Good Fortune Movie Review

​If you miss this, you may be considered a dumb-dum. Hear that in your head as Ted in “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” would have said it because it’s said in the film in exactly that tone. Vocally, Reeve’s character of angel Gabriel sounds and behaves somewhat like his Ted did. Maybe Gabriel liked the movie? This was simply a joy to watch. The comedic elements really hit the mark.

The film is clever. Writer/Director Aziz Ansari could have shortened a few scenes, but as it is, he created a terrific movie for you this holiday season. It has the look and feel of “It’s a Wonderful Life” sprinkled with the vibes of “Trading Places.” The combination of the two effectively highlights the struggles faced by the working class.

Ansari plays Arj, who lives in his car. He makes a living as a task sergeant. That is, he goes to your house and performs tasks that you don’t want to do or can’t do. He’s miserable, but as long as he’s not interrupted as he attempts to sleep, he’ll hold onto life a little bit longer. How much longer is the question for Gabriel, who is tasked with making people who text and drive aware of the road before they kill someone or themselves. Gabriel reads a text Arj sends and worries about the man. He goes to Martha (Sandra Oh), his boss, and lets her know that he feels he needs to guide people. His job is set, but he wants to save a lost soul. Arj is hired to work for tech bro Jeff, played by Seth Rogan, a very wealthy man who has had everything handed to him for so long that he doesn’t see that others are in need of more. The two have somewhat parallel lives; it’s just that things have worked out much better for Jeff, and Arj is very well aware of the wealth gap.

The film creates a world where Arj searches for refined sympathy that Jeff discards as nothing more than boring rhetoric. His life is easy, and Arj wants a piece of that. So, Arj comes up with a scenario where he could be Jeff’s assistant. Through Jeff, he’s trying to improve his station in life. Gabriel thinks of a way to tackle this problem. That is by switching their roles. Does having money bring happiness, or is it superficial and lead to terrible troubles you never considered?

A celestial being inserting himself into your life sure would make my life better. This movie is sensitive and heartwarming, humorous and touching with plenty going on that will leave you thinking for quite a while after. The message it conveys is well worth the watch at the theater immediately. May watching bring good fortune to you.