Dec. 4, 2025
Divine Disarray: Unpacking the Chaos of 'Good Fortune'
In this episode of *Movies First*, Chris and Jessica dive into the whimsical yet thought-provoking film *Good Fortune*, where guardian angels navigate the complexities of modern corporate life and technology. The hosts unpack the absurd yet relatable premise of Keanu Reeves as Gabriel, a low-ranking angel who finds himself entangled in the bureaucracy of divine intervention while trying to save people from their own poor choices, like texting while driving.
Listeners will be entertained by the film's portrayal of Arge, played by Aziz Ansari, a gig economy worker living out of his car and hustling through life via an app called Task Sergeant. The juxtaposition of Arge’s struggles with the ultra-wealthy tech mogul Jeff, portrayed by Seth Rogen, offers a humorous yet critical commentary on class and wealth inequality in today’s society. Chris and Jessica highlight how the film cleverly uses comedy to address serious themes without becoming preachy, particularly through the lens of Arge’s girlfriend, Elena (Kiki Palmer), a passionate labor activist.
The hosts reflect on the film's ability to balance humor with insightful social commentary, drawing parallels to classics like *Trading Places* and *It’s a Wonderful Life*, but with a contemporary twist. They discuss how Gabriel's attempts to assist others often lead to chaos, mirroring the confusion many feel in the face of modern societal challenges.
Ultimately, *Good Fortune* serves as a reminder that even divine beings might struggle to navigate the complexities of modern life, offering a comforting thought that we’re all just trying our best. With a score of 7.5 out of 10, this film is both charming and buoyant, inviting audiences to reflect on their own lives while enjoying a lighthearted narrative.
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To access the Movies First reviews archive visit our website at www.bitesz.com/podcast/movies-first
To access the Movies First reviews archive visit our website at www.bitesz.com/podcast/movies-first
This episode includes AI-generated content.
WEBVTT
0
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.880
Chris: Guardian angels getting performance reviews
1
00:00:01.880 --> 00:00:04.760
and struggling with modern technology. It
2
00:00:04.760 --> 00:00:07.160
sounds ridiculous, but that's exactly what
3
00:00:07.160 --> 00:00:10.040
makes this new film good fortune. Such
4
00:00:10.040 --> 00:00:12.080
a fascinating commentary on our times.
5
00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:14.240
Jessica: You know what's interesting about that
6
00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:17.000
premise? It perfectly captures
7
00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:19.320
how even divine intervention would probably
8
00:00:19.320 --> 00:00:21.520
get tangled up in corporate bureaucracy these
9
00:00:21.520 --> 00:00:21.840
days.
10
00:00:22.880 --> 00:00:25.680
Chris: Well, just imagine Keanu Reeves as Gabriel,
11
00:00:26.240 --> 00:00:28.480
this low ranking angel who's basically stuck
12
00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:31.040
doing the celestial equivalent of IT support,
13
00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:33.520
trying to save people from texting while
14
00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:36.240
driving. But like most entry level workers,
15
00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:38.320
he's got much bigger aspirations.
16
00:00:38.400 --> 00:00:40.520
Jessica: So what happens when an angel decides to go
17
00:00:40.520 --> 00:00:42.319
off script with their divine duties?
18
00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:46.080
Chris: Pure chaos, but in the most entertaining way
19
00:00:46.080 --> 00:00:49.080
possible. See, Gabriel spots this guy
20
00:00:49.080 --> 00:00:51.580
named Arge, played by Aziz Ansari, um,
21
00:00:52.590 --> 00:00:54.630
who's basically the poster child for the
22
00:00:54.630 --> 00:00:57.230
modern gig economy. We're talking about
23
00:00:57.230 --> 00:00:59.710
someone sleeping in his car, taking random
24
00:00:59.710 --> 00:01:02.110
jobs through an app called Task Sergeant,
25
00:01:02.590 --> 00:01:04.350
living that hustle culture life.
26
00:01:05.150 --> 00:01:07.790
Jessica: Mm, mhm. Sounds like a perfect representation
27
00:01:07.790 --> 00:01:10.630
of what nearly 36% of American workers are
28
00:01:10.630 --> 00:01:12.590
dealing with in the gig economy right now.
29
00:01:13.550 --> 00:01:16.550
Chris: Exactly. And then you've got Seth Rogen
30
00:01:16.550 --> 00:01:19.320
playing Jeff, this ultra wealthy tech
31
00:01:19.320 --> 00:01:22.280
guy who represents that top 1% we're always
32
00:01:22.280 --> 00:01:24.840
hearing about. So our well meaning but
33
00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:27.640
completely incompetent angel decides to play
34
00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:30.600
cosmic matchmaker and boom, switches
35
00:01:30.600 --> 00:01:31.560
their entire lives.
