Let Keanu Reeves Grin More: A Look at His Performance in the New Film

Good Fortune, this whimsical comedy from comedian Aziz Ansari, is struggling in theaters. Many factors may explain the film's performance: Its uninspired title fails to express the movie's distinctive charm. The screenplay can be preachy and obvious regarding its messages. The acting seem flat and staged, as if the actors were reciting dialogue directly from a script. And, the film comes during an era marked by economic uncertainty and inequality, that could make audiences less open to a narrative that suggests wealthy people have all the advantages while those in need possess heart.

But, here's where the movie stands out: The film is unique, bold, imaginative, often funny, and certainly timely. Plus, it provides a great the actor hangout movie.

Reeves as an Guardian: His Typical Performance

I have not considered Reeves to be a good actor. His flat delivery and persistent look of mild concern have always felt one-note, regardless of the wide range of roles he's played over the past four decades years. Astute filmmakers have often placed him in roles in which that rigidity works ideally, from My Own Private Idaho to the sci-fi classic to John Wick. But almost every one of those roles required Reeves to seem tough, closed-off, or detached.

In the film, Reeves plays Gabriel, a low-level guardian celestial being assigned with watching over individuals who use their phones while behind the wheel. His whole duty is sitting in their vehicles and gently making contact with their shoulders when they are about to crash, alerting the person in order that they brake before impact. However, while positioned overlooking the city, gazing upon humanity like a version of a celestial figure from Wim Wenders' classic movie Wings of Desire, Gabriel becomes ambitious. Gabriel desires to become an exceptional guardian and a savior of wayward individuals.

A Unexpected Turn: Keanu as a Mortal

Therefore, he presents his presence to down-and-out odd-jobber Arj (portrayed by the director), who is residing out of a vehicle and resenting his life. Gabriel proceeds to exchanges Arj with the life of stupidly rich tech mogul Jeff (played by Seth Rogen). The point of the exercise is that Arj to realize Jeff's life has major downsides, and gratefully go back to his original life, similar to a character in It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem is, the character right away realizes that the mogul's issues (boring meetings, expensive heating bill) prove negligible and easily solved with wealth. Arj also sees that being rich provides endless chances for pleasurable fun. He has zero desire in going back to his previous life, and Gabriel is unable to compel Arj to return. Subsequently, additional trouble arrives: For exceeding his duties and messing with the balance of existence, Gabriel is fired as an angel role, and transformed into a human being.

A Revelation: The Actor Grins

Personally, I remained not convinced by the actor as an celestial being who has grand dreams and a burning desire to make a difference. Reeves delivers the same vaguely stiff performance he has consistently providing for at least the past 3 ten-year periods. Watching him in the role of celestial being that has recently become mortal for the first time, however, proved to be highly entertaining, for a reason which really astonished me at first: It's something new for the actor. Or perhaps more accurately, something from the past.

Early into his baffling experience as a human, staying with Jeff (whom Gabriel exchanged into the handyman's hand-to-mouth existence and underemployed status), Gabriel starts tentatively experimenting with human experiences like eating and swallowing meals. And Reeves smiles. Genuinely, hesitantly, joyously smiles. (This is far more believable than the grin shown in the promotional image, which looks artificially added.)

Why This Grin Matters

The moment really took me aback to realize how unexpected and welcome the expression was. When did we last we saw Keanu Reeves grin in a film in which he was not showing malice, sarcasm, or resentment? He likely attempts a smile at some point in the recent misbegotten the sequel, however I'm not going to returning to that disappointment to find out. Reeves has been stuck with grim, murderous, broody, or simply serious roles for so long that just watching him smile felt like seeing an entirely different performer.

While the story progresses, Gabriel finds himself having to take a dishwashing job, a role that fails to provide enough for survival, and he starts smoking heavily out of disappointment. Simply the image of the actor in a disposable paper food-service hat, his recent trademark locks pulled back in an unglamorous ponytail, slouching on a building and puffing on a cigarette, is worth watching. His kitchen worker getup completely changes his face and body: Unexpectedly, the lean, well-dressed physical powerhouse of his famous films becomes gawky, unglamorous, and much increasingly relatable.

A Pleasure of Viewing Keanu Relax

Good Fortune isn't always fun to watch, particularly when Ansari (that additionally wrote the screenplay) must find plausible reasons for {Ar