I’d been looking forward to Good Fortune for a while, not only because I love pretty much anything that Keanu Reeves is in, but also because I’ve always enjoyed Aziz Ansari’s work — both his comedy and his quieter, more thoughtful writing and directing. So when Good Fortune finally landed, it already had two big ticks in its favour before I even sat down.
What surprised me is how immediately warm and sincere the film feels. It’s a feel-good, rags-to-riches-ish story that actually earns its heartstring pulls rather than forcing them. There’s an ease and lightness in the writing and direction; you can tell this is a story Ansari has a passion for. The casting is spot-on, too. Keanu Reeves completely steals the screen as Gabriel, an angel who is comically down on his own luck, not that far off from Arj (Ansari’s character) himself. Gabriel tries to intervene and “fix” Arj’s perspective, to show him his life isn’t nearly as bad as he thinks by swapping it with Jeff (Seth Rogan), and that section of the movie is where the film coasts at its most charming.
Of course, being a film like this, not everything goes to plan — and that’s where Seth Rogen’s Jeff comes in. The role-swap dynamic with Jeff adds a flavour that stops the movie from becoming too soft or predictable. You end up with this slightly dry, white-wine kind of comedy: mellow, not loud or slapstick, but crisp in its timing and surprisingly effective. The jokes land without breaking the sincere tone the film is building towards.
By the time it comes to the final stretch, the movie has that very specific, warm, cosy quality that feel-good films are always chasing but rarely achieve without coming across as corny. This one lands it. There’s a sweetness, but it feels earned by the characters rather than packaged by the filmmakers. It’s one of those movies you walk out of feeling a little lighter, a little more generous toward the world.
Well worth seeing on the big screen, especially if you have a soft spot for Keanu or you’ve missed Ansari’s sensibility since Master of None. It’s gentle, funny, and comforting — exactly the kind of movie I wanted it to be.
Keanu and Ansari Deliver a Warm, Charming Feel-Good Gem
Movie title: Good Fortune (2025)
Movie description: A well-meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker and a wealthy venture capitalist.
Date published: October 22, 2025
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 37m
Director(s): Aziz Ansari
Actor(s): Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogan, Aziz Ansari
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Summary
Aziz Ansari’s Good Fortune is a gentle, funny, feel-good film with thoughtful writing, a standout Keanu Reeves performance, and a warm, satisfying ending that makes it worth the big-screen trip.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
