Good Fortune

After the success of the Tickell's documentary Fuel, their foray into Good Fortune continues their tradition of covering topics that focus on social relevance. In this case: John Paul DeJoria. This real success of this film lives and dies with DeJoria. His charisma is unparalleled and magnetic to the viewers. We see the rise of an honest and humble man. That being said, the film explores tough periods of his life: facing homelessness, failed marriages, bunking with biker gangs. It shows the highs and the lows, which are quintessential to any biographical piece. The crux of the film is showing what Paul really stands for: Philanthropy and giving back. The Tickell's hone this subject in to display the joys of conscious capitalism, which DeJoria makes a point to exuberance in his life. The film shines its brightest at this moment and will easily give the viewer hope for humanity.Weaved into the film is a killer soundtrack and asides from famous celebrity friends. This is the best crowd pleasing film of the year for anyone looking for a film that will enlighten their outlook on life.

I haven't seen a documentary this good in a long time. Good Fortune is authentic, well done and offers inspiration at every turn. JP DeJoria is not your average CEO, he truly started from nothing and has used his passion and knack for sales to birth his world empires into what they are today. I walked away from this film with an overwhelming urgency to take after JP and give what I can. His success story will leave you feeling capable, empathetic and inspired. This movie does an amazing job at showcasing his business savvy and his personal endeavors, including his passion for philanthropy and family values. For documentary lovers or lovers of Patrón and Paul Mitchell, this is a must see.

Good Fortune is an inspiring "rags to riches" story about how John Paul DeJoria went from being homeless twice in his life, to then becoming a successful entrepreneur and lifelong philanthropist. The documentary focuses on how JP started brands such as Paul Mitchell and Patron Tequila from pretty much nothing, and the hardships that he has overcome in order to be in the position that he is in today. Throughout the film, the audience is taken back in time to pivotal moments in JP's life in order to show the tough road to success that he has conquered. My favorite aspect of the film was the countless stories told by close friends of JP's, such as Dan Aykroyd and Michelle Phillips, which gives the audience an in depth and personal account of JP's life that wouldn't normally be available to the public. I really enjoyed watching this genuine and positive documentary, and highly recommend it to anyone interested in knowing what the true definition of the American Dream is.

"Growing up I knew my father was different." John Paul DeJoria's daughter's words naturally speak to the heart of this film. Today, the idea of being "wealthy" has become old news. Countless TV shows feature people with enormous amounts of wealth and feature their lavish lifestyles (i.e Million Dollar Listing, Shark Tank, The Kardashians, etc.) and you don't have to look closely to see that everywhere billionaires are buying out the millionaires.

Praise then must be given to the directors of Good Fortune, Joshua Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell, for creating a film that is both unique and original. It would have been easy enough to simply portray JP's hard fought journey from the rock bottom to the star studded top: The son of a poor Greek immigrant living out of a car and eating off of the dollar menu to survive, then rising to become Co-Founder of hair goliath Paul Mitchell and founder of tequila king, Patrón. Through this, DeJoria encapsulates the idealistic American dream through his sheer determination. Yet the directors push further and deeper into the subject matter, diving headfirst into societal and moral themes that make DeJoria's story so exclusively captivating and worthy of the big screen.

"Profit, people, planet," JP's mentality of conscious capitalism is revolutionary and awe-inspiring. Whether it is standing on the bow of a ship fighting against whalers in the name of conservationism, giving back to the local Mexican community of the Patrón company, spending his wealth on innovative renewable energy and sustainability, or simply building up his employees at Paul Mitchell, JP lives by example and shows the audience the true meaning of philanthropy.

The film accomplishes this as it weaves its story through the use of a combination of vintage photos and home video, present-day clips, and a handful of celebrity commentaries all brought together by a great soundtrack and sharp narration by Dan Aykeroyd. In all, Good Fortune is an excellent film that paints a picture that truly deserves to be told. Documentary film fan or not, I whole-heartedly recommend this unusual, wonderful and joyous film.

Good Fortune is truly one of the best documentaries I have seen and takes you on a journey through John Paul DeJoria's life from his poor and humble beginnings to his success as an entrepreneur and philanthropist. For him success is defined as being the best at what you do and helping others, not about profit. DeJoria is a person who improves upon the world each day and has the desire to make a difference. This film sparked an inspiration in me to always give what I can to others and to persevere over all of the obstacles life throws at you. The directors excel at engaging you into his story and making you feel connected to DeJoria. From being homeless twice, to creating a solar powered car, and then celebrating his 70th Birthday with a fundraiser for first responders, John Paul is one of a kind person. I highly recommend you watch this film as you learn about the compassionate and charismatic JP DeJoria and by the end you will feel as if you knew him all along.