PLOT: A struggling gig economic system employee (Aziz Ansari) dropping hope finds his actuality switched with that of a tech bro (Seth Rogen) by a misguided angel (Keanu Reeves), who thinks he’ll miss his previous life—when that seems to be the furthest factor from the reality.
REVIEW: Mainstream studio comedies are an more and more uncommon proposition, so it’s all the time a deal with when one comes alongside. This fall, Lionsgate is taking a swing at returning the style to multiplexes, and certain sufficient, Good Fortune, which premiered at TIFF, has the makings of a crowd-pleaser. It’s the characteristic directorial debut of Aziz Ansari, who additionally stars as Arj, a gig economic system employee who winds up working for a soulless tech bro, performed by Seth Rogen, who appears fully oblivious to the state of the world exterior his palatial manor. In basic comedy vogue, they change locations as Arj will get to stay life as a wealthy particular person, whereas Rogen’s Jeff has to attempt to make ends meet regardless of having no marketable expertise.
Whereas Ansari and Rogen alone would make this a comedy price seeing, the film’s secret weapon is the third lead, the angel Gabriel, performed by none apart from Keanu Reeves. Completely solid, Reeves is hysterical because the spacey, none-too-bright angel whose obligations are restricted to conserving individuals from stepping into accidents whereas texting and driving. When he messes up, he finds himself demoted to being human, and quite a lot of the film’s humour revolves round him adjusting to life as a mere mortal.
The truth is, Reeves simply walks away with the film, with Ansari and Rogen, whereas humorous, taking part in maybe a bit too near kind—particularly the latter. We’ve seen Rogen play roles like this earlier than, notably in Dumb Cash, though the movie has enjoyable demoting him to being a working stiff. Likewise, Ansari, when Arj will get wealthy, goes into Tom Haverford mode. Of everybody, Reeves is the one one delivering a efficiency that feels completely recent and new.
Even when a few of it feels acquainted, Good Fortune remains to be enjoyable, with Ansari, who additionally wrote the movie, choosing an optimistic, upbeat tone, even when the story takes just a few too many handy twists in direction of the top. There are some nice stomach laughs, largely revolving round Reeves, who has the requisite innocence to play the kindly Gabriel, who doesn’t fairly have the aptitude for the job a few of his angel colleagues do, like his boss Martha, performed by Sandra Oh.
Ansari additionally writes a pleasant function for Keke Palmer, as a colleague of Arj’s at an enormous field retailer who works onerous at making the world round her a greater place. She’s charming within the function, and actually the one compelling purpose Arj would possibly need to return to his earlier life.
Ultimately, Good Fortune’s greatest laughs primarily land due to the very good casting of Reeves, though Ansari and Rogen are rather less profitable of their roles resulting from feeling too acquainted. But, the film is so big-hearted that it’s onerous to carry an excessive amount of towards it. Whereas I’ve seen higher comedies this yr (The Bare Gun is one), I nonetheless had just a few good chuckles whereas watching this and walked out with a smile on my face. It’s not one of many really memorable movies I’ve seen at TIFF this yr, however it’s nice sufficient.