36
00:01:32.280 --> 00:01:35.200
Jessica: Wow, talk about a social experiment. How
37
00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:35.960
does that play out?
38
00:01:36.840 --> 00:01:39.040
Chris: Well, imagine going from standing in line for
39
00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:41.720
two hours to buy trendy cinnamon buns
40
00:01:41.800 --> 00:01:44.410
to suddenly having a mansion and more money
41
00:01:44.410 --> 00:01:46.930
than you know what to do with. But here's
42
00:01:46.930 --> 00:01:49.650
where it gets really interesting. Arj's
43
00:01:49.650 --> 00:01:52.410
girlfriend Elena, played by Kiki Palmer,
44
00:01:52.810 --> 00:01:55.490
is this passionate labor activist trying to
45
00:01:55.490 --> 00:01:56.970
unionize their workplace.
46
00:01:57.690 --> 00:01:59.449
Jessica: Now that's what I call a relationship
47
00:01:59.449 --> 00:02:01.690
complication. Trying to fight for workers
48
00:02:01.690 --> 00:02:03.610
rights while your partner suddenly becomes
49
00:02:03.610 --> 00:02:05.130
part of the system you're fighting against.
50
00:02:06.330 --> 00:02:08.290
Chris: And that's exactly what makes this film so
51
00:02:08.290 --> 00:02:11.060
clever. It's using this supernatural premise
52
00:02:11.220 --> 00:02:13.460
to explore very real issues about class,
53
00:02:13.860 --> 00:02:16.300
wealth inequality and how money changes
54
00:02:16.300 --> 00:02:19.140
relationships. But it never gets preachy
55
00:02:19.140 --> 00:02:22.020
because Keanu Reeves is there, bumbling
56
00:02:22.020 --> 00:02:24.340
through it all like the world's most well
57
00:02:24.340 --> 00:02:26.980
intentioned but completely clueless angel.
58
00:02:27.620 --> 00:02:29.900
Jessica: You know, it's fascinating how they're using
59
00:02:29.900 --> 00:02:32.180
comedy to tackle such serious themes.
60
00:02:32.980 --> 00:02:34.500
How do they maintain that balance?
61
00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:37.280
Chris: Through really smart writing and perfect
62
00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:40.120
timing. Like there's this brilliant
63
00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:42.320
scene where Jeff, now broke, has to figure
64
00:02:42.320 --> 00:02:44.360
out public transportation for the first time.
65
00:02:44.760 --> 00:02:46.920
It's hilarious, but it also makes you think
66
00:02:46.920 --> 00:02:48.920
about how many basic life skills wealthy
67
00:02:48.920 --> 00:02:50.040
people never have to learn.
68
00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:53.320
Jessica: Hmm. So it's kind of like Trading
69
00:02:53.320 --> 00:02:56.000
Places meets It's a Wonderful Life, but with
70
00:02:56.000 --> 00:02:56.920
a modern twist.
71
00:02:57.880 --> 00:02:59.800
Chris: That's such a perfect comparison.
72
00:03:00.930 --> 00:03:02.850
But what makes it really special is how it
73
00:03:02.850 --> 00:03:05.530
captures our current moment. The wealth
74
00:03:05.530 --> 00:03:08.130
gap, the gig economy, corporate
75
00:03:08.130 --> 00:03:10.530
activism. All while having this
76
00:03:10.530 --> 00:03:13.530
bumbling angel accidentally creating
77
00:03:13.530 --> 00:03:14.930
chaos while trying to help.
78
00:03:15.650 --> 00:03:17.890
Jessica: Well, um, that certainly sounds more relevant
79
00:03:17.890 --> 00:03:19.970
than traditional guardian angel stories about
80
00:03:19.970 --> 00:03:21.810
helping people cross the street safely.
81
00:03:22.290 --> 00:03:24.330
Chris: Right, and what's really fascinating is how
82
00:03:24.330 --> 00:03:26.530
they use Gabriel's corporate angel structure
83
00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:29.360
to comment on how even divine intervention
84
00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:31.520
would probably get bogged down in bureaucracy
85
00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:34.120
today. Like, imagine having to fill out
86
00:03:34.120 --> 00:03:36.600
celestial paperwork to justify why switching
87
00:03:36.600 --> 00:03:39.400
two people's entire lives counts as saving
88
00:03:39.400 --> 00:03:39.960
souls.
