Let Keanu Reeves Smile More: An Exploration at the Actor's Performance in the New Film

Good Fortune, the fantasy comedy by actor Aziz Ansari, has been struggling in theaters. Several reasons could explain the film's performance: Its generic title doesn't convey the movie's distinctive appeal. The script is often moralizing and obvious with the messages. Its performances seem flat and presentational, like the actors are reciting dialogue straight from the page. And, it arrives at a time of economic anxiety and disparity, which may render audiences less open to a story that suggests rich individuals enjoy all the benefits while those in need possess heart.

But, here's what Good Fortune excels: It's original, bold, imaginative, frequently funny, and certainly relevant. Plus, it provides an unexpectedly great the actor hangout movie.

Keanu Reeves in the role of Guardian: His Typical Portrayal

Personally, I've not regarded Reeves to be a strong actor. The actor's flat speaking style and consistent look of mild perturbation have consistently seemed limited, regardless of his broad range of characters he has taken on over the last 40 of his career. Astute filmmakers have often placed him in roles in which that rigidity fits perfectly, from My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to John Wick. Yet nearly all of these roles called for Reeves to appear tough, closed-off, and detached.

In Good Fortune, Reeves portrays an angel, one low-level protecting celestial being assigned with looking after people who use their phones when driving. The character's entire job involves remaining in their vehicles and gently touching the drivers' arms as they're about to have an accident, warning the person in order that the driver brake before impact. However, when standing high above his domain, looking down on the mortal world similar to a interpretation of the angel from the director's renowned movie the angel story, Gabriel gets ambitious. Gabriel desires to become an exceptional guardian and a savior of wayward individuals.

A Unexpected Turn: Keanu as a Mortal

So, he presents his presence to down-and-out handyman a character (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who's living out of a vehicle and resenting his life. Gabriel then swaps the man with the existence of stupidly rich tech mogul Jeff (played by the comedian). This idea of the experiment is that Arj would understand Jeff's life comes with significant drawbacks, and thankfully return to his original circumstances, much like the character in It's a Wonderful Life.

Issue is, the character right away discovers that Jeff's issues (tedious appointments, a pricey heating bill) prove minor and readily solved using wealth. Arj also sees that being affluent provides limitless opportunities for pleasurable enjoyment. The character has no interest in going back to his own situation, and Gabriel is unable to force Arj to return. Subsequently, additional bad news comes: For exceeding his duties and disrupting the balance of the world, Gabriel loses his position as an celestial role, and turned into a mortal.

The Revelation: Keanu Reeves Grins

Personally, I remained never convinced by Reeves playing an celestial being who has big aspirations and an intense desire to make a difference. He turns in the same vaguely stiff acting he's been providing for at least the past 3 ten-year periods. Watching him as an celestial being that has recently turned mortal initially, however, proved to be highly entertaining, due to something which truly surprised me at first: This is an element new for Reeves. Or perhaps more accurately, an aspect old.

Early during the character's baffling experience as a human, staying with Jeff (whom Gabriel exchanged into the handyman's hand-to-mouth existence and underemployed situation), Gabriel starts tentatively trying out everyday experiences such as chewing and consuming food. Then Reeves grins. Genuinely, hesitantly, joyously smiles. (It's a lot much believable than the grin on the promotional image, that appears artificially added.)

Why That Smile Matters

The moment truly took me aback to realize just how unexpected and welcome that smile was. When was the last time audiences saw Keanu Reeves grin in a film where he was not expressing malice, irony, or bitterness? The actor probably attempts a smile somewhere in 2020's ill-conceived Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I'm not revisiting that mess to find out. Reeves has been typecast with serious, violent, introspective, or simply solemn characters for so long that merely watching him grin felt like observing a completely different performer.

While the plot goes on, the character finds himself having to take a kitchen position, a role that doesn't pay sufficient for survival, and Gabriel begins chain-smoking out of disappointment. Simply the image of Reeves in a disposable plastic restaurant cap, his recent trademark locks tied in a plain bun, slouching on a wall and puffing on a smoke, proves worthy of watching. The kitchen worker getup totally changes his appearance and posture: Unexpectedly, the slim, well-dressed physical powerhouse of the John Wick movies becomes awkward, unglamorous, and a lot increasingly human.

The Joy of Viewing Keanu Relax

The film isn't consistently enjoyable to view, particularly when the director (who also authored the screenplay) has to find plausible explanations for {Ar