Good Fortune is a story about perspective, privilege, and the lessons that come from walking in someone else’s shoes. Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) is a naive but well-meaning angel sent to Earth to help Craig (Aziz Ansari). Craig is a down-on-his-luck man struggling to make ends meet. Working long hours and barely keeping his head above water, Craig’s faith in fairness, and in himself, is fading fast. Hoping to restore balance, Gabriel intervenes in ways that defy divine protocol, accidentally crossing paths with a self-absorbed tech billionaire (Seth Rogen) whose unchecked privilege mirrors everything Craig resents. When their worlds collide, chaos and revelation ensue. Through missteps, misunderstandings, and moments of humility, Good Fortune becomes a cosmic comedy about how empathy, not miracles, might just be the thing humanity needs most.
What works in Good Fortune is its playful, off-color humor paired with an unexpectedly heartfelt message about wealth disparity and compassion. As a first-time writer and director, Ansari demonstrates a confident command of tone, finding laughter in life’s absurdities without undermining the emotional core. Reeves is particularly effective as Gabriel. He plays the role with infectious sincerity. His wide-eyed innocence and comedic timing create a wonderfully awkward dynamic opposite Rogen’s cynical billionaire. The contrast between their characters forms the heart of the film’s comedy. Rounding things out is Ansari’s grounded presence providing an anchor of authenticity. The script balances snappy dialogue with moments of genuine reflection, and the film’s pacing keeps things breezy even as it dips into social commentary. Beneath the laughs lies a subtle but timely critique of how privilege dulls empathy and how hard it can be to regain perspective once it’s lost.
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Some audience members may feel that Good Fortune mostly plays within familiar boundaries. The structure follows the well-worn blueprint of “role-swapping” morality tales, and while it’s executed with charm, it rarely strays far from expectation. Some tonal shifts between absurdist comedy and heartfelt introspection don’t entirely mesh, leaving a few scenes feeling uneven. And while the film is expertly made and clearly well-intentioned, it hesitates to address this story matters now. The themes are universal, but a deeper exploration of purpose and consequence might have elevated the material even further.
Good Fortune is ultimately a light, likable comedy with its heart in the right place. Ansari’s debut showcases his natural eye for rhythm and character. Reeves delivers warmth and humor in equal measure. And the film’s social conscience gives it a welcome edge. It may not reinvent the genre, but it reminds us that empathy is still the rarest kind of wealth.
Recommended if you enjoyed: Liar Liar, Bruce Almighty, and The Good Place.
Good Fortune is now available for streaming on most digital platforms.
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