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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this fantasy comedy by actor Aziz Ansari, is struggling at the box office. Several reasons could account for its reception: Its generic name fails to convey its film's distinctive charm. Its script is often preachy and obvious with its themes. Its performances are flat and staged, as if the actors are reciting lines straight from the page. And, it arrives at a time of economic uncertainty and disparity, that could render viewers less receptive to a narrative that suggests rich individuals have all the advantages while the poor have spirit.

But, this is where the movie excels: It's unique, bold, imaginative, often funny, and certainly relevant. And, it provides an unexpectedly great the actor hangout movie.

Reeves as an Angel: His Typical Portrayal

Personally, I've not considered Reeves to be a good performer. The actor's flat speaking style and consistent look of mild perturbation have consistently seemed one-note, despite the broad range of characters he's taken on during the last four decades years. Smart filmmakers have often placed him in parts where his stoic nature works perfectly, including his early work to The Matrix to the action series. Yet nearly all of these roles required Reeves to seem tough, closed-off, or detached.

Throughout the film, Reeves portrays Gabriel, one low-level protecting angel assigned with looking after individuals who text when behind the wheel. His whole duty involves remaining in his cars and lightly touching the drivers' shoulders when they're close to have an accident, warning the person so the driver stop before impact. But, when positioned overlooking his domain, gazing on the mortal world like an alternative version of a celestial figure in Wim Wenders' renowned movie the angel story, Gabriel gets ambitious. Gabriel wants to become an exceptional protector and rescuer of wayward individuals.

A Surprising Turn: Keanu Playing a Mortal

So, Gabriel presents himself to struggling odd-jobber Arj (played by the director), who is residing out of a vehicle and resenting his situation. Gabriel then swaps the man with the life of extremely rich tech mogul Jeff (played by Seth Rogen). The idea behind the exercise is that Arj to understand Jeff's life comes with significant downsides, and gratefully go back to his original life, much like a character in It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem was, the character immediately discovers how the mogul's issues (tedious appointments, a pricey heating invoice) are minor and readily resolved with money. He also realizes that being rich provides endless chances for self-indulgent enjoyment. The character shows no desire in returning to his previous situation, and Gabriel is unable to compel Arj to return. Subsequently, additional bad news arrives: Because of exceeding his duties and disrupting the order of existence, the character is fired as an celestial role, and transformed to a human being.

A Revelation: The Actor Grins

Personally, I remained not persuaded by the actor as an celestial being who has big aspirations and an intense desire to effect change. Reeves delivers the same vaguely constipated acting he has consistently offering for at least the past three ten-year periods. Viewing him in the role of celestial being who's recently become human initially, on the other hand, proved to be highly entertaining, for a reason that really astonished me at first: This is something different for Reeves. Or perhaps to be precise, an aspect from the past.

Soon into the character's confusing career being a mortal, clinging to Jeff (whom Gabriel exchanged with Arj's hand-to-mouth existence and underemployed status), Gabriel starts hesitantly trying out human experiences such as eating and swallowing meals. And the actor grins. Genuinely, hesitantly, joyously beams. (It's far more convincing than his smile shown in the promotional image, that looks artificially added.)

The Reason This Grin Is Significant

The moment really took me aback to recognize how surprising and refreshing the expression was. At what point did we last we observed Keanu Reeves smile in a movie where he was not showing malice, irony, or resentment? He likely attempts it somewhere in the recent ill-conceived Bill & Ted Face the Music, however I am not going to revisiting that disappointment to confirm. Reeves has remained stuck with grim, murderous, broody, or just solemn roles for such a duration that merely watching him smile felt like seeing a completely new performer.

As the plot goes on, the character ends up needing to take a kitchen job, which doesn't pay sufficient to live on, and he begins smoking heavily due to disappointment. Just the image of the actor in a cheap paper restaurant cap, his recent signature long hair pulled back in a plain bun, slouching against a wall and smoking a smoke, is worth the price of admission. His dishwasher attire completely changes his face and posture: Unexpectedly, the lean, well-dressed action star of his famous films is awkward, ordinary, and much more human.

A Joy of Watching Keanu Loosen Up

The film isn't consistently fun to view, especially when Ansari (who additionally wrote the script) must find believable explanations for {Ar