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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, the whimsical comedy by actor the director, has been struggling in theaters. Many reasons could explain its performance: Its uninspired name fails to express its movie's distinctive appeal. Its script is often preachy and obvious with its themes. Its acting are flat and presentational, like the cast were reciting dialogue directly from the page. Moreover, it arrives at a time of financial uncertainty and inequality, which could make audiences not very receptive to a narrative which implies rich individuals enjoy all the benefits while the poor have spirit.

But, this is where the movie excels: The film is unique, bold, creative, often humorous, and certainly timely. Plus, it offers a enjoyable the actor character-driven experience.

Reeves in the role of Guardian: A Familiar Performance

Personally, I've never considered Reeves a good actor. The actor's monotonal speaking style and persistent look of mild perturbation has always seemed one-note, despite his wide range of roles he's taken on during the last 40 years. Smart filmmakers have placed him in roles where his stoic nature works perfectly, including his early work to The Matrix to the action series. Yet almost every one of these characters required him to seem tough, distant, and detached.

Throughout the film, Reeves plays an angel, a low-level guardian angel assigned with watching over individuals who use their phones when driving. The character's whole job involves sitting in their cars and gently touching their arms as they're about to have an accident, warning the person so the driver stop before impact. However, while standing high above the city, looking down on the mortal world similar to a version of the angel in Wim Wenders' renowned movie the angel story, Gabriel becomes aspirational. He desires to be a great guardian and rescuer of lost souls.

A Surprising Turn: Keanu as a Mortal

So, Gabriel presents his presence to struggling handyman a character (portrayed by the director), who is residing out of his car and resenting his situation. Gabriel proceeds to swaps the man with the existence of extremely rich businessman a character (played by the comedian). The idea behind the exercise was for Arj would realize the wealthy man's life comes with major downsides, and thankfully return to his original circumstances, much like the figure from the classic film.

Problem was, the character immediately discovers how the mogul's issues (tedious meetings, expensive pool-heater bill) prove negligible and easily solved with wealth. Arj also sees that being affluent opens up endless opportunities for self-indulgent fun. He has no interest in returning to his own situation, and Gabriel can't compel Arj to return. Subsequently, additional bad news arrives: For exceeding his mandate and disrupting the order of existence, the character loses his position as an celestial job, and transformed into a mortal.

The Discovery: The Actor Smiles

I was never persuaded by the actor playing an angel who has grand aspirations and an intense desire to effect change. Reeves delivers a familiar somewhat stiff performance he has been providing for at least the past three decades. Watching him as an celestial being who's recently become human initially, on the other hand, proved to be highly entertaining, due to something which truly surprised me initially: This is something different for the actor. Or more accurately, an aspect from the past.

Soon into his confusing experience as a mortal, staying with Jeff (who Gabriel exchanged with the handyman's hand-to-mouth life and jobless status), Gabriel starts tentatively experimenting with everyday experiences like eating and consuming meals. Then the actor grins. Authentically, cautiously, happily smiles. (It's far much convincing than his smile on the poster, which looks artificially added.)

The Reason This Smile Matters

The moment really surprised me to realize how surprising and refreshing that expression felt. When was the last time audiences saw the actor smile in a movie where he was not expressing ill will, sarcasm, or bitterness? He likely attempts it somewhere in the recent ill-conceived Bill & Ted Face the Music, but I am not going to revisiting the mess to find out. The actor has been typecast with serious, violent, broody, or just solemn characters for so long that merely watching him smile seemed like seeing a completely different actor.

While the story goes on, the character finds himself having to take a kitchen position, a role that fails to provide sufficient for survival, and he begins chain-smoking out of frustration. Simply the image of Reeves in a disposable paper food-service cap, with his late-career signature locks tied in an unglamorous bun, leaning against a building and puffing on a smoke, is worthy of the price of admission. The kitchen worker getup totally changes his face and posture: Unexpectedly, the lean, suited action star of his famous films becomes gawky, unglamorous, and a lot increasingly human.

A Joy of Watching Keanu Relax

The film isn't always enjoyable to watch, especially when Ansari (that also wrote the screenplay) has to create plausible reasons for {Ar