It always seems like the grass is greener on the other side, though you never know just what someone is going through until you walk in their shoes. It’s easy enough to say that those who are struggling should keep their chins up and hang in there, but in the face of continuous diminishing returns and worsening circumstances, there’s little reason to have hope. While some filmmakers might choose to explore the wealth gap between rich and poor in dramatic fashion, for his directorial debut, Aziz Ansari is doing what he does best and making a comedy about what happens when a little bit of angelic intervention goes very wrong.
Gabriel (Keanu Reeves) is an angel whose department is Texting While Driving, and he’s just not feeling that fulfilled. Inspired by a colleague who deals with Lost Souls, he sets his sights on Arj (Ansari), who is living out of his car and working multiple jobs to try to make ends meet. When a one-off gig with the very well-off Jeff (Seth Rogen) leads to a full-time job that ends abruptly, Gabriel decides to intervene. Not content with the relatively miserable future Gabriel shows him, Arj is more enticed by the chance to switch lives with Jeff. What Gabriel thought he would show to Arj, however, is far from the message that’s received, leading to Gabriel getting fired and Jeff living Arj’s life while Arj gets comfortable in Jeff’s very large and fancy house.
This may be Ansari’s first time directing, but he’s done a good deal of writing before this. Audiences shouldn’t expect something as sophisticated or resonant as Master of None, and it’s probably better compared to a toned-down version of many of Rogen’s earlier projects without the litany of sexual references (and definitely nothing like The Studio). Its commentary on what it means to not worry about the cost of menu items or expensive pool repairs as compared with someone who has to figure out where to park his car at night to enable him a decent chance at uninterrupted sleep is decently effective, but this film’s strengths lie in its comedy.
To that end, casting Reeves is a genius move considering the reputation and cult following the actor has developed in recent years. He’s at his funniest when he begins to realize that his plan is not working, and when he – as a result of his being fired – gets to experience many things about being human, including a hamburger and a milkshake, for the first time. Reeves is naturally dry but effortlessly charming, and this film makes multiple references to how attractive many find him, incorporating it into the story while Gabriel remains totally clueless. While he’s technically to blame for all the chaos that is created, it’s hard not to like and forgive him given his extremely good nature and genuine desire to help people.
While these aren’t the meatiest or best roles Ansari and Rogen have ever had, they fulfill them as needed and have great onscreen chemistry. As Arj’s work colleague, Keke Palmer has a wonderful energy, while Sandra Oh gets some funny lines as Gabriel’s stern supervisor. This film’s plot will remind audiences of other what-if scenarios from classic movies, but that’s a good thing since it’s put to fun use here. For the somewhat exaggerated nature of its premise, this film is actually rather measured, delivering consistent humor throughout without going over-the-top or pushing jokes too hard. Like Gabriel’s intentions, this film is relatively pure and well-meaning, and it’s nice to experience a comedy that has a positive message but also is more concerned with keeping those watching laughing than forcing them to think too much.
Movie Rating: 7/10
