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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this whimsical film from actor the director, is struggling at the box office. Several factors may account for the film's performance: Its generic name fails to express the film's unique appeal. The screenplay is often preachy and heavy-handed with its messages. Its performances are flat and staged, as if the actors were reading lines straight from the page. Moreover, the film comes during an era marked by financial anxiety and disparity, that could render audiences less open to a narrative which suggests wealthy individuals have every benefits while those in need possess heart.

However, here's where the movie stands out: The film is unique, bold, imaginative, often humorous, and certainly relevant. And, it provides an unexpectedly enjoyable the actor hangout experience.

Reeves in the role of Guardian: A Familiar Portrayal

Personally, I've not considered Reeves a strong performer. His monotonal speaking style and persistent look of slight concern has always felt one-note, regardless of the wide range of roles he's taken on during the last 40 years. Astute filmmakers have often placed Reeves in roles in which that rigidity fits ideally, including My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to the action series. Yet almost all of those characters called for Reeves to appear hardened, distant, or detached.

In the film, the actor portrays an angel, one minor guardian angel assigned with looking after individuals who text while behind the wheel. The character's entire job involves remaining in his cars and lightly making contact with the drivers' shoulders as they are about to have an accident, warning the person so they brake in time. But, while standing overlooking the city, gazing upon humanity like a interpretation of a celestial figure from the director's classic film the angel story, Gabriel becomes aspirational. Gabriel desires to become a great guardian and a savior of lost souls.

The Unexpected Turn: Keanu as a Human

So, Gabriel presents himself to struggling odd-jobber a character (portrayed by the director), who is living out of a vehicle and cursing his life. Gabriel proceeds to exchanges Arj with the life of stupidly rich tech mogul Jeff (played by Seth Rogen). The point of the experiment was for Arj to understand the wealthy man's existence comes with significant downsides, and thankfully go back to his own life, similar to a figure in It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem was, the character immediately realizes how the mogul's issues (boring meetings, expensive heating bill) prove minor and easily solved with wealth. Arj also realizes that being rich provides limitless opportunities for self-indulgent fun. He shows zero desire in returning to his own situation, and Gabriel is unable to compel him to return. Subsequently, more bad news comes: For overstepping his mandate and messing with the order of the world, Gabriel is fired as an celestial role, and turned to a human being.

A Discovery: The Actor Smiles

Personally, I remained not convinced by Reeves playing an celestial being who has grand dreams and a burning desire to effect change. He delivers the same vaguely stiff acting he has been offering for at least the last 3 decades. Viewing him as an celestial being that has recently become human for the first time, however, proved to be a blast, for a reason which truly astonished viewers at first: It's something different for Reeves. Or perhaps more accurately, something from the past.

Soon into his confusing career as a mortal, staying with Jeff (whom Gabriel had swapped with the handyman's precarious life and underemployed situation), Gabriel begins tentatively experimenting with everyday experiences like chewing and swallowing meals. Then the actor grins. Genuinely, cautiously, happily beams. (This is a lot much convincing than his smile on the poster, that appears digitally altered.)

The Reason That Smile Matters

The moment really surprised me to realize how surprising and refreshing the expression felt. When was the last time we observed the actor grin in a film where he was not showing malice, sarcasm, or bitterness? The actor probably attempts a smile somewhere in the recent misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, but I am not going to revisiting the mess to find out. The actor has remained typecast with grim, violent, broody, or just serious roles for so long that merely seeing him grin felt like observing a completely different performer.

While the story goes on, the character ends up needing to take a kitchen position, a role that doesn't pay enough for survival, and Gabriel starts chain-smoking out of frustration. Simply the image of Reeves in a cheap plastic food-service hat, his recent signature long hair tied in a plain bun, leaning against a building and smoking a smoke, is worth watching. His dishwasher getup totally alters his face and body: Unexpectedly, the lean, well-dressed action star of the John Wick movies is awkward, unglamorous, and a lot increasingly human.

A Joy of Watching Keanu Loosen Up

Good Fortune is not always enjoyable to view, especially when Ansari (that also authored the screenplay) has to create believable explanations for {Ar