Australian band Real Life shot to fame in 1983 when their debut single, “Send Me an Angel”, reached the top 10 on the Australian charts.  Now, 42 years later, it’s been used as the appropriate climax to the new movie Good Fortune.  Keanu Reeves (The Matrix) plays a dopey angel named Gabriel who comes down from heaven to help people in need.  Well… actually… his responsibilities are very narrow.  Unlike some of his fellow angels, Gabriel’s job is to prevent car accidents by tapping people on the shoulder when they’re texting and driving.

He wants to do more though.  Against the wishes of his superior (Oh), he intervenes in the life of a documentary film editor, Arj (Ansari), who is close to rock bottom.  Arj has no money and no home.  He sleeps in his rundown car and earns a meagre living as a gig economy worker.  He gets paid to deliver food, complete odd jobs, and stand in line for hours at popular cafes.  After a lengthy opening act (about 30 minutes), Gabriel finally intervenes and lets him switch lives for a few days with Jeff (Rogen), a multi-millionaire venture capitalist with a stunning mansion overlooking Los Angeles.  The goal is for Arj to see that while life can be challenging, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

It backfires in a massive way.  It turns out that wealth does make you happier and Arj discovers a loophole that allows him to stay permanently in Jeff’s “world”.  This is bad news to Jeff who is stuck in the opposite scenario.  He’s gone from super wealthy… to dirt poor, and from having a beautiful home... to living on the street.  It’s an adjustment he’s struggling with (obviously).  As for Gabriel, he’s been punished for the mayhem by losing his wings and angel status.  The only way to set things right is for them to team up and convince Arj to willingly relinquish his improved existence.

Written and directed by comedian Aziz Ansari, Good Fortune has its moments.  Keanu Reeves is the cast’s MVP and it’s fun to watch him experience human things for the first time.  It’s like Brad Pitt in Meet Joe Black but with more humour and silliness.  When Reeves is on screen, the film is at its best.  I was less enamoured by the screenplay.  Ansari goes for a crowd-pleasing finale that creates a win for everyone but what he’s crafted is forced and not genuine.  I didn’t believe the close out of these character arcs.  Further, he has something valid to say about insecure work in the 21^st century but goes about it in a very blunt, simplistic manner.

I’ve seen worse and I’ve seen better.  Good Fortune may not work as a profound, message-driven piece but if looking for easy laughs, you’ll have a good time.