‘Good Fortune’: When Does Wealth Become Evil?

In the age of tech-bros, billionaires and increasing wealth disparity between the elite and middle class, Good Fortune offers unexpected commentary about why this predicament exists and what it means to really have “enough”.

Key points:

Arj (Aziz Ansari) is an aspiring documentary maker, living in his car working odd jobs to get by.

An inept angel Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) – usually restricted to saving people who are texting and driving – spots Arj and his hopelessness and decides to “help” by switching his life with one of his wealthy employees Jeff (Seth Rogen).

Good Fortune is a smart comedy… and uses its wit to highlight everyday struggles faced by people just trying to live.

Arj is meant to discover that having money and status won’t fix all of his problems but starts to like the allure of financial security and Gabriel is “de-winged” for his mishap and has to live as a human.

Good Fortune is a smart comedy. It’s in no rush to tell the story, which lets it feel more like an independent film than one of the majors you’re used to seeing the cast in, and uses its wit to highlight everyday struggles faced by people just trying to live.

*Please note: Language warning for the following trailer

Gabriel can’t believe you’d need more than one job to have food and a bed, and Jeff is exhausted experiencing the life of gig-workers who make his existence so convenient. Scenes between Jeff and Gabriel are some of the best in the movie, with Keanu Reeves’ dead-pan style countering Seth Rogen’s buoyant tone in a way that balances humour with heart.

Good Fortune’s version of Gabriel and angels may be outside the bounds of scripture (very sure there’s no smoking in Luke), but it doesn’t discount their relevance and the interplay between humanity and the divine. In fact, it acknowledges why “divine intervention” might be needed, and the overarching moral responsibility we have to care for each other’s wellbeing.

Good Fortune succeeds in giving modern society a bit of a dressing-down without feeling agenda driven or cruel.

Somehow Good Fortune succeeds in giving modern society – especially modern America – a bit of a dressing-down without feeling agenda driven or cruel. It simply points to things that could be better and shows why.

Jesus’ question, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world if he loses his soul? [Matthew 6:26]”, is borne out by Arj and Jeff’s situation. There’s no suggestion wealth is evil or can’t be a good tool but that all depends on our motivation to acquire it and how we use it in service of others.

Good Fortune is in cinemas now, rated M and comes with a language warning.

Feature image: Supplied (StudioCanal Australia)