Good Fortune (2025) Review – Class, Comedy & Angels in Aziz Ansari’s Satire
When you hear that Aziz Ansari — yes, the comedian-actor behind “Master of None” — has written, directed and stars in his feature debut, you expect something a little off-beat, a little personal, a little daring. With *Good Fortune*, Ansari doesn’t just lean into his comedic instincts: he frames them around a high-concept fantasy about class, labour and the seductive myth of “having it all.” Backed by Lionsgate and featuring a cast including Keanu Reeves, Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer and Sandra Oh, the film aims high. And in many ways, it lands.
“Good Fortune is a modern-day body-swap comedy with wings – and a moral heartbeat.”
What the film is about (spoiler-free)
In *Good Fortune*, Reeves plays Gabriel, a somewhat hapless guardian angel whose celestial responsibilities (think: averting texting-while-driving disasters in Los Angeles) feel trivial to him. Meanwhile Arj (Ansari) is a gig-economy worker scraping by; Jeff (Rogen) is the rich, carefree tech-investor type. One cosmic manoeuvre later, lives are swapped, rules shift—and what looks like a punchline soon becomes a mirror.
The premise is familiar (body-swap / “what if you walked in someone else’s shoes”), but Ansari gives it a fresh, urban spin: Los Angeles is more than a backdrop—it’s a character in itself, with its food-delivery apps, delivery-robot sidewalks, hustling workers and skyline dreams.
Trailer Courtesy of Lionsgate
Star Power & Performances
Keanu Reeves, playing an angel out of his depth, brings a gentle sincerity to Gabriel. There’s nothing explosive about his turn — but in a film like this, that works. His restrained presence offers a counterpoint to the chaos of the switching lives and economic absurdities. Critics have noted his “droll angel” take as one of the film’s more charming features.
Aziz Ansari as Arj offers his trademark sharp, self-aware humour, but this time with a little more heart on the sleeve. He balances the jokes with genuine yearning — staying afloat in a film that demands both comedic timing and emotional stakes. Seth Rogen supplies the rich-dude foil with his familiar bro-energy, but also some unexpected vulnerability.
Keke Palmer, as Elena, delivers the ground-level human voice in the film: someone who works, fights for fairness, and cares about more than just the next paycheck. Sandra Oh, as Gabriel’s superior in the angelic realm, adds dimension and rules-over-wings gravitas. The ensemble may lean familiar, but they’re well-cast and committed.
Direction, Tone & Themes
As a first-time director in feature length, Ansari shows surprising confidence. The film’s tone walks a tightrope between screwball comedy, fantasy whimsy and pointed social commentary — a feat easier said than done. Influences are clear: the body-swap antics of “Trading Places”, the angel-on-earth spirit of “Wings of Desire”, and the labour-class reflection of 1930s-40s comedies. There is even a specific nod to this era of comedy.
The film doesn’t lecture. Its slickest moments come when the jokes and the ideas merge: when Arj luxuriates in Jeff’s mansion yet still asks himself, “Is this what I really wanted?” Or when Gabriel, stripped of wings, finds himself doing things he once ridiculed. The message isn’t handshake-warm but quietly potent: that wealth is seductive, but not always fulfilling; that work can demean, yet also define; that we all search for “enough.”
The pacing is generally brisk. Scenes alternate between celestial offices, luxury enclaves, food-delivery hustle and angelic bureaucracy in a way that keeps the narrative alive. The cinematography by Adam Newport-Berra and editing by Daniel Haworth give the film a polished look: Los Angeles glitters, yet the gutters glint too.
Film Clip Courtesy of Lionsgate
What Works
- Concept + Execution: The body-swap-meets-angel premise gives Good Fortune more substance than your standard Hollywood comedy. It manages to deliver both situational humour and a surprisingly reflective aftertaste. The film’s high-concept idea never feels gimmicky; instead, it’s used as a mirror to modern society’s obsession with wealth, self-worth, and moral shortcuts.
- Performances: Keanu Reeves brings calm charisma to his celestial role, grounding the fantasy in sincerity. Aziz Ansari plays off him brilliantly — neurotic yet relatable — while Seth Rogen’s signature warmth softens what could have been a one-note “rich guy” caricature. Keke Palmer steals several scenes, giving the story its emotional heartbeat and ensuring the social commentary stays human and grounded.
- Visual Style & Cinematography: Cinematographer Adam Newport-Berra captures Los Angeles as both a dreamscape and a trap — glowing skylines above grinding workers. The heavenly sequences shimmer with gold-blue contrast, while the earthbound scenes pulse with urban realism. This interplay between ethereal beauty and street-level grit makes the visuals memorable and perfectly aligned with the theme of duality.
- Direction & Tone: As a first-time feature director, Ansari surprises with restraint and control. The tonal balance between satire, fantasy and feel-good comedy is delicate, but he keeps the pace brisk and the humour sharp. There’s a warmth reminiscent of classic Capra comedies, yet filtered through a distinctly modern lens.
- Relevance & Themes: In an era where conversations about class inequality and work-life balance dominate headlines, Good Fortune hits home. It’s a comedy that asks real questions about empathy, luck and privilege — without preaching. That blend of social awareness and mainstream accessibility makes it a standout among 2025’s releases.
- Comedy & Entertainment Value: It’s genuinely funny and consistently entertaining—sharp one-liners, fish-out-of-water set-pieces, and warm ensemble chemistry keep the laughs coming without undercutting the film’s heart.
What Doesn’t Always Work
No film is perfect, and *Good Fortune* has its moments of wobble. Some critics point out that the stakes feel a little muted: though the premise is high, the emotional arc is modest. At times the comedy undercuts the commentary, and vice versa. Viewers looking for laugh-out-loud extremes might feel it skims the surface rather than plummets.
Likewise, character development can be uneven: whereas Arj and Gabriel enjoy nice arcs, Jeff’s transformation feels lighter, and some side characters flicker in and out rather than being fully realised. But for most, those are small trade-offs for a film that takes risks rather than resting on genre clichés.
Audience & Cinema Context
Released by Lionsgate on October 17, 2025, the film enters a theatrical climate where big-screen comedies face increasing challenges—streaming, changing habits, genre expectations. In that sense, “Good Fortune” feels like a statement: a proof-of-concept that theatrical R-rated comedy can still matter.
If you’re the kind of viewer who likes a comedy with a brain, a heart and a little fantasy peppered on top, this one is for you. If you go in expecting uproarious slapstick or boundary-pushing edgy gag reels, you may wish for more. But if you’re open to something that makes you smile *and* think, you’ll leave the cinema a little lighter and a little more aware of how “fortune” often comes packaged in work boots or wing tips.
Final Verdict
Good Fortune is a funny, warm and quietly thoughtful crowd-pleaser. It blends accessible laughs with light-touch social satire and standout turns from Keanu Reeves, Aziz Ansari and Keke Palmer. Not perfect, but a good time at the movies.
Rating: 3.5 / 5 stars
Should You See It?
In short: yes. If you have access to a theatre and you enjoy comedies that blend fantasy with social commentary, *Good Fortune* is worth the ticket. Watching it on the big screen gives its Los Angeles vistas, angelic set-pieces and life-swap revelries full effect. For those content to wait for streaming—it’ll still be fun, though slightly less immersive.
Let the wings take flight. And bring a little gratitude for the day job.
Gallery: Inside “Good Fortune”
Exclusive Visual: AI-Generated Poster Concept
Above is an AI-generated concept poster for *Good Fortune* — wings, rooftops, LA lights and a question: what’s worth having when you already have everything you need?
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