Allow the actor Smile More: An Exploration at His Role in Good Fortune

Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this whimsical film by actor the director, is facing challenges in theaters. Several reasons could explain the film's reception: The generic title fails to convey the movie's unique appeal. The screenplay can be moralizing and heavy-handed with the messages. Its acting seem uninspired and staged, like the cast are reciting lines directly from a script. And, the film comes during an era marked by economic anxiety and inequality, which could render viewers less open to a story that suggests rich people enjoy all the benefits while those in need have heart.

But, here's what the movie excels: It's unique, bold, imaginative, often humorous, and certainly relevant. Plus, it offers an unexpectedly great Keanu Reeves character-driven experience.

Keanu Reeves in the role of Angel: A Familiar Portrayal

I have never considered Reeves to be a strong actor. His flat delivery and persistent expression of slight concern have consistently seemed one-note, regardless of the broad range of characters he has taken on over the last four decades of his career. Astute filmmakers have often cast Reeves in parts in which that rigidity works ideally, from My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to the action series. Yet nearly all of those characters required Reeves to seem tough, distant, and removed.

In Good Fortune, Reeves plays Gabriel, one minor protecting angel tasked with watching over individuals that text when behind the wheel. The character's whole duty is sitting in their cars and lightly making contact with their arms when they are about to crash, alerting the person in order that they stop before impact. However, while positioned overlooking the city, gazing on the mortal world similar to a version of a celestial figure in the director's renowned film Wings of Desire, Gabriel gets ambitious. He wants to become an exceptional guardian and rescuer of lost souls.

A Unexpected Turn: Reeves Playing a Mortal

Therefore, Gabriel reveals his presence to struggling odd-jobber Arj (played by the director), who's residing out of a vehicle and resenting his life. Gabriel proceeds to exchanges the man with the life of extremely wealthy tech mogul a character (acted by Seth Rogen). This point behind the experiment was for the character would understand the wealthy man's life comes with significant downsides, and thankfully return to his original circumstances, much like a character from the classic film.

Issue was, the character right away discovers that Jeff's issues (boring appointments, expensive pool-heater bill) prove negligible and readily resolved using wealth. Arj further realizes that becoming rich provides limitless opportunities for self-indulgent enjoyment. He shows no desire in returning to his own situation, and Gabriel can't force Arj to go back. Subsequently, more trouble comes: Because of overstepping his duties and messing with the balance of existence, the character loses his position from his angel role, and transformed to a mortal.

The Revelation: Keanu Reeves Smiles

Personally, I remained not convinced by the actor playing an celestial being with big aspirations and a burning wish to make a difference. He turns in the same vaguely constipated performance he has consistently offering for at least the last 3 decades. Watching Reeves in the role of celestial being who's recently become mortal initially, however, was a blast, due to something which really astonished me initially: It's something new for the actor. Or more accurately, an aspect old.

Early during the character's confusing career being a human, clinging to Jeff (who the angel exchanged into the handyman's hand-to-mouth life and jobless status), the character starts tentatively trying out human activities like eating and consuming meals. Then Reeves smiles. Genuinely, cautiously, joyously beams. (This is a lot much believable than the smile on the promotional image, that appears artificially added.)

Why That Smile Matters

The moment really surprised me to recognize just how unexpected and welcome the smile felt. When was the last time we saw Keanu Reeves smile in a film where he wasn't expressing ill will, sarcasm, or resentment? He probably tries a smile at some point in 2020's misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I'm not going to returning to that disappointment to find out. The actor has remained stuck with serious, violent, broody, or just serious roles for such a duration that merely watching him grin felt like seeing an entirely new actor.

As the story progresses, the character finds himself having to get a dishwashing job, a role that fails to provide sufficient to live on, and Gabriel starts smoking heavily due to disappointment. Just the image of Reeves in a cheap paper restaurant cap, with his recent trademark locks tied in an unglamorous bun, slouching on a wall and smoking a smoke, is worth the price of admission. The dishwasher attire totally alters his face and posture: Unexpectedly, the slim, suited action star of his famous movies is gawky, ordinary, and much increasingly relatable.

A Joy of Watching Keanu Relax

The film isn't always enjoyable to watch, especially when the director (that additionally authored the script) must find plausible explanations for {Ar