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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, this whimsical film from comedian the director, is struggling in theaters. Many reasons may explain its reception: The generic name doesn't express its movie's unique charm. Its script is often moralizing and heavy-handed regarding its messages. Its performances are flat and presentational, as if the actors were reading lines straight from the page. And, it arrives during an era of financial uncertainty and inequality, that could render audiences less open to a story that implies rich people enjoy all the benefits while the poor possess heart.

But, this is where the movie excels: The film is unique, bold, imaginative, often funny, and undoubtedly relevant. Plus, it offers an unexpectedly great Keanu Reeves hangout experience.

Reeves in the role of Angel: His Typical Portrayal

Personally, I've not considered Reeves to be a good performer. The actor's flat delivery and consistent look of mild perturbation have always felt one-note, regardless of his wide variety of roles he has taken on over the past four decades years. Astute filmmakers have cast Reeves in roles in which that rigidity works perfectly, from My Own Private Idaho to the sci-fi classic to John Wick. But nearly every one of those characters called for him to seem hardened, closed-off, or detached.

In the film, the actor portrays an angel, one low-level protecting angel assigned with watching over people that use their phones when driving. His whole job involves remaining in his vehicles and gently making contact with their shoulders as they're about to have an accident, warning them so they stop in time. However, while positioned high above the city, gazing on the mortal world like an alternative version of the angel in Wim Wenders' classic film the angel story, the character becomes ambitious. Gabriel desires to be an exceptional protector and rescuer of lost souls.

The Unexpected Shift: Reeves Playing a Mortal

So, he presents his presence to down-and-out odd-jobber a character (played by Aziz Ansari), who is residing out of his car and cursing his situation. Gabriel proceeds to swaps the man into the life of stupidly wealthy tech mogul Jeff (played by the comedian). This point behind the experiment is for the character to realize the wealthy man's existence comes with significant drawbacks, and thankfully go back to his own circumstances, much like a character in It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem was, the character immediately realizes how Jeff's issues (boring appointments, expensive heating bill) prove minor and readily resolved using wealth. Arj also sees how becoming affluent opens up endless opportunities for self-indulgent fun. He shows zero desire in returning to his own life, and Gabriel is unable to force Arj to return. Subsequently, additional trouble comes: Because of exceeding his duties and disrupting the order of the world, the character is fired as an celestial job, and transformed to a mortal.

A Discovery: Keanu Reeves Grins

Personally, I remained not persuaded by the actor playing an celestial being who has grand aspirations and a burning wish to effect change. Reeves delivers the same somewhat stiff performance he has been offering for at least the past 3 decades. Viewing him in the role of angel that has recently become mortal initially, on the other hand, proved to be highly entertaining, for a reason which truly astonished viewers at first: It's something different for the actor. Or to be precise, an aspect from the past.

Early into the character's confusing career being a human, clinging to the wealthy character (who the angel had swapped with the handyman's hand-to-mouth existence and jobless status), the character begins hesitantly trying out human activities such as eating and consuming meals. Then Reeves smiles. Authentically, hesitantly, joyously smiles. (It's far much believable than the smile shown in the promotional image, which appears artificially added.)

The Reason That Smile Matters

It truly surprised me to recognize how unexpected and refreshing the smile felt. At what point was the last time audiences observed Keanu Reeves grin in a film in which he wasn't showing ill will, irony, or bitterness? He probably tries a smile at some point in 2020's ill-conceived the sequel, but I'm not returning to the mess to find out. The actor has remained typecast with serious, murderous, broody, or simply serious characters for such a duration that just watching him grin seemed like seeing a completely new actor.

While the story goes on, Gabriel ends up needing to take a kitchen position, which doesn't pay sufficient for survival, and Gabriel starts chain-smoking due to frustration. Simply the image of Reeves in a cheap paper restaurant hat, his late-career signature locks tied in a plain bun, leaning against a building and smoking a smoke, proves worth watching. His kitchen worker attire completely alters his face and body: Suddenly, the slim, suited action star of the John Wick films becomes gawky, unglamorous, and a lot more human.

A Pleasure of Viewing Keanu Relax

The film is not always fun to watch, particularly when Ansari (that additionally wrote the script) has to create plausible explanations for {Ar