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Aziz Ansari's directorial debut, the fantasy comedy from comedian Aziz Ansari, has been struggling in theaters. Several factors may account for its performance: The uninspired title doesn't convey the movie's distinctive charm. The screenplay is often preachy and heavy-handed regarding its themes. Its acting seem uninspired and presentational, like the actors were reciting lines straight from the page. Moreover, the film comes during an era of economic anxiety and inequality, which could make viewers less receptive to a narrative that suggests wealthy people have all the advantages while those in need possess spirit.

But, this is what the movie stands out: It's original, bold, imaginative, frequently humorous, and certainly relevant. And, it provides an unexpectedly enjoyable Keanu Reeves hangout movie.

Reeves as an Angel: A Familiar Performance

Personally, I've never regarded Keanu Reeves a good performer. His flat delivery and consistent look of mild concern has consistently felt one-note, despite the broad range of roles he has taken on over the past four decades years. Astute filmmakers have often cast him in roles where his rigidity works perfectly, from his early work to The Matrix to the action series. Yet nearly all of those characters called for Reeves to seem hardened, distant, and removed.

Throughout the film, the actor portrays an angel, one low-level protecting angel tasked with watching over people that use their phones while driving. The character's entire job involves remaining in their vehicles and lightly making contact with the drivers' arms as they are about to have an accident, alerting them so the driver stop in time. However, when standing overlooking the city, gazing upon humanity similar to a interpretation of the angel in Wim Wenders' classic movie Wings of Desire, Gabriel becomes aspirational. Gabriel desires to be a great guardian and rescuer of wayward souls.

A Surprising Shift: Keanu as a Mortal

Therefore, Gabriel presents himself to down-and-out handyman Arj (portrayed by Aziz Ansari), who's living out of his car and resenting his life. The angel proceeds to exchanges the man into the existence of extremely wealthy tech mogul Jeff (acted by the comedian). This point of the experiment is for the character would realize the wealthy man's existence has major downsides, and thankfully return to his original life, much like the character from It's a Wonderful Life.

Problem is, the character immediately realizes that the mogul's issues (boring meetings, expensive heating invoice) prove minor and easily resolved with money. He further sees that becoming rich opens up endless chances for pleasurable enjoyment. He has zero desire in returning to his previous life, and Gabriel is unable to force him to return. Subsequently, additional trouble arrives: Because of exceeding his mandate and disrupting the order of the world, Gabriel is fired as an celestial job, and turned to a human being.

The Discovery: The Actor Grins

Personally, I remained never persuaded by the actor playing an angel with big dreams and an intense wish to make a difference. He turns in the same vaguely stiff performance he's been offering for no less than the last three decades. Viewing him in the role of celestial being that has recently turned human for the first time, however, was a blast, for a reason which truly surprised me at first: It's something new for the actor. Or perhaps more accurately, something from the past.

Soon into his baffling experience as a mortal, staying with the wealthy character (who Gabriel had swapped into Arj's precarious life and underemployed situation), Gabriel starts hesitantly trying out human experiences like chewing and consuming food. Then Reeves smiles. Authentically, cautiously, happily beams. (This is far much believable than his smile on the promotional image, which appears digitally altered.)

The Reason This Grin Is Significant

The moment truly surprised me to recognize just how surprising and refreshing the expression was. At what point did we last we saw the actor grin in a movie where he wasn't expressing ill will, irony, or resentment? He likely tries a smile at some point in the recent ill-conceived the sequel, but I am not returning to that disappointment to find out. Reeves has remained typecast with grim, violent, introspective, or simply solemn roles for so long that merely seeing him smile seemed like observing an entirely new performer.

As the story goes on, the character ends up needing to take a dishwashing position, a role that doesn't pay sufficient to live on, and Gabriel begins smoking heavily due to disappointment. Just the sight of the actor in a cheap paper restaurant cap, with his recent signature locks tied in a plain bun, leaning on a building and smoking a cigarette, proves worthy of watching. His dishwasher getup completely alters his face and posture: Unexpectedly, the slim, well-dressed physical powerhouse of the John Wick movies is awkward, unglamorous, and much more relatable.

A Pleasure of Watching Keanu Relax

The film is not always enjoyable to view, especially when Ansari (that also wrote the script) has to find believable explanations for {Ar