The bad news about ‘Good Fortune’, a new feel-good comedy that pits the struggling working class against the ultra-rich?…..its very, very simplistic, almost paint-by-the-numbers approach to achieving a few laughs and a nice warm fuzzy feeling.
The GOOD news about ‘Good Fortune’? Its very, very simplistic, almost paint-by-the-numbers approach that somehow makes it come across as even more endearing than it has any business being.
SO, if your taste veers towards high-concept comedy with layers and layers of profound subtext, keep shopping. If you want an enjoyable afternoon without much heavy lifting, grab a bag of popcorn and settle in, here’s your ticket to unimpressive yet irresistible goodness.
Written, directed and starring Aziz Ansari, ‘Good Fortune’ introduces Arj (Ansari), a hard working but down-on-his-luck delivery driver in Los Angeles who just can’t catch a break. A documentary filmmaker by trade, Ansari juggles everything from assembling furniture to getting paid to wait in line for pastries in order to make ends meet. And, given that the poor guy is so broke he has to sleep in his car, those ends ain’t meeting very often.
Then Arj stumbles across the path of Jeff (Seth Rogen), a venture capitalist who is rolling in fortuitous excess….big mansion, big swimming pool, designer watches and so many classic sports cars, he can’t even get behind the wheel of one of them because it’s a stick shift. Hired by Jeff to do odd jobs, Arj gets a glimpse at the lifestyle he can only dream of until an honest mistake gets him fired. That’s when Gabriel (Keanu Reeves), a guardian angel, steps in. Normally assigned to rescuing those who are texting and driving, Gabriel sees Arj for the lost soul he is and, thinking if he did a temporary switcheroo between Arj and Jeff, Arj would realize that money and popularity can’t bring real value to life.
Only…..what if it CAN? And does?? Then what?? Oh, and….what about the now-poverty appointed Jeff?
A little dash of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’, a pinch of ‘Freaky Friday’, and a quarter cup of ‘Trading Places’ and you essentially have ‘Good Fortune’. And, as a screenwriter, Ansari doesn’t do a whole lot to disguise that he’s borrowed a number of concepts to cobble his picture together, yet…..it works. It’s not a masterpiece, but it works, primarily because of the inspired casting of Reeves, so innocent, so goofy and so ultimately perfect as the bumbling rookie angel.
Overall, ‘Good Fortune’ is probably more heartfelt than hilarious. And that’s far from a bad thing.
