Good Fortune: A Witty Comedy with a Standout Performance
Good Fortune is a prince-and-the-pauper-style fable that features a terrific performance by Keanu Reeves, lifting Aziz Ansari's gentle comedy to new heights.
Ansari plays Arj, a character who finds himself living out of his car, which creates an immediate dissonance due to the actor's well-known wealthy background and light presence on screen.
As Arj navigates hardships, including odd jobs, food delivery, and part-time shifts, he seems more irritably inconvenienced than deeply weary, which is at odds with the typical portrayal of characters in serious social dramas.
Ansari, a stand-up comedian turned multihyphenate, has a light presence, right down to the pitch of his voice; he’s gladhanding his way through his acting gigs.
Despite this, the film remains more witty than laugh-out-loud funny, with Reeves' performance being a notable highlight.
Author's summary: Keanu Reeves shines in Good Fortune, a witty comedy with a unique take on economic distress.