Good Fortune (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The film spans multiple environments, from humble urban settings like a working hardware store (Hardware Heaven), downtown parking lots, and casual diners to the glittering world of Jeff's mansion. It also travels to Paris for a weekend and to Texas, using these diverse locations to highlight social stratification and Arj's journey through different worlds.

• setting
• locations
• hardware store
• mansion
• paris
• texas

The movie is set in the present day with hints of near-future technology. It specifically references the gig economy through the TaskSergeant platform, robotics, and a culture of rapid job turnover, anchoring the story in contemporary urban life and modern anxieties about financial precarity.

• time period
• present day
• future
• gig economy
• near-future

Good Fortune explores three core themes: Wealth vs Fulfillment (money buys conveniences but not happiness; fulfillment comes from relationships and community), Empathy (compassion for ordinary workers and learning from others' hardships), and Purpose (what counts as a meaningful life beyond status and appearances). The film's philosophy emphasizes that success unshared is failure.

• themes
• wealth
• happiness
• empathy
• purpose
• community

Arj (played by Aziz Ansari) is a hard-working, underemployed man who takes odd jobs via TaskSergeant while dreaming of a brighter future. He struggles with financial precarity and temptation, serving as the film's protagonist who learns through Gabriel's interventions that happiness isn't guaranteed by wealth alone.

• arj
• aziz ansari
• protagonist
• main character

Gabriel (played by Keanu Reeves) is an angel assigned to watch over Arj and guide his choices, though his powers are limited by celestial rules. He discovers human joys and regrets throughout the film and ultimately gains a mortal perspective after his wings are affected by human consequences.

• gabriel
• keanu reeves
• angel
• guardian

Elena (played by Keke Palmer) is Arj's coworker at Hardware Heaven who champions workers' rights and questions corporate priorities. She challenges Arj's complacency and fights for a union, illustrating the tension between personal ambitions and collective wellbeing.

• elena
• keke palmer
• worker rights
• union
• hardware heaven

The theme argues that while money can buy conveniences, it cannot buy happiness. Arj's ascent into wealthier life reveals that fulfillment comes from relationships, purpose, and community, not from the ability to pay for meals or fancy cars. The film suggests the pursuit of wealth can mask deeper dissatisfaction unless balanced by human connection.

• wealth
• happiness
• money
• fulfillment
• relationships

This philosophy, central to the film's message, represents DeJoria's commitment to a triple bottom line approach, prioritizing people, the environment, and financial responsibility. It underscores the film's argument that true success involves sharing wealth and opportunity with others rather than hoarding it for oneself.

• success
• philosophy
• wealth sharing
• triple bottom line

Jeff (played by Seth Rogen) is a tech-obsessed wealthy householder who hires Arj and later faces consequences when their lives become intertwined. His plan to reclaim his life leads him to steal and confront the fragility of his status, serving as a foil to explore wealth and privilege.

• jeff
• seth rogen
• wealthy
• tech
• householder

The angels (Gabriel, Martha, and Azrael) serve as guides who intervene in human lives but are bound by rules. Gabriel's mission is to help Arj find purpose, while Martha leads the celestial hierarchy with order and accountability. The angelic framework adds a whimsical tone while exploring themes of compassion, judgment, and human connection from a supernatural perspective.

• angels
• martha
• gabriel
• celestial
• supernatural

The film suggests that purpose arises from choices that affect others, not merely from personal gain. Arj's oscillation between two worlds tests his sense of purpose, and guidance from characters like Martha pushes him to reflect on his motives. The arc indicates that a meaningful life goes beyond status and appearances.

• purpose
• meaning
• life
• choices
• personal growth

The film uses TaskSergeant (a gig economy platform) to show the reality of precarious employment, rapid job turnover, and financial instability faced by modern workers. This backdrop shapes Arj's struggles and highlights the film's commentary on contemporary urban life and the pursuit of wealth as a quick fix.

• gig economy
• jobs
• tasksergeant
• precarious work
• employment