First off: Keanu Reeves as a clumsy celestial being? That's a shock to the system. The new full trailer lands firmly on its premise—wise-cracking angel Gabriel falls from grace after botching a body swap intended as a morality lesson. This isn't Trading Places remix—it's more like It's a Wonderful Life meets gig‑economy anxiety—and Reeves plays it with a goofy sincerity that's oddly disarming.
Transitioning from a casual scroll to thinking, “Wait, gig workers and angels?”—that's Aziz Ansari's angle. His directorial debut stars the full ensemble: Seth Rogen as the rich dude, Keke Palmer and Sandra Oh as celestial guides, and Stephen McKinley Henderson rounding out the chaos. This trailer pleads for empathy; for the overworked, the underpaid, the spiritually lost—all while pushing the “money isn't the answer” mantra.
🎬 The textured middle
- Why now? Ansari pivoted from a canceled project (Being Mortal) into a film that fearless tackles adult comedy in theaters again—banking on a box‑office thaw after Barbie proved it's still viable.
- The Toronto hook: It will premiere at TIFF in September 2025 before a U.S. theatrical rollout October 17.
- Atmospheric oddities: Ansari's taste for surrealism flickers in the trailer—like a weird ayahuasca shaman cameo and Reeves dancing with budget wings—signs he's not just punching in jokes; he's letting weird breathe, and that's refreshing.
Fans on Reddit are split:
“Eh I was really looking forward… now feels like I've seen the whole film. Hollywood needs to do better”
“Looks quite funny… can it make money for a struggling Lionsgate?” Reddit+1goodfortune.movie+1
So expect debate—funny, self-aware, maybe a bit overexposed.
The reflective closer
Here's where I land: I love the crunch‑it‑down premise—angel loses purpose, grows by stumbling, gig worker questions meaning, and rich guy learns humility. Office workers and side‑hustlers deserve a movie that nods at them, and this might just listen.
But the trailer… it's polished, maybe too polished. We've had trading places before. But this one's swearing at capitalism softly—and we could use that tone in theaters again.
Will Good Fortune feel like meaningful messy human comedy… or just another “rich person learns lesson” flick with a celebrity twist? I'm cautiously optimistic. Especially if the TIFF premiere embraces the jagged edges—let Gabriel crash, not land softly.
Your move, Lionsgate.
Confirmed dates & festivals
- World Premiere: September 2025 – Toronto International Film Festival.
- U.S. Theatrical Release: October 17, 2025.
