The fall festival season is kicking off, with Venice and Toronto revealing their initial lineups as the film industry gears up for the awards race. A standout from the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) lineup is Aziz Ansari’s “Good Fortune,” set to premiere in Toronto before its theatrical release by Lionsgate on October 17. With a star-studded cast that includes Ansari, Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer, and Keanu Reeves, who plays the role of a guardian angel, “Good Fortune” has the potential to emerge as one of the season’s breakout hits.
The film’s official synopsis describes Arj (played by Ansari), a gig economy worker facing financial struggles, who encounters a tech mogul (Rogen), marking a low point in his life. The situation is complicated by a somewhat clumsy angel named Gabriel (portrayed by Reeves), who offers Arj a transformative opportunity: to swap lives with the wealthy tech giant. This exchange prompts the question of whether life is genuinely better on the other side.
The recently released trailer showcases Reeves’ character, Gabriel, guiding both men while humorously revealing that this is one of his larger assignments, as he usually is tasked with less demanding jobs, like preventing texting while driving. Ansari’s character, in a moment of frustration, refers to him as a “budget angel.”
“Good Fortune” marks Ansari’s directorial debut, a project that experienced setbacks, including a canceled directorial role in the film “Being Mortal” due to allegations surrounding Bill Murray. After redirecting his efforts toward “Good Fortune,” production faced further delays due to the Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild strikes in 2023. However, filming eventually started in January 2024, making the enthusiasm surrounding its festival debut all the more significant.
The film’s premiere at TIFF and subsequent release in theaters signals a promising start for Ansari’s venture into directing. Fans and critics alike will surely be watching to see if “Good Fortune” resonates as a unique addition to the fall film slate.