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

Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, the whimsical film by comedian the director, is facing challenges at the box office. Many factors may explain the film's performance: The generic title doesn't express the film's distinctive charm. Its screenplay is often preachy and obvious regarding its messages. The performances are flat and staged, like the actors were reciting lines straight from the page. Moreover, the film comes during an era of economic anxiety and inequality, which could render audiences not very open to a story that suggests rich people have every benefits while those in need have spirit.

But, here's where the movie stands out: It's unique, bold, imaginative, frequently funny, and certainly timely. And, it provides a enjoyable Keanu Reeves character-driven experience.

Reeves as an Guardian: His Typical Performance

Personally, I've never considered Reeves a strong performer. The actor's monotonal delivery and consistent look of slight perturbation has consistently felt limited, despite his broad variety of characters he's played during the past 40 years. Astute directors have cast him in parts where that stoic nature fits perfectly, from his early work to the sci-fi classic to the action series. But almost every one of those roles called for him to seem tough, distant, or removed.

Throughout Good Fortune, Reeves portrays an angel, a low-level guardian celestial being tasked with looking after individuals that text while behind the wheel. His whole job is remaining in his vehicles and lightly touching their arms as they're close to have an accident, warning them so they stop in time. However, while standing high above the city, looking down upon humanity like a interpretation of a celestial figure in the director's classic film the angel story, the character gets ambitious. Gabriel desires to become an exceptional guardian and rescuer of lost souls.

A Surprising Shift: Reeves as a Human

So, Gabriel reveals his presence to struggling handyman Arj (played by Aziz Ansari), who's living out of a vehicle and cursing his situation. The angel proceeds to swaps the man into the existence of stupidly rich tech mogul a character (acted by the comedian). This idea behind the exercise is that the character to understand Jeff's life has significant drawbacks, and gratefully return to his own circumstances, similar to the character from It's a Wonderful Life.

Issue was, Arj immediately discovers how Jeff's issues (tedious meetings, expensive heating bill) prove minor and easily resolved using wealth. He also sees how becoming rich provides limitless opportunities for self-indulgent fun. He shows zero desire in going back to his own life, and Gabriel is unable to force Arj to return. Subsequently, additional bad news comes: Because of overstepping his duties and disrupting the balance of existence, the character loses his position as an celestial role, and transformed into a mortal.

The Discovery: Keanu Reeves Smiles

I was not persuaded by Reeves as an celestial being who has big aspirations and a burning desire to effect change. He turns in a familiar somewhat constipated performance he has been providing for no less than the last 3 ten-year periods. Watching him as an celestial being who's recently become human initially, however, proved to be highly entertaining, due to something that really astonished viewers initially: It's an element different for Reeves. Or perhaps more accurately, something from the past.

Early into the character's baffling experience being a mortal, clinging to the wealthy character (who the angel had swapped into the handyman's hand-to-mouth life and jobless status), Gabriel starts tentatively experimenting with everyday activities like eating and consuming meals. And the actor smiles. Authentically, hesitantly, happily beams. (This is a lot more convincing than the grin on the promotional image, which looks digitally altered.)

Why This Grin Matters

It really took me aback to recognize how unexpected and refreshing the smile was. At what point did we last audiences saw the actor smile in a film in which he was not showing ill will, sarcasm, or resentment? He probably tries it at some point in 2020's misbegotten the sequel, however I'm not going to revisiting the mess to find out. Reeves has been stuck with serious, violent, introspective, or just serious characters for so long that merely watching him smile felt like observing an entirely new actor.

As the story goes on, Gabriel ends up needing to take a kitchen job, a role that doesn't pay enough for survival, and Gabriel begins smoking heavily due to disappointment. Simply the sight of the actor in a disposable paper restaurant cap, with his recent trademark long hair pulled back in an unglamorous bun, slouching on a building and smoking a cigarette, is worthy of the price of admission. His dishwasher attire completely alters his face and posture: Suddenly, the lean, suited action star of his famous movies is gawky, ordinary, and a lot increasingly relatable.

A Pleasure of Watching Keanu Relax

Good Fortune is not always fun to view, especially when the director (who additionally authored the screenplay) has to create believable reasons for {Ar