Friendship and perseverance are at the heart of the light hearted and deeply relatable comedy ‘Good Fortune’ written, directed by and starring Aziz Ansari.
‘Good Fortune’ holds a mirror to today’s profit-driven society, perfectly capturing the soul-crushing monotony of the daily grind while exploring the emotional, mental and physical toll of chasing 'the American dream'.
Hollywood heavyweight Keanu Reeves (John Wick) showcases his rarely-seen softer side with a divine (pun intended) performance as the kind-hearted and adorably naïve angel Gabriel. Dissatisfied with his own celestial path, Gabriel dreams of saving a lost soul but his efforts to help down-on-his luck Arj unwittingly set into motion a string of events which plunge Arj, his wealthy employer Jeff, and Gabriel into chaos.
Gabriel’s simplistic, almost childlike view of the world is so innocent and unrealistic that you cannot help but love him, and Reeves – with his soft, deep voice and soulful eyes – is perfectly cast to play this gentle being.
Ansari stars as Arj, a despondent young man juggling multiple dead-end jobs in a desperate attempt to lift himself above the poverty line. As the film progresses the audience can only watch on as this hard-working man’s dreams and kind heart are slowly broken down by circumstances beyond his control, and there are moments when I find myself desperately wishing he would catch a break. Ansari captures the heartbreaking vulnerability and hopelessness of his character’s situation, delivering an evocative performance which will resonate with many.
Seth Rogen stars as Jeff, a wealthy young hedge fund manager with a penchant for opulence and a complete disregard for the value of money. Rogen’s performance captures the complexities of his character and it's a pleasure to watch this out-of-touch millionaire grow and mature as he experiences the 'real world' for the first time. Keke Palmer brings a much-needed dose of fierce positivity to the film as Arj’s co-worker Elena, a young woman driven to change the world for the better; while Sandra Oh stars as Gabriel’s heavenly supervisor Martha.
With its beautifully crafted script, ‘Good Fortune’ expertly infuses deeper themes of finding purpose, financial security and self-fulfilment with a healthy dose of comedy which – when delivered with perfect timing by the talented cast – serves to lessen the intensity of these underlying themes without stripping away their deeper meaning. . . While tender moments between the equally lovable and relatable characters serve to remind audiences that beauty and joy can often be found in the smallest and most mundane of life’s moments.
Entertaining and thought-provoking, ‘Good Fortune’ is a light-hearted exploration of some of humanity’s deepest questions.