89
00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:42.240
Jessica: That's actually pretty profound when you
90
00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:45.040
think about it. Using supernatural elements
91
00:03:45.040 --> 00:03:47.000
to highlight very human systems and
92
00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:47.640
struggles.
93
00:03:47.960 --> 00:03:50.160
Chris: And that's why this film works so well. It
94
00:03:50.160 --> 00:03:52.300
manages to be both incredibly silly and
95
00:03:52.530 --> 00:03:54.850
surprisingly insightful. It's like comfort
96
00:03:54.850 --> 00:03:57.290
food for your brain. Satisfying and sweet,
97
00:03:57.290 --> 00:03:59.370
but with just enough substance to make you
98
00:03:59.370 --> 00:04:00.930
think about your own life and choices.
99
00:04:01.650 --> 00:04:03.610
Jessica: So it sounds like the real message isn't just
100
00:04:03.610 --> 00:04:05.730
about wealth inequality, but about
101
00:04:05.730 --> 00:04:07.410
understanding different perspectives.
102
00:04:08.450 --> 00:04:11.050
Chris: Exactly. And maybe that's what we all need
103
00:04:11.050 --> 00:04:13.370
right now. A reminder that even when things
104
00:04:13.370 --> 00:04:15.970
seem cosmically unfair, there might be some
105
00:04:15.970 --> 00:04:18.330
well meaning but totally incompetent angel up
106
00:04:18.330 --> 00:04:21.150
there trying their best to help. Even if
107
00:04:21.150 --> 00:04:22.830
they're probably just making things more
108
00:04:22.830 --> 00:04:23.430
complicated.
109
00:04:23.750 --> 00:04:26.070
Jessica: You know what? That's actually kind of
110
00:04:26.070 --> 00:04:27.270
comforting in a weird way.
111
00:04:28.310 --> 00:04:30.150
Chris: Well, sometimes the most comforting thought
112
00:04:30.310 --> 00:04:32.510
is that even the divine might be just as
113
00:04:32.510 --> 00:04:35.230
confused by modern life as we are. And maybe
114
00:04:35.230 --> 00:04:37.550
that's okay. We're all just figuring it out
115
00:04:37.550 --> 00:04:40.470
as we go along, angels included. Good
116
00:04:40.470 --> 00:04:42.950
fortune is charming and buoyant. It scores a
117
00:04:42.950 --> 00:04:44.070
7.5 out of 10.
118
00:04:44.230 --> 00:04:46.470
Voice Over Guy: You've been listening to movies. Uh, first
119
00:04:46.630 --> 00:04:49.430
available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
120
00:04:49.670 --> 00:04:52.220
iHeartRadio or your favourite podcast
121
00:04:52.610 --> 00:04:54.130
player. You can also stream on
122
00:04:54.130 --> 00:04:55.810
demand@bytes.com.
123
00:04:55.970 --> 00:04:57.970
Chris: This has been another quality podcast
124
00:04:57.970 --> 00:05:00.050
production from bytes.um.com.
0
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.880
Chris: Guardian angels getting performance reviews
1
00:00:01.880 --> 00:00:04.760
and struggling with modern technology. It
2
00:00:04.760 --> 00:00:07.160
sounds ridiculous, but that's exactly what
3
00:00:07.160 --> 00:00:10.040
makes this new film good fortune. Such
4
00:00:10.040 --> 00:00:12.080
a fascinating commentary on our times.
5
00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:14.240
Jessica: You know what's interesting about that
6
00:00:14.240 --> 00:00:17.000
premise? It perfectly captures
7
00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:19.320
how even divine intervention would probably
8
00:00:19.320 --> 00:00:21.520
get tangled up in corporate bureaucracy these
9
00:00:21.520 --> 00:00:21.840
days.
10
00:00:22.880 --> 00:00:25.680
Chris: Well, just imagine Keanu Reeves as Gabriel,
11
00:00:26.240 --> 00:00:28.480
this low ranking angel who's basically stuck
12
00:00:28.480 --> 00:00:31.040
doing the celestial equivalent of IT support,
13
00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:33.520
trying to save people from texting while
14
00:00:33.520 --> 00:00:36.240
driving. But like most entry level workers,
15
00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:38.320
he's got much bigger aspirations.
16
00:00:38.400 --> 00:00:40.520
Jessica: So what happens when an angel decides to go
17
00:00:40.520 --> 00:00:42.319
off script with their divine duties?
