Comedy
Fantasy
Review: ‘Good Fortune’ Earns Its Wings, but Doesn’t Quite Soar as the Angelic Comedy It Strives to Be
October 16, 2025Ben MK
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From It's a Wonderful Life to The Preacher's Wife, moviegoers are no stranger to films about characters who receive a little angelic assistance. When it comes to this very niche genre, however, what's less common are movies that depict these heavenly creatures as individuals that are just as fallible as you and me. Whether it's raucous satires like Dogma or sports comedies like Angels in the Outfield, these are stories that subvert the cinematic status quo. And with Good Fortune, actor-turned-director Aziz Ansari is adding what has the potential to be another fan favorite to that list, in this tale of a bumbling angel who yearns to be something more than what fate has ordained him. Arj Ibrahim (Ansari) is a down-on-his-luck documentary film editor who's in-between gigs and struggling to make ends meet. However, with a little help from a well-intentioned but somewhat incompetent guardian angel named Gabriel (Keanu Reeves), Arj might finally have a chance at living the life he's always dreamed of. Tasked with the mundane job of preventing people from getting into car accidents as a result of texting and driving, Gabriel himself has always wanted to do something greater, such as saving a lost soul. And when he encounters Arj one day, it seems like the perfect opportunity to try and take the initiative and show his supervising angel, Martha (Sandra Oh), that he's ready to take on more responsibility. Swapping Arj's pathetic life with the well-to-do life of a wealthy tech bro named Jeff (Seth Rogen), Gabriel plans on proving to Arj that the lifestyle of the filthy rich isn't all it's cracked up to be, and that the humble life he already has is unequivocally worth living. But when Arj doesn't see things quite the same way and adamantly refuses to go back to his old, unemployed existence, that's when Gabriel realizes that his plan may have not turned exactly out the way he envisioned it. Enter Elena (Keke Palmer), who's been trying her best to rally her fellow big box store workers to unionize, and who becomes involved with Arj before Gabriel causes him and Jeff to trade places. Once Arj starts living the high life, though — and despite his ability to turn on the charm and reintroduce his new and improved self to Elena — Arj begins to see that their relationship can never be the same. As for Gabriel, he soon finds himself out of the job, stripped of his wings, and forced to move in with Jeff, where he witnesses firsthand the plight of the everyday working class, especially his new roommate, who's having a tough time adjusting to living out of his car and delivering door-to-door food orders to try and eek out a meager living. Can these three find a way to sort out this existential mess that Gabriel has inadvertently gotten them into? And even if they do, will Arj ultimately learn the lesson that Gabriel intended him to when all is said and done? One part It's a Wonderful Life, one part Trading Places, what follows is a low-key comedy that never quite makes the most of its ridiculous premise, nor does it completely avoid squandering the talents of its A-list cast. Still, while Good Fortune may not be the uproariously funny twist on A Christmas Carol that audiences might be expecting, it nonetheless has its heart firmly rooted in the right place. Thanks to Ansari's competent direction and his thoughtful yet somewhat predictable screenplay, the result still manages to earn a well-deserved place among other angel-inspired fare like The Family Man, Heart and Souls, and Michael. That said, it's hard to shake the feeling that the whole endeavor is something of a missed opportunity, especially when considering the fact that neither Reeves nor Rogen are given much opportunity to chew the scenery as they ought to. It all adds up to a surprisingly tame time at the multiplex. Yet, even though it's safe to say that viewers won't be offended by Good Fortune, it's also equally fair to say that they won't be particularly challenged by it either. Make no mistake, longtime fans of Reeves will definitely want to check out the 61-year-old actor's latest role, despite the fact that it doesn't measure up to his most iconic performances. For audiences hoping for a can't-miss comedy cult classic, however — just like Heaven, those hopes will just have to wait. Good Fortune releases October 17th, 2025 from Lionsgate Films. The film has an MPAA rating of R for language and some drug use. Its runtime is 1 hr. 38 min. |
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