Question Gabriel. Understand Gabriel. Become Gabriel.
Fresh off his 2025 cameo in "Ballerina," the eternal heartthrob Keanu Reeves has finally ascended. Twenty years after Lucifer himself cured his terminal lung cancer (and got that iconic middle finger for his trouble), Reeves has transformed into the small-winged angel Gabriel in this year's "Good Fortune." He descends to Earth to silently watch over every person texting and driving, eager to guide the world's lost souls.
It Was Supposed to Be a Smooth Ride
Written, directed by, and starring Aziz Ansari, the film introduces us to Arj (Ansari), a young man whose ideals have been worn down by reality, his American dream nothing but a mirage. Despite a college degree, he lives like a city mouse, struggling to survive in Los Angeles on the meager wages of gig work. His plight is a reflection of modern life for many: surviving on food donated by coworkers, sleeping in his car because he can't afford rent, and being jolted awake from a sleep-aid app by a blaring ad promising an ad-free experience for a subscription fee. It's a scene that will have countless nine-to-fivers quietly wiping away a tear of recognition.
In stark contrast to Arj's struggles is Jeff (Seth Rogen), a self-made success story—if you count being born to parents with high socioeconomic status. Now a tech mogul with a mansion and financial freedom, he lives a life of lavish excess. By a stroke of luck, Jeff hires Arj to clean out his garage. Arj seizes the opportunity and talks his way into an assistant position. Their fates intertwine as Arj earns Jeff's complete trust, so much so that he's given the company credit card and told about a hidden gun in the house for self-defense. With a steady income, Arj finally works up the courage to ask his crush out to dinner. When Jeff finds out, he sizes up Arj's shabby clothes and, with incredible generosity, not only recommends a restaurant but also lends him his own stylish jacket for the date. But Arj, swept up in romance, makes a fatal mistake. Faced with a massive bill at the end of the night, he uses the company card without asking, instantly shattering Jeff's trust and getting himself thrown out the next day.
Now It's a Mad Scramble!
Plunging from heaven back to rock bottom in an instant, Arj is still reeling when his car—his only means of survival—gets towed. Just as he hits absolute despair, the angel Gabriel finally appears. With a hand on Arj's shoulder and a cringey, community-theater-level self-introduction, Gabriel tries to inspire him to keep living by showing him a future full of limitless potential: a driving job that requires a portable urinal, moving in with his girlfriend only to be judged by her family, and even having to euthanize his pet dog because he can't afford vet bills. What kind of hopeful future is that? To prove that the rich don't have it so easy either, Gabriel swaps Arj and Jeff's lives, letting Arj experience a few days of shallow indulgence. So, what's it like being rich? Three words: Freaking. Awesome. When the agreed-upon time is up, Arj refuses to go back to his old life. Gabriel's face falls. Altering a mortal's life path is beyond an angel's authority. Martha (Sandra Oh), a higher-ranking angel, appears and strips Gabriel of his tiny wings. Keanu is demoted to a human, his body beginning to sweat and his stomach rumbling with hunger for the first time...
Jeff gets the short end of the stick, too. Once a powerful boss, he's now penniless and forced to live Arj's old gig-work life alongside Gabriel. He gets a harsh lesson in the struggles of the working class: sleeping in a cramped car, working all day for a one-star review, and watching job opportunities get devoured by AI. Gabriel, on the other hand, finds a silver lining. He experiences a world of new things for the first time in millennia: the delicious taste of burgers, chicken nuggets, and chocolate milkshakes; the addictive joy of scrolling through cute animal pictures online (the welfare of puppies cannot be ignored); and finally, the inescapable grip of a nicotine addiction. Seeing the world-weary Keanu with a cigarette in his mouth again, enveloped in the ultimate romance of smoke, is the moment "Constantine" fans have been waiting for. After 20 long years without a smoke, this scene is guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye of any longtime fan.
The person who tied the knot must be the one to untie it. To convince Arj to willingly return to his old life, a certain significant other will have to inspire him to change. As for who that is, you'll have to see for yourself in theaters. With Keanu Reeves temporarily hanging up his "John Wick" suit, this film is a rare chance to see his adorkable, warm-hearted side on the big screen. Although this clumsy angel messes a lot of things up, he still brings a glimmer of hope to the two protagonists. The film is packed with hilarious moments that are sure to get the whole theater laughing. But after the dream is over, the social hierarchies of the world keep churning, and not much really changes. Just remember, we might all have a guardian angel watching over us. Don't forget to leave out some of their favorite food. You never know, one day they might just give you a pair of wings in return.
