I loved Aziz Ansari in Parks and Recreation, and I am a huge fan of his comedy, so Good Fortune, being his directorial debut, had me very excited to check this out. In addition to writing and directing the movie, Aziz Ansari is one of the leads, along with Seth Rogan and Keanu Reeves and Keke Palmer, and Sandra Oh in supporting roles. It is honestly a fantastic cast, and when I think about it, it may be one of my favorite casts of any movie this year.
Where to Watch Good Fortune
Good Fortune was released on October 17, 2025. You can stream the film from a digital platform such as Prime Video.
Good Fortune Movie Review: Angels, Identity Swaps, and Life Lessons
The trailer for this looked fun and pretty much tells you the basics of the plot. Keanu Reeves plays the role of an angel called Gabriel. Gabriel is a pretty low-ranking angel, and his job is to stop people from getting into accidents by texting and driving. Gabriel really wants more and feels like he could be helping people much more than he is.
Aziz Ansari as Arj: A Down-on-His-Luck Everyman
One of the people that he saves is a man called Arj. Arj is played by Aziz Ansari, and to say that he is having a rough time is an understatement. Arj is struggling to get by, but he thinks he has a chance when Seth Rogan’s tech bro Jeff hires him to be his assistant. Well, this does not work out, Jeff fires him, and Arj finds his life in the toilet even more than it already was!
Gabriel’s Big Idea: A Divine Life Swap
Gabriel sees this as his chance to do more than just stop people from texting and driving. Gabriel reveals himself to Arj and says that having money like Jeff does would not make him happy or fix his problems, so he has them swap lives! Well, turns out that Gabriel was wrong, and money and success pretty much fix all of the troubles that Arj has, and he does not want to turn back.
Chaos, Compassion, and Character Growth
While Arj is having the time of his life, Jeff is struggling to get by, living as Arj did, plus Gabriel gets fired from being an angel, so Gabriel and Jeff are trying to get by and convince Arj to switch back. Seeing Jeff and Gabriel in their new roles is so very well done. The thing here is that all three of these characters are super likable and you want them all to be ok.
A Comedy With Heart and Real-World Relevance
Plus, Arj, as Gabriel told him, finds out that his life did have meaning, due to a romantic interest not going his way now that he is rich. Sure, Good Fortune has some laughs in it, but this movie has a ton and I mean a ton of heart. Way more than I was expecting, and I was truly shocked at how relevant this movie felt for today!
Why Good Fortune Feels So Timely in 2025
In a day and age when so many people all over the world are being squeezed harder than ever before, this movie tackles that subject, and it does it in a funny but honest way. Granted, the fantastical element of the movie is over the top, but there is so much in this movie that is relatable and true.
Final Thoughts: Good Fortune Is a Must-Watch
I was sure that I was going to enjoy Good Fortune, and while at the end of the day, it is just a movie, I am sure there will be at least one part of this movie that you can relate to. I ended up absolutely loving this movie, easily one of the hidden gems of the year for me. Plus, with a career that has so many memorable characters, Keanu Reeves can add Gabriel to the mix. I am not sure how they would do it, but I would love to see another movie with these characters again.
