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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this fantasy comedy from actor Aziz Ansari, is facing challenges in theaters. Several factors may explain its performance: Its generic name doesn't express the movie's distinctive appeal. Its script is often preachy and obvious with the messages. Its acting seem flat and presentational, as if the actors were reciting lines directly from the page. Moreover, it arrives at a time marked by economic uncertainty and disparity, which may render audiences not very receptive to a narrative which implies wealthy people enjoy all the advantages while those in need possess spirit.

However, this is what the movie excels: It's unique, daring, imaginative, frequently funny, and certainly timely. Plus, it provides a great the actor hangout movie.

Keanu Reeves as an Angel: His Typical Portrayal

I have never regarded Keanu Reeves to be a good actor. His monotonal speaking style and persistent expression of slight concern has consistently felt one-note, despite the broad variety of characters he's played during the past four decades of his career. Astute filmmakers have often placed Reeves in roles where his rigidity works perfectly, from My Own Private Idaho to The Matrix to the action series. Yet nearly every one of these characters required Reeves to seem hardened, distant, or removed.

Throughout the film, Reeves plays Gabriel, a minor protecting celestial being assigned with looking after people that use their phones when driving. His whole job is remaining in his cars and gently making contact with their shoulders as they're about to crash, warning them in order that the driver brake in time. However, while positioned overlooking his domain, gazing on the mortal world like an alternative version of the angel in the director's classic movie Wings of Desire, Gabriel becomes ambitious. He desires to be an exceptional protector and rescuer of lost individuals.

The Unexpected Turn: Reeves Playing a Mortal

So, he presents himself to struggling odd-jobber Arj (portrayed by the director), who's residing out of his car and resenting his situation. The angel then exchanges Arj with the life of extremely rich tech mogul a character (acted by the comedian). The idea of the experiment was that Arj would realize the wealthy man's existence has major downsides, and gratefully go back to his own circumstances, similar to the figure in the classic film.

Issue was, Arj immediately realizes how the mogul's problems (boring meetings, a pricey heating bill) prove minor and readily resolved with money. He also realizes that being rich provides endless opportunities for self-indulgent fun. The character shows no desire in returning to his own situation, and the angel is unable to force Arj to go back. Subsequently, more trouble comes: For exceeding his duties and messing with the order of the world, Gabriel is fired from his celestial job, and transformed to a human being.

The Discovery: Keanu Reeves Grins

I was not persuaded by the actor playing an celestial being with big dreams and a burning desire to make a difference. Reeves delivers a familiar vaguely constipated performance he has been offering for no less than the past 3 decades. Watching Reeves in the role of angel who's just turned mortal for the first time, on the other hand, proved to be highly entertaining, due to something that truly astonished me at first: This is something different for Reeves. Or perhaps more accurately, an aspect old.

Early into his baffling experience being a mortal, staying with Jeff (whom the angel exchanged into Arj's hand-to-mouth life and underemployed situation), the character begins tentatively experimenting with human experiences like chewing and consuming meals. Then the actor smiles. Authentically, cautiously, joyously beams. (This is a lot much believable than the smile shown in the promotional image, which looks digitally altered.)

The Reason That Smile Is Significant

The moment truly took me aback to recognize how surprising and refreshing that smile felt. When was the last time we observed the actor smile in a film where he wasn't expressing malice, irony, or bitterness? He likely attempts it at some point in the recent misbegotten Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I am not revisiting that mess to find out. The actor has remained typecast with grim, violent, introspective, or just solemn roles for such a duration that just watching Reeves grin seemed like observing a completely new performer.

As the story goes on, Gabriel ends up having to take a kitchen position, which doesn't pay enough to live on, and he starts chain-smoking out of disappointment. Just the sight of the actor in a cheap paper food-service cap, with his recent trademark locks pulled back in an unglamorous bun, slouching on a building and smoking a smoke, is worthy of watching. His kitchen worker attire completely alters his appearance and body: Suddenly, the lean, suited physical powerhouse of the John Wick movies becomes gawky, ordinary, and a lot more human.

The Joy of Viewing Keanu Relax

The film isn't always enjoyable to watch, especially when Ansari (that additionally authored the screenplay) has to find believable explanations for {Ar