18
00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:46.080
Chris: Pure chaos, but in the most entertaining way
19
00:00:46.080 --> 00:00:49.080
possible. See, Gabriel spots this guy
20
00:00:49.080 --> 00:00:51.580
named Arge, played by Aziz Ansari, um,
21
00:00:52.590 --> 00:00:54.630
who's basically the poster child for the
22
00:00:54.630 --> 00:00:57.230
modern gig economy. We're talking about
23
00:00:57.230 --> 00:00:59.710
someone sleeping in his car, taking random
24
00:00:59.710 --> 00:01:02.110
jobs through an app called Task Sergeant,
25
00:01:02.590 --> 00:01:04.350
living that hustle culture life.
26
00:01:05.150 --> 00:01:07.790
Jessica: Mm, mhm. Sounds like a perfect representation
27
00:01:07.790 --> 00:01:10.630
of what nearly 36% of American workers are
28
00:01:10.630 --> 00:01:12.590
dealing with in the gig economy right now.
29
00:01:13.550 --> 00:01:16.550
Chris: Exactly. And then you've got Seth Rogen
30
00:01:16.550 --> 00:01:19.320
playing Jeff, this ultra wealthy tech
31
00:01:19.320 --> 00:01:22.280
guy who represents that top 1% we're always
32
00:01:22.280 --> 00:01:24.840
hearing about. So our well meaning but
33
00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:27.640
completely incompetent angel decides to play
34
00:01:27.640 --> 00:01:30.600
cosmic matchmaker and boom, switches
35
00:01:30.600 --> 00:01:31.560
their entire lives.
36
00:01:32.280 --> 00:01:35.200
Jessica: Wow, talk about a social experiment. How
37
00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:35.960
does that play out?
38
00:01:36.840 --> 00:01:39.040
Chris: Well, imagine going from standing in line for
39
00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:41.720
two hours to buy trendy cinnamon buns
40
00:01:41.800 --> 00:01:44.410
to suddenly having a mansion and more money
41
00:01:44.410 --> 00:01:46.930
than you know what to do with. But here's
42
00:01:46.930 --> 00:01:49.650
where it gets really interesting. Arj's
43
00:01:49.650 --> 00:01:52.410
girlfriend Elena, played by Kiki Palmer,
44
00:01:52.810 --> 00:01:55.490
is this passionate labor activist trying to
45
00:01:55.490 --> 00:01:56.970
unionize their workplace.
46
00:01:57.690 --> 00:01:59.449
Jessica: Now that's what I call a relationship
47
00:01:59.449 --> 00:02:01.690
complication. Trying to fight for workers
48
00:02:01.690 --> 00:02:03.610
rights while your partner suddenly becomes
49
00:02:03.610 --> 00:02:05.130
part of the system you're fighting against.
50
00:02:06.330 --> 00:02:08.290
Chris: And that's exactly what makes this film so
51
00:02:08.290 --> 00:02:11.060
clever. It's using this supernatural premise
52
00:02:11.220 --> 00:02:13.460
to explore very real issues about class,
53
00:02:13.860 --> 00:02:16.300
wealth inequality and how money changes
54
00:02:16.300 --> 00:02:19.140
relationships. But it never gets preachy
55
00:02:19.140 --> 00:02:22.020
because Keanu Reeves is there, bumbling
56
00:02:22.020 --> 00:02:24.340
through it all like the world's most well
57
00:02:24.340 --> 00:02:26.980
intentioned but completely clueless angel.
58
00:02:27.620 --> 00:02:29.900
Jessica: You know, it's fascinating how they're using
59
00:02:29.900 --> 00:02:32.180
comedy to tackle such serious themes.
60
00:02:32.980 --> 00:02:34.500
How do they maintain that balance?
61
00:02:35.560 --> 00:02:37.280
Chris: Through really smart writing and perfect
62
00:02:37.280 --> 00:02:40.120
timing. Like there's this brilliant
63
00:02:40.120 --> 00:02:42.320
scene where Jeff, now broke, has to figure
64
00:02:42.320 --> 00:02:44.360
out public transportation for the first time.
65
00:02:44.760 --> 00:02:46.920
It's hilarious, but it also makes you think
66
00:02:46.920 --> 00:02:48.920
about how many basic life skills wealthy
67
00:02:48.920 --> 00:02:50.040
people never have to learn.
68
00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:53.320
Jessica: Hmm. So it's kind of like Trading
69
00:02:53.320 --> 00:02:56.000
Places meets It's a Wonderful Life, but with
70
00:02:56.000 --> 00:02:56.920
a modern twist.
