Good Fortune

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.

The path to success does not come easy, but Good Fortune shows that no businessman has to lose their soul to the daily grind. Following billionaire and Paul Mitchell CEO John Paul DeJoria, Good Fortune is the story of how DeJoria practices conscious capitalism and gives back to over 160 charities today. Fuel directors Josh and Rebecca Tickell made this documentary personal with the genuine interviews from DeJoria's friends and with the old photographs and archival footage. I specifically loved the personal interviews from stars such as Danny Trejo, Dan Aykroyd, and Michelle Phillips! Being a fan of The Mama's and the Papa's, seeing Michelle Phillips' interview gushing about her childhood friend DeJoria was personally one of the highlights of this movie for me. My favorite part is an ironic story Phillips told about a time when her and DeJoria passed an innocent note in class, how their teacher caught them, and how he made both Phillips and DeJoria stand up in class and said "these two will never amount to anything." I can sit here writing about every aspect I loved about this movie, but honestly, I would just ruin it for you. I recommend this movie because every single scene gets better and more inspiring!

Good Fortune is an inspiring documentary about the rags to riches story of a man named John Paul Dejoria. If you haven't heard of him, you've almost definitely heard of his businesses – he's the founder and CEO of companies like Patron and Paul Mitchell. John Paul isn't your typical businessman, however. The film details how Dejoria grew up destitute and was at one point homeless and how that experience shaped him. Now that he is so successful, he gives back to over 160 different charities and activist organizations. The directors, Josh and Rebecca Tickell, have previously won awards for their other documentaries likes Fuel, and it is no surprise that Good Fortune turned out so well. I loved the pacing they used and the variety of the scenes in the film. There are narrative moments telling us about John Paul's life, there are interviews with his friends that give us a deeper look into the type of person he is, and there are scenes where we see John Paul in action running his businesses and doing charity work. The variety of these scenes keeps you engaged in topics like business and charity, and makes you invest emotionally into the story of John Paul's life. He has an amazing story that made for an amazing movie.

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.