Good Fortune, this fantasy film from comedian the director, is facing challenges in theaters. Several reasons may explain the film's reception: Its generic name fails to express the film's unique charm. The script is often moralizing and obvious with its themes. The performances are flat and presentational, like the cast are reading lines straight from a script. And, it arrives during an era marked by economic uncertainty and disparity, that may render audiences not very open to a narrative which implies wealthy people enjoy every benefits while the poor have heart.
But, this is where Good Fortune excels: It's unique, daring, imaginative, frequently funny, and certainly timely. Plus, it offers an unexpectedly enjoyable Keanu Reeves hangout movie.
I have not considered Reeves to be a strong actor. His monotonal speaking style and consistent expression of mild perturbation has consistently felt limited, despite his wide range of characters he's played during the last 40 of his career. Astute filmmakers have often cast him in roles in which that rigidity fits perfectly, including his early work to The Matrix to John Wick. Yet almost all of these roles required him to appear tough, distant, and detached.
Throughout the film, Reeves portrays an angel, one minor protecting celestial being assigned with looking after individuals who text when driving. The character's entire job involves remaining in their cars and lightly touching the drivers' shoulders as they are close to crash, alerting the person in order that they brake in time. However, while standing high above the city, looking down on the mortal world like a interpretation of the angel from the director's classic movie Wings of Desire, the character gets aspirational. He wants to become an exceptional guardian and rescuer of lost souls.
Therefore, Gabriel reveals himself to struggling odd-jobber Arj (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who's residing in his car and resenting his situation. Gabriel proceeds to swaps the man with the existence of stupidly rich tech mogul a character (acted by the comedian). This idea behind the experiment is for Arj would understand the wealthy man's existence comes with major drawbacks, and thankfully return to his original life, similar to a figure from It's a Wonderful Life.
Problem is, the character immediately realizes that Jeff's issues (tedious meetings, expensive pool-heater bill) prove negligible and readily solved with wealth. He further realizes how becoming rich provides endless chances for self-indulgent fun. He has zero interest in going back to his previous situation, and the angel is unable to force Arj to go back. Subsequently, additional trouble comes: Because of overstepping his mandate and messing with the order of the world, Gabriel loses his position as an celestial role, and turned into a mortal.
Personally, I remained never persuaded by the actor playing an angel with grand aspirations and an intense wish to make a difference. He turns in a familiar somewhat constipated performance he's consistently offering for no less than the past 3 ten-year periods. Watching him as an celestial being that has just turned mortal for the first time, however, was highly entertaining, for a reason that truly astonished viewers initially: It's an element new for the actor. Or perhaps more accurately, an aspect from the past.
Early during his confusing career as a human, staying with the wealthy character (whom Gabriel exchanged with Arj's precarious existence and underemployed status), Gabriel begins hesitantly trying out human activities such as chewing and consuming food. Then Reeves smiles. Genuinely, hesitantly, joyously beams. (It's a lot much believable than the grin shown in the promotional image, that appears digitally altered.)
It truly surprised me to recognize how unexpected and refreshing the smile felt. When did we last audiences saw the actor smile in a film where he was not showing ill will, irony, or bitterness? The actor likely attempts a smile somewhere in 2020's misbegotten the sequel, but I am not going to returning to the disappointment to confirm. Reeves has remained typecast with serious, murderous, broody, or simply serious characters for such a duration that merely seeing Reeves grin seemed like seeing an entirely new performer.
As the story goes on, the character ends up needing to take a dishwashing position, a role that doesn't pay sufficient for survival, and he begins chain-smoking due to frustration. Simply the image of Reeves in a cheap paper food-service hat, with his late-career trademark locks pulled back in an unglamorous bun, slouching against a building and smoking a smoke, proves worth watching. The kitchen worker attire completely changes his appearance and posture: Unexpectedly, the slim, well-dressed action star of the John Wick movies becomes awkward, unglamorous, and much more human.
The film is not always fun to view, particularly when the director (who additionally authored the script) has to find believable explanations for {Ar
A seasoned financial analyst with over a decade of experience in global markets and trading strategies.