71
00:02:57.880 --> 00:02:59.800
Chris: That's such a perfect comparison.
72
00:03:00.930 --> 00:03:02.850
But what makes it really special is how it
73
00:03:02.850 --> 00:03:05.530
captures our current moment. The wealth
74
00:03:05.530 --> 00:03:08.130
gap, the gig economy, corporate
75
00:03:08.130 --> 00:03:10.530
activism. All while having this
76
00:03:10.530 --> 00:03:13.530
bumbling angel accidentally creating
77
00:03:13.530 --> 00:03:14.930
chaos while trying to help.
78
00:03:15.650 --> 00:03:17.890
Jessica: Well, um, that certainly sounds more relevant
79
00:03:17.890 --> 00:03:19.970
than traditional guardian angel stories about
80
00:03:19.970 --> 00:03:21.810
helping people cross the street safely.
81
00:03:22.290 --> 00:03:24.330
Chris: Right, and what's really fascinating is how
82
00:03:24.330 --> 00:03:26.530
they use Gabriel's corporate angel structure
83
00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:29.360
to comment on how even divine intervention
84
00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:31.520
would probably get bogged down in bureaucracy
85
00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:34.120
today. Like, imagine having to fill out
86
00:03:34.120 --> 00:03:36.600
celestial paperwork to justify why switching
87
00:03:36.600 --> 00:03:39.400
two people's entire lives counts as saving
88
00:03:39.400 --> 00:03:39.960
souls.
89
00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:42.240
Jessica: That's actually pretty profound when you
90
00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:45.040
think about it. Using supernatural elements
91
00:03:45.040 --> 00:03:47.000
to highlight very human systems and
92
00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:47.640
struggles.
93
00:03:47.960 --> 00:03:50.160
Chris: And that's why this film works so well. It
94
00:03:50.160 --> 00:03:52.300
manages to be both incredibly silly and
95
00:03:52.530 --> 00:03:54.850
surprisingly insightful. It's like comfort
96
00:03:54.850 --> 00:03:57.290
food for your brain. Satisfying and sweet,
97
00:03:57.290 --> 00:03:59.370
but with just enough substance to make you
98
00:03:59.370 --> 00:04:00.930
think about your own life and choices.
99
00:04:01.650 --> 00:04:03.610
Jessica: So it sounds like the real message isn't just
100
00:04:03.610 --> 00:04:05.730
about wealth inequality, but about
101
00:04:05.730 --> 00:04:07.410
understanding different perspectives.
102
00:04:08.450 --> 00:04:11.050
Chris: Exactly. And maybe that's what we all need
103
00:04:11.050 --> 00:04:13.370
right now. A reminder that even when things
104
00:04:13.370 --> 00:04:15.970
seem cosmically unfair, there might be some
105
00:04:15.970 --> 00:04:18.330
well meaning but totally incompetent angel up
106
00:04:18.330 --> 00:04:21.150
there trying their best to help. Even if
107
00:04:21.150 --> 00:04:22.830
they're probably just making things more
108
00:04:22.830 --> 00:04:23.430
complicated.
109
00:04:23.750 --> 00:04:26.070
Jessica: You know what? That's actually kind of
110
00:04:26.070 --> 00:04:27.270
comforting in a weird way.
111
00:04:28.310 --> 00:04:30.150
Chris: Well, sometimes the most comforting thought
112
00:04:30.310 --> 00:04:32.510
is that even the divine might be just as
113
00:04:32.510 --> 00:04:35.230
confused by modern life as we are. And maybe
114
00:04:35.230 --> 00:04:37.550
that's okay. We're all just figuring it out
115
00:04:37.550 --> 00:04:40.470
as we go along, angels included. Good
116
00:04:40.470 --> 00:04:42.950
fortune is charming and buoyant. It scores a
117
00:04:42.950 --> 00:04:44.070
7.5 out of 10.
118
00:04:44.230 --> 00:04:46.470
Voice Over Guy: You've been listening to movies. Uh, first
119
00:04:46.630 --> 00:04:49.430
available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
120
00:04:49.670 --> 00:04:52.220
iHeartRadio or your favourite podcast
121
00:04:52.610 --> 00:04:54.130
player. You can also stream on
122
00:04:54.130 --> 00:04:55.810
demand@bytes.com.
123
00:04:55.970 --> 00:04:57.970
Chris: This has been another quality podcast
124
00:04:57.970 --> 00:05:00.050
production from bytes.um.com.
