Good Fortune, written, directed, and starred in by Aziz Ansari, is a seriously funny film. Seriously describes one important feature of the movie because the underlying theme is about the effects of income inequality and entitlement on so many working people today. It is quite poignant at times, but the message is largely kept light by its pervasive, often quirky, humor.
Aziz Anjari portrays a documentary film editor, Arj, who is unemployed and down on his luck. He’s trapped in the gig economy, working many part-time jobs, which leaves him little time to find a real job. He’s sleeping in his car and eating protein bars when one of his gigs provides a very lucky opportunity. He’s been working for a delivery app when a frequent user decides to hire him as an assistant on a trial basis.
Seth Rogan gives a stellar performance as Jeff, a tech bro hedge fund manager, who lives a very extravagant life. Rogan does a great job of showing the casual indifference of the very wealthy and their total disconnect from the average person’s life. For Arj, it seems too good to be true, and it is. One mistake brings out Jeff’s pettiness, and even though Arj tries to correct it, he gets fired. He’s back to square one.
Meanwhile, he’s struck up a friendship with Elena (Keke Palmer), a clerk at Hardware Heaven, where Arj works part-time. She’s an optimist and an activist who’s trying to get her fellow workers to unionize. Arj and she bond over a mutual love of tacos.
Now, meet the supernatural characters in the film. I know you’re waiting to hear about the most hyped character in it. Keanu Reeves plays Gabriel, a fairly inept guardian angel who is bored with his current assignment: protecting people from accidents while texting and driving. He tells his supervisor, Martha (Sandra Oh), that he’s been observing a “lost soul”, Arj, who has fallen into despair and wants to give up on his life. Gabriel wants to help him like some of the higher angels, identified by their very large wings. Gabriel’s are small. Martha assures him that he’s not ready for such a task and to stick to his own assignment. Gabriel, however, disobeys. Things deteriorate from there.
So, can John Wick be funny? Absolutely — I’m sure you remember Bill and Ted, right? Gabriel reveals himself to Arj, a huge no-no for angels, and convinces him that he can show him a better future and that money doesn’t bring happiness (HA!)
Accomplishing such a feat involves a body-swap with Jeff, supposedly for a short while. Arj, of course, wallows in the luxury of Jeff’s life and doesn’t want to go back. Jeff, however, must live as a homeless, unemployed guy – something that horrifies him but also awakens a bit of empathy. Gabriel vows to help through this temporary inconvenience, but that is not to be. A dramatic turn of events delays the reverse body-swap, and Jeff totally loses it.
Meanwhile, Gabriel has been summoned by Martha, who puts him on probation and takes his wings away. He’ll have to live as a human while he tries to fix his enormous mistake. The film’s humor goes into high gear as Gabriel, who has never been human, attempts to learn how to live as one, and Jeff, who was a problem solver in his real life, begins on a ludicrous scheme to remedy the situation.
OK, as much as I’m tempted to tell you the funniest line in the film, I’m not going to. In fact, I’ll leave the completely hilarious resolution for you to enjoy. Good Fortune works largely due to the enormous talent of the 3 lead actors, but also to the excellent supporting cast.
Aziz Anjari has taken on a lot of responsibility with his triple role, and it sometimes shows. Some situations go on too long; we don’t want to be beaten over the head with the more serious themes of the narrative. Although it’s kind of appropriate, the f-word is definitely overused, which can be distracting. That said, Anzari’s sometimes annoying despair, Rogan’s oblivious rich guy, and Reeves’s adorable naiveté deliver a skillful ensemble performance. You don’t want to miss this one! – JoAnne Hyde
