Name: good fortune
Director: Aziz Ansari
Author: Aziz Ansari
Mould: Keanu Reeves, Aziz Ansari, Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer, Sandra Oh
Rating: 2/5
Good Fortune Plot
The film is based on the life of a man named Arj who secretly does odd jobs to stay away from the prying questions of his big-dreaming father. Bad luck follows him, like a ‘budget guardian angel’ named Gabriel, who one day, notices this hard-working fellow with a mediocre future ahead of him. After experiencing the lavish lifestyle of Jeff, a rich ‘tech bro’ who hires her as a weekly assistant and then fires her because of his stupid mistake, Arj wants to live his own life.
Losing his car – which used to be his home for a while, and all his money, as well as the chance to impress the sentimental girl he met at work, Arz trades his life with Gabriel for a week of Jeff’s life in exchange for his life. His experience is almost flawless and he never wants to leave, leaving Jeff stuck in his poor life with the now-demoted angel Gabriel.
what works for good luck
The film has been shot very well. Although improvements to the lighting would have been nice, Good Fortune looks promising in the first half. It offers some good jokes and satire on the current situation of immigrants in the country.
What doesn’t work for good luck
It’s too long. Only 97 minutes, but at the end of it, you just want to turn off the repetitive events in the film, which are nowhere near as enjoyable as one might expect. A lot rests on the shoulders of Keanu Reeves, who delivers at the right moments, but there’s only so much that can be done about the rapidly dwindling story. Honestly, the comedy is so rare and the supernatural element of the film is so rare that its genre classification seems like a joke in itself.
acting performance in good fortune
Sandra Oh is so underutilized, it’s a shame. Whenever she comes on screen and with the issue she dominates. Keke Palmer is an absolute champ with her perfect presence, and commands the dialogue with every word that comes out of her lips. Keanu Reeves is honestly the best part of the movie, and his years of dedication to his craft are clearly visible. The same can’t be said for Seth Rogen and Aziz Ansari, who try to be memorable but fail.
final judgment of good fortune
If I were to describe the entire experience of watching Good Fortune on screen, it would be a ‘meh’ one. It presents itself as this old television that everyone had in the back of their attic, which they once admired for showing colorized versions of their favorite TV shows, but which is now relegated to just another invention far lagging behind its counterparts.
Only a few chuckles escaped my lips throughout the film’s 97-minute running time, and that’s honestly saying a lot, seeing as how this project leans on its wiring from an industry favorite. The plot is quite predictable and gives you the comfort of watching a series that you have been familiar with for years, and it can be played in the back of your mind during a cooking session.
Good luck has its moments, but these instances are so fleeting that you’ll be left wondering if you should have even laughed at them. The film, starring Aziz Ansari and Keanu Reeves, is the passion project of someone who has wowed American crowds and even the South Asian American public with his wit, and a school assignment that turned into something very ambitious overnight.
After all, it has a lot of heart to it, the struggling journey of a predictable Indian boy in America may be a matter of concern for many people at this time. However, potential is lost among money-worthy artists who spend too much effort on the wrong project. Aziz Ansari may have impressed audiences with his past works, but this remains as a troubling thought as a page from his glossy book.
Also read: Back to Back Fight Review: Leonardo DiCaprio delivers entertainment value by stirring emotions and delivering value for money
