Aziz Ansari’s Good Fortune leans heavily on hope in a time when humanity is lacking
Aziz Ansari as Arj and Keanu Reeves as Gabriel in Good Fortune. Photo by Eddy Chen/Lionsgate
Good fortune is what most people want—to find a $20 bill on the sidewalk, earn the job you’ve been working so hard for, or hear that your family member is okay after an accident. Aziz Ansari’s Good Fortune is the perfect recipe for a feel-good movie that is likely to bring good fortune to its viewers.
The film opens with Arj (Aziz Ansari), a struggling documentary filmmaker who has to depend on gig work to survive. While living in his car, picking up many jobs, and trying to make the best of his situation, he’s battling against a lack of appreciation for his life. Gabriel (Keanu Reeves), who saves Arj from a car accident early in the film, is an amateurish angel assigned to save people from texting-and-driving incidents.
Gabriel is desperate to do more at work and be promoted to helping “lost souls” who want to give up on life. As a result, this well-meaning angel meddles in the lives of Arj and Jeff (Seth Rogen), a wealthy venture capitalist, completely switching their lives.
On this premise, the film unfolds into a tale involving love, friendship, and poignant realizations about class.
In our politically fraught times, even without intention, every major motion picture promotes an idea—delivering a specific message or agenda to the audience to take home.
Whether the filmmaker wants to disclose or conceal their biases is up to them; regardless, they are trying to teach the audience or make them feel something for the greater good. It’s easy to chalk certain films up to Aristotle’s “art imitates life,” but I think digging deeper beyond the steady mimesis, you’ll find that these films are a bit more intentional than people let on.
Good Fortune is a feature that’s clear in conviction and execution. It did not attempt to tackle many contemporary issues, but rather allowed the subtleties of many intersectional problems to flourish on screen without being too “preachy.” It didn’t leave room for debate about glaring disparities in class and the plight of the disenfranchised. The movie’s clever flair is packed in an accessible, hilarious package and leaves the watcher with a deceptively simple hope for the future.
Good Fortune is a must-watch, where its all-star cast, including Keke Palmer, Sandra Oh, and Stephen McKinley Henderson, will leave viewers full of joy and might motivate some to make a difference in their community. It is a simple but vital message, delivered in an easy to love package.
