arj to go back. Then, more trouble comes: For overstepping his duties and messing with the balance of existence, the character is fired as an angel job, and turned into a mortal.

A Revelation: The Actor Smiles

I was not persuaded by the actor as an angel who has grand aspirations and an intense desire to effect change. Reeves delivers the same vaguely stiff acting he has been offering for at least the last three decades. Viewing Reeves in the role of angel that has recently turned human for the first time, on the other hand, proved to be highly entertaining, for a reason that truly astonished viewers initially: This is something new for Reeves. Or perhaps to be precise, an aspect old.

Early during his confusing experience being a mortal, staying with Jeff (whom Gabriel had swapped with Arj's precarious life and underemployed status), the character starts tentatively experimenting with everyday activities like eating and consuming food. And the actor smiles. Genuinely, cautiously, happily beams. (This is far much believable than his grin on the poster, which appears digitally altered.)

The Reason This Smile Is Significant

It really took me aback to realize just how surprising and welcome the expression was. At what point did we last we saw the actor smile in a film in which he was not showing ill will, sarcasm, or resentment? The actor likely tries a smile somewhere in the recent misbegotten the sequel, but I'm not returning to the disappointment to confirm. The actor has remained stuck with grim, violent, broody, or just serious roles for so long that just watching him grin felt like observing an entirely new actor.

While the plot progresses, the character ends up having to get a dishwashing job, which doesn't pay sufficient for survival, and Gabriel starts smoking heavily out of disappointment. Simply the sight of the actor in a cheap plastic food-service cap, his late-career trademark long hair pulled back in a plain bun, slouching against a wall and puffing on a smoke, proves worthy of the price of admission. The kitchen worker getup totally alters his appearance and posture: Unexpectedly, the slim, suited physical powerhouse of the John Wick movies is gawky, ordinary, and a lot increasingly relatable.

The Joy of Viewing Keanu Relax

The film isn't always fun to view, particularly when Ansari (that also wrote the screenplay) has to find plausible reasons for {Ar