The plot: A well-meaning but inept angel named Gabriel meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker and a wealthy venture capitalist.
This movie was quite good.
Pros: I like how highlighted the difference of life, change & hilarious commentary on economic dysfunction and the gig economy. Keanu Reeves made his Gabriel endearing and charismatic. Aziz Ansari impresses me with both directing, writing, producing & staring in this movie. I find many of the partnerships shown in the film funny, honest & truthful. Seth Rogen was fun as always & how they pull off the big twist that leaves to a satisfying result.
Cons: Not a lot of Sandra Oh only in minor parts. The music wasn’t engaging, and it doesn’t develop the law of his angels of this world at all.
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Directed by Aziz Ansari
Produced by Aziz Ansari, Alan Yang, Anthony Katagas, Brady Fujikawa, Jon Humphrey
Screenplay by Aziz Ansari
Starring: Seth Rogen; Aziz Ansari; Keke Palmer; Sandra Oh & Keanu Reeves.
Edited by Daniel Haworth
Cinematography: Adam Newport-Berra
Music by Carter Burwell
Production companies: Garam Films, Oh Brudder Productions, Keep Your Head, Yang Pictures
Distributed by: Lionsgate Films
Cast:
- Seth Rogen as Jeff, a wealthy man who lives a life of luxury and excess. He owns several cars, a modern mansion with a pool and a disco club in the basement, and hosts wild parties. Following the angel Gabriel’s intervention with Jeff’s unlucky employee Arj, he and the man have their lives swapped.
- Aziz Ansari as Arj, a struggling man. He ends up doing various odd jobs for his wealthy socialite employer Jeff, such as fixing his pool and finding him a shaman for an ayahuasca journey. After hitting rock bottom, he meets Gabriel in a Denny’s parking lot, who tries to show him that money does not solve one’s problems.
- Keke Palmer as Elena, who works at a hardware store with Arj. She fights for better working conditions and to unionize.
- Sandra Oh as Martha, an angel who takes Gabriel’s wings.
- Keanu Reeves as Gabriel, an angel. He tries to regain his wings after a plan to show a struggling man that wealth can not solve one’s problems goes haywire, resulting in the man taking over his affluent employer’s life. Normally, Gabriel is responsible for saving people from getting into road accidents due to texting while driving, but tries to show the man that the life of wealth is “not all that it’s cracked up to be”.
- Stephen McKinley Henderson as Azrael, an angel who helps lost souls.
- Penny Johnson Jerald as Elena’s mother.
- Sherry Cola as Linda, a person who finds Gabriel attractive.
A shaman called Nana appears holding a ceremony involving ayahuasca.
I recommend watching this film in cinemas.
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars.
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident film reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe