Good Fortune
Good Fortune
Starring Seth Rogen, Aziz Ansari, Keke Palmer, Keanu Reeves
Directed by Aziz Ansari
Arj (Aziz Ansari) is a down on his luck man, working various jobs for a Doordash-style company founded by Jeff (Seth Rogen) as well as working at a hardware store where he meets and crushes on Elena (Keke Palmer), a young visionary who wishes to unionize the company for better benefits. One of Arj's tasks is cleaning Jeff's garage, and he's so impressed he brings Arj on as his full-time assistant. Things are looking up until Arj makes a major mistake and is fired, reduced to living in his car.
All the while the angel Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) has kept close tabs on Arj since he saved him from getting into a wreck due to texting and driving - because that's the type of angel he is, the one who keeps people from getting into texting and driving wrecks. Wanting to elevate his own position, and help Arj in the process, he reveals himself to Arj and shows him his future - which isn't that great. Then he switches Arj and Jeff, thinking Arj will realize his life is great and Jeff's isn't, but the opposite happens. Arj doesn't want his old life back, and Jeff does, and in the process Gabriel loses his angel status and has to live as a human, where he learns the joys - and hardships - humanity has to offer.
The traction you have with "Good Fortune" depends on your traction with Aziz Ansari, who not just stars in the movie but wrote and directed it as well. Known for his roles in "Parks and Recreation" and "Master of None," his humor style isn't for everyone - and personally he's not one of my favorites. He has this high shrill voice that irritates me, but I was able to bypass that and actually enjoy myself in this comedy that's more social commentary than humor, but still hilariously funny thanks to Keanu Reeves, who owns the movie.
Anyone who's living the 99% knows the kind of life Arj has - living paycheck to paycheck, knowing that at any moment the tower of cards can come tumbling down and leave you destitute. We go to movies to escape our current conditions, and this one hits a bit too close to home. Thankfully, the comedy is there to make you enjoy it, but the subject matter is surprisingly heavy for a comedy like this. Tonally, this works because the humor and story go hand in hand, so kudos for Ansari for blending them together perfectly, even if the ending is extremely rushed and unearned.
We've all wondered what it would be like to live in someone else's shoes, and "Good Fortune" attempts to answer that in a way that seems unconventional. We've been told the grass isn't always greener, but for Arj, the opposite is true. When he experiences Jeff's life - the wealth, the mansion, the carefree lifestyle - he realizes that being rich actually is all it's cracked up to be, and Gabriel can't convince him to switch back. Conversely, Jeff realizes what the poor really go through, as he experiences all the hardships people living down below endure. It's fascinating to see their worlds intertwining and changing, and we can easily picture ourselves in that situation. Seth Rogen excels in his role as well, as he relishes roles that puts him at odds with everyone else. We see him struggle but also laugh along with him.
Yet, again, the star of the show is Keanu Reeves, who's notorious for being the nicest guy in Hollywood. He plays Gabriel straight, enjoying every moment while also wishing for better, as he thinks switching Arj and Jeff's lives would make Arj appreciate what he has. He's hilariously naive, which causes him to become human and experience the hardships himself - but even then, there's still a glint of happiness in him (such as experiencing a burger and milkshake for the first time, and especially "chicky nuggies"). Yet not even Gabriel is immune to sadness, as he experiences what it means to be broke and not having the money to sustain even an ordinary life, leaving you feeling empathy for all three men - well, except Arj, who becomes a total jerk when he lives the high life.
Comedy is a genre that's not my favorite, because I find it takes a lot to make me laugh - but fortune shone on "Good Fortune," as I found myself laughing out loud numerous times as well as being moved by the story and putting myself in their situation, showing me and the viewers what we really have in life and how to appreciate it.
The Score: B+
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