Film Review: Good Fortune

Welcome back to the blog readers. Turns out, I am beginning to appreciate comedies more. We have already had two pretty solid ones come out this year in The Naked Gun and The Roses (both 2025), and if you consider Roofman (2025) one as well, we are getting some pretty good ones. This is a film I have had my eye on for a good while now, and I have been hopeful it will deliver as I thought it would. Question is, would the 18-month wait be worth it in the end? Stick around to find out.

Good Fortune was written and directed by Aziz Ansari in his directorial debut. The film stars Seth Rogen, Ansari, Keke Palmer, Sandra Oh, and Keanu Reeves. In the film, an angel named Gabriel oversteps his limits and must face the consequences when his decision to swap the lives of a down-on-his-luck struggling man and his wealthy boss backfires on all three of them.

Footage of this film was screened at the 2024 edition of CinemaCon, and it was then where I decided I wanted to see this film. More footage was shown at this edition of the event, and I thought this film was going to be a pipe dream like that Batgirl film. Luckily I was wrong about this film being a pipe dream, and luckily I was right to be excited for this film because in my opinion, this is one of the best films of the year. You heard that right. Keanu Reeves gives one of his best performances (although everyone in the cast kills it), I loved Ansari's script and the comedy, and I even loved the message of this film.

Keanu Reeves has been someone Hollywood and fans of film have been looking up to ever since he starred alongside Sandra Bullock in Speed (1994). Since then, he has become one of the most bankable (and likable) people to ever walk the face of this planet. He has been Neo, he has been John Wick, and he has been breathtaking. But his turn as the angel Gabriel is one I never expected to see from him, because he breathed so much life into this character. I have never seen him as funny, as relatable, and as emotionally relevant as he is in this film, and his monologue about "chicken nuggies" and Social Security was literally one for the ages. I will continue to love Reeves for these reasons, even if he never plays John Wick again.

I next want to talk about the comedy of this film. Back all the way in my introductory paragraph, I mentioned how this has been a pretty good year for comedies. And I really meant it. Although nothing yet has reached the highest highs that Joy Ride (2023) did, I think this one has a leg to stand on in terms of laughs. While this is nowhere as raunchy as that film, this film knows what it is and is not afraid to play with it. One of my favorite lines from the trailers is just as funny. "I tried to show him wealth wouldn't solve all of his problems." "And?" "It seems to have solved most of his problems." It feels Naked Gun-ny a bit in its humor, but its the relatability that really gets me.

And finally, the main takeaway I had with this film absolutely had to be the message this film tries (and succeeds) to convey. I have been of the mindset for as long as I can remember that the best comedies do more than just make us laugh, they have something important to say. Joy Ride did it, and this film does it in spades. What this film has to say about the haves and have-nots really resonated with me, as someone who has taken a particular interest in lifting up the have-nots. I loved the commentary on the gig industry, and how ordinary people are left to struggle while the rich get to profit off of our hard work. I just wish this film was able to reach the people it really needs to reach, and those people know who they are.

In conclusion, Good Fortune combines a slick script with a poignant message and delivers one of my favorite film experiences of the year in the process. Thank you all for reading, and I will see you for the next post.