Good Fortune is a new supernatural comedy now playing in theaters. Written and directed by Aziz Ansari—marking his theatrical directorial debut—the film stars Ansari alongside Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer, Sandra Oh, and Keanu Reeves. The story follows Gabriel, a well-meaning but inept angel who disrupts the lives of a struggling gig worker and a wealthy capitalist.

I’ve been looking forward to this film for quite a while. It seems like Ansari faced plenty of hurdles getting it made, and even with the limited marketing I came across, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from the plot. While it’s being positioned primarily as a comedy, I’d recommend going in with tempered expectations. The humor is there, but the film’s real strength lies in its themes—which end up resonating more than the laughs.

The film’s opening feels a bit awkward as it quickly jumps between multiple characters, but Ansari’s vision steadily comes into focus. From start to finish, this is a project that feels uniquely his—something I can’t imagine coming from anyone else. Having followed his work on Master of None, it’s clear that Ansari is carving out a distinctive voice. While he weaves humor throughout, his primary aim seems to be creating something emotionally resonant and relatable.

Good Fortune features a large ensemble cast, and with a tight 97-minute runtime, it mostly manages to balance them well. Still, it occasionally feels overstuffed as Ansari shifts between different perspectives. The standout here is Keanu Reeves, who delivers some of the film’s best lines with pitch-perfect comedic timing. His ability to slip between genres is genuinely impressive, and his chemistry with the rest of the cast is a highlight. I never expected to enjoy a Reeves-Rogen pairing this much—but it works surprisingly well.

That said, the film might have been stronger if it had leaned more into Reeves’ perspective. While the story centers on three main characters, none are quite as compelling as his. The narrative also underuses Keke Palmer’s character. Though she plays a key role, the film misses an opportunity to make her more of a grounded, human presence—someone who could’ve helped guide Reeves’ character in understanding what it truly means to be human.

I tend to avoid watching trailers before seeing a film, and even with the bits of marketing I did catch, nothing really prepared me for how this story unfolds. It’s unpredictable and refreshingly unique. You can sense that Ansari is aiming to build something thematically rich—something that speaks directly to the working-class experience and offers a sense of being seen and understood.

The structure can feel uneven at times. While the humor is definitely present, this isn’t a non-stop laugh riot. Some of the comedic beats don’t quite land—like a sneeze that never fully comes out, the film often sets up a joke that doesn’t completely deliver. One example is a scene where Reeves’ character takes drugs for the first time, only to lie down quietly. Moments like that leave the comedy feeling a bit underwhelming.

By the end, I genuinely wanted to bump up my rating—the film sticks the landing when it comes to the themes, especially ones I personally care about. But the flaws remain. It’s unclear if the film needed less of Ansari as an actor or more of him as a director. As the credits rolled, I overheard other audience members saying how sweet the film was, and that’s exactly right. It’s sweet, it’s relatable, and it has heart. Still, it might not change the minds of those who most need to hear its message, and its offbeat pacing and uneven tone may not be for everyone.

Overall, Good Fortune is a solid directorial debut for Aziz Ansari, and hopefully, he takes the feedback to heart as he continues to grow as a filmmaker. While the film has its funny moments, it’s Keanu Reeves who truly stands out as the heart and soul of the story. The comedy doesn’t always hit its mark, but the film makes up for it with timely, relatable themes that leave a lasting impression.

VERDICT: 3.5/5 – Pretty Good