Let Keanu Reeves Smile More: An Exploration at His Performance in the New Film

Good Fortune, the fantasy film by actor the director, has been struggling at the box office. Many factors could account for the film's reception: Its generic title fails to convey its film's distinctive appeal. The screenplay can be moralizing and obvious regarding the messages. Its performances are uninspired and presentational, like the cast are reciting dialogue directly from a script. And, the film comes at a time marked by economic anxiety and inequality, which could make viewers not very open to a story which implies rich people enjoy all the advantages while those in need have heart.

But, this is what Good Fortune excels: It's unique, daring, creative, often humorous, and undoubtedly relevant. Plus, it provides an unexpectedly enjoyable Keanu Reeves hangout movie.

Reeves as an Guardian: His Typical Portrayal

Personally, I've not considered Keanu Reeves a good actor. His flat delivery and consistent expression of slight concern have consistently seemed limited, regardless of the wide range of characters he has taken on over the past 40 years. Smart filmmakers have placed Reeves in parts where that stoic nature fits ideally, from My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to the action series. But nearly all of these roles required Reeves to appear tough, distant, and detached.

In the film, Reeves plays an angel, one low-level guardian angel assigned with looking after people who text while driving. The character's entire job involves sitting in his cars and lightly making contact with their shoulders when they're close to crash, warning them so they brake in time. However, while standing overlooking the city, gazing on humanity like an alternative version of a celestial figure from the director's classic movie Wings of Desire, the character becomes aspirational. Gabriel desires to be a great guardian and rescuer of lost souls.

The Unexpected Turn: Keanu as a Mortal

Therefore, Gabriel presents himself to down-and-out odd-jobber Arj (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who is residing in his car and resenting his situation. Gabriel then swaps Arj into the life of stupidly rich tech mogul Jeff (played by Seth Rogen). The idea behind the experiment is that Arj to understand the wealthy man's existence comes with significant downsides, and gratefully go back to his own life, much like a figure from the classic film.

Issue is, Arj right away realizes that Jeff's problems (tedious appointments, expensive pool-heater bill) prove minor and easily resolved using money. Arj further sees how becoming affluent opens up limitless chances for pleasurable fun. He has zero interest in returning to his previous life, and the angel is unable to force Arj to return. Then, more trouble arrives: For exceeding his mandate and messing with the order of existence, the character loses his position from his celestial job, and transformed into a mortal.

A Revelation: The Actor Grins

Personally, I remained never convinced by the actor playing an angel with big aspirations and an intense desire to effect change. He delivers a familiar somewhat stiff acting he has consistently providing for at least the last three decades. Viewing him in the role of celestial being that has recently become mortal initially, however, proved to be highly entertaining, due to something that truly surprised viewers initially: This is something different for the actor. Or perhaps more accurately, something from the past.

Early into his confusing career as a mortal, clinging to the wealthy character (who the angel exchanged with Arj's precarious existence and jobless status), Gabriel begins hesitantly trying out everyday experiences such as eating and swallowing meals. And the actor smiles. Genuinely, hesitantly, joyously smiles. (This is a lot more believable than his smile on the promotional image, which looks artificially added.)

Why This Smile Matters

The moment truly took me aback to realize just how unexpected and welcome that smile felt. At what point was the last time we saw Keanu Reeves smile in a film where he was not expressing malice, irony, or resentment? He likely attempts it somewhere in 2020's ill-conceived the sequel, however I am not revisiting the mess to confirm. Reeves has remained stuck with serious, violent, broody, or just serious characters for so long that merely watching Reeves smile seemed like seeing an entirely new performer.

While the plot progresses, the character finds himself having to take a kitchen position, which fails to provide enough to live on, and Gabriel begins smoking heavily out of frustration. Just the image of the actor in a disposable plastic food-service cap, with his late-career signature locks pulled back in an unglamorous ponytail, slouching on a building and smoking a smoke, is worthy of the price of admission. His kitchen worker attire totally changes his appearance and posture: Suddenly, the lean, well-dressed physical powerhouse of the John Wick films is gawky, ordinary, and a lot increasingly human.

The Pleasure of Watching Reeves Loosen Up

The film is not always enjoyable to view, especially when Ansari (that also wrote the screenplay) has to create plausible explanations for {Ar