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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, the fantasy film by comedian the director, is facing challenges at the box office. Several factors may account for its reception: The generic name doesn't convey the movie's distinctive appeal. The screenplay is often preachy and obvious regarding the themes. Its performances seem flat and staged, as if the actors were reading dialogue straight from the page. Moreover, it arrives at a time of financial anxiety and inequality, that could make audiences less open to a narrative that implies wealthy individuals enjoy all the advantages while those in need have spirit.

However, this is where the movie excels: The film is unique, bold, creative, often funny, and certainly relevant. Plus, it offers a great Keanu Reeves hangout movie.

Reeves as an Guardian: A Familiar Portrayal

I have not regarded Keanu Reeves a strong actor. His flat speaking style and persistent look of slight concern have consistently felt limited, despite his wide range of roles he's taken on over the past four decades of his career. Smart directors have placed Reeves in roles in which that stoic nature works ideally, from his early work to the sci-fi classic to the action series. But nearly all of those characters called for him to appear tough, distant, or detached.

In the film, Reeves portrays an angel, one minor protecting angel assigned with looking after people who use their phones when driving. His entire duty is sitting in his vehicles and gently making contact with the drivers' arms when they're close to have an accident, alerting them so they stop before impact. However, when standing high above his domain, gazing upon the mortal world similar to a version of the angel from Wim Wenders' renowned movie the angel story, the character becomes aspirational. He desires to become a great protector and a savior of lost souls.

The Surprising Turn: Reeves as a Human

Therefore, Gabriel presents himself to struggling handyman a character (played by the director), who's living in his car and cursing his situation. The angel then exchanges the man with the life of stupidly rich tech mogul Jeff (played by Seth Rogen). This point of the experiment is that Arj would realize Jeff's existence has major drawbacks, and thankfully return to his original circumstances, similar to the figure from It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem was, the character right away discovers how the mogul's issues (tedious appointments, expensive pool-heater invoice) prove negligible and easily resolved with money. Arj further realizes how being rich opens up endless opportunities for pleasurable enjoyment. He shows zero interest in going back to his previous situation, and the angel can't force Arj to go back. Subsequently, additional bad news arrives: Because of overstepping his mandate and messing with the order of the world, the character loses his position as an celestial role, and turned to a human being.

A Revelation: Keanu Reeves Grins

I was not convinced by Reeves as an celestial being with big aspirations and a burning desire to effect change. He delivers a familiar somewhat constipated acting he has consistently offering for at least the last three ten-year periods. Viewing Reeves in the role of angel who's just turned mortal for the first time, on the other hand, was highly entertaining, due to something which really surprised me at first: It's an element new for the actor. Or to be precise, an aspect from the past.

Early into the character's baffling career as a human, clinging to Jeff (who the angel had swapped with Arj's precarious existence and underemployed situation), Gabriel begins tentatively trying out everyday activities like eating and swallowing meals. Then the actor grins. Genuinely, hesitantly, joyously beams. (It's a lot much convincing than his grin shown in the poster, which appears digitally altered.)

The Reason That Smile Is Significant

The moment truly surprised me to recognize how unexpected and refreshing that smile felt. When was the last time we observed the actor smile in a film where he wasn't showing ill will, irony, or resentment? The actor likely attempts a smile at some point in the recent ill-conceived the sequel, but I am not going to returning to the disappointment to find out. The actor has remained typecast with serious, murderous, broody, or simply serious roles for so long that just seeing Reeves smile felt like seeing a completely different performer.

While the plot progresses, the character finds himself having to get a dishwashing job, which fails to provide sufficient for survival, and he starts chain-smoking out of disappointment. Just the image of Reeves in a disposable plastic restaurant hat, with his recent trademark locks pulled back in a plain bun, slouching against a wall and smoking a cigarette, is worth watching. His kitchen worker getup totally alters his face and body: Suddenly, the slim, well-dressed physical powerhouse of his famous movies becomes awkward, unglamorous, and much more human.

The Pleasure of Watching Keanu Loosen Up

The film isn't always enjoyable to watch, particularly when Ansari (that also wrote the screenplay) has to create believable explanations for {Ar