Chances are if you see Good Fortune, you will start tipping more, whether it’s your Door Dash delivery person, Uber driver, Task Rabbiter or anyone else who makes their living as part of the ‘gig economy.’
The movie is a comedy with a message that’s both timely and timeless. There are the haves and have-nots. There are those who live a life of excess, and others struggling to get by. There are those who notice the disparities, and those who are oblivious. Those who care, and those who do not. And what better way to address them all than through comedy— a great equalizer.
In Good Fortune, a well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) is desperate to save a lost soul and move up the ranks in the angel biz. He sets his sights on Arge (Aziz Answari), a guy who can’t seem to catch a break. Arge does myriad odd jobs, sleeps in his car, and is generally down on life. So Gabriel decides to put him in the shoes of a wealthy venture capitalist named Jeff (Seth Rogen) to show Arge that the grass isn’t always greener. But things don’t go according to Gabriel’s plan, and he soon finds himself in trouble with his boss angel, Martha (Sandra Oh). She clips his wings and demotes him to “human” status unless and until Gabriel can make things right.
Answari wrote and directed the film and brings a schlubby charm to his Arge character. But the movie is at its dramedic best when Reeves and Rogen share the screen. Think Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure meets Trading Places meets It’s a Wonderful Life.
Good Fortune is good fun. It’s nice to see a solid adult comedy that can tackle contemporary themes without getting too preachy. The movie is opening exclusively in theaters because Answari and his costars really want people to see it in a theater and have the type of communal experience that you just can’t get from streaming. If, however, you do wait until it’s available for home viewing, order some grub, and tip your delivery person extra well. You’ll be glad you did.
Good Fortune hits theaters on Friday, October 17.