Absolutely Anything
Some aliens, who travel from planet to planet to see what kind of species inhabit them, come to Earth. And if humans are, according to their standards, decent, they are welcomed to be their friend. And if not, the planet is destroyed. To find out, they choose one inhabitant and give that person the power to do whatever he or she wants. And they choose Neil Clarke (Simon Pegg), a teacher who teaches the special kids. He is constantly being berated by the headmaster and is attracted to his neighbor, Catherine (Kate Beckinsale), but doesn't have the guts to approach her. But now he can do anything he wants, but has to be careful.
The film earned $6.3M at the global box office.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Absolutely Anything (2015) exemplifies strategically placed dramatic framework, characteristic of Terry Jones's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 25 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.5, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Neil Clarke
Catherine West
Dennis
Ray
Colonel Grant
Main Cast & Characters
Neil Clarke
Played by Simon Pegg
A disillusioned schoolteacher who is suddenly granted absolute power by aliens to do anything he wishes.
Catherine West
Played by Kate Beckinsale
Neil's neighbor and love interest, an American woman living in London with concerns about her stalker ex-boyfriend.
Dennis
Played by Robin Williams
Neil's dog who gains the ability to speak and becomes his conscience and companion throughout his misadventures.
Ray
Played by Sanjeev Bhaskar
Neil's best friend and fellow teacher who becomes involved in Neil's increasingly bizarre experiments with power.
Colonel Grant
Played by Rob Riggle
Catherine's aggressive and possessive ex-boyfriend who refuses to accept their breakup.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Neil Clarke is an ordinary, frustrated schoolteacher living an unfulfilling life in London, dismissed by colleagues and unable to connect with Catherine, his attractive neighbor.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when The aliens grant Neil absolute power as a test. When he casually wishes for his students to pay attention, they become mindless zombies. Neil discovers he can make anything happen just by speaking it aloud.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 21 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Neil makes the active choice to use his powers for personal gain. He decides to pursue Catherine romantically and improve his life circumstances, fully embracing the power rather than rejecting it., moving from reaction to action.
At 42 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False defeat: Catherine discovers Neil has been manipulating her emotions with his powers. She's horrified and disgusted, rejecting him completely. Neil realizes his powers can't create genuine love or connection. Stakes raise: the aliens are watching his moral choices., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 63 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Dennis is killed by Colonel Grant's men who are trying to capture Neil. The one genuine relationship Neil had—with his dog—dies because of the power. Neil experiences real loss and grief, the 'whiff of death' that clarifies everything., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 67 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Neil realizes the solution: he must give up the power entirely. He understands that true happiness comes from authentic relationships, not manipulation. He decides to transfer the power to everyone on Earth equally, solving the test the aliens set., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Absolutely Anything's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Absolutely Anything against these established plot points, we can identify how Terry Jones utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Absolutely Anything within the comedy genre.
Terry Jones's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Terry Jones films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Absolutely Anything represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Terry Jones filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Terry Jones analyses, see Life of Brian, Monty Python's The Meaning of Life.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Neil Clarke is an ordinary, frustrated schoolteacher living an unfulfilling life in London, dismissed by colleagues and unable to connect with Catherine, his attractive neighbor.
Theme
Neil's friend Ray warns him that 'you can't just snap your fingers and make things happen,' establishing the theme about power, responsibility, and the consequences of getting what you wish for.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Neil's mundane existence: his job frustrations, unrequited attraction to Catherine, his relationship with his dog Dennis, and his position as an overlooked nobody. Parallel storyline establishes aliens observing Earth to decide humanity's fate.
Disruption
The aliens grant Neil absolute power as a test. When he casually wishes for his students to pay attention, they become mindless zombies. Neil discovers he can make anything happen just by speaking it aloud.
Resistance
Neil experiments cautiously with his powers, testing their limits. He tries small wishes, reverses mistakes, and debates what to do with this ability. Dennis the dog begins offering commentary, serving as an unlikely guide figure.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Neil makes the active choice to use his powers for personal gain. He decides to pursue Catherine romantically and improve his life circumstances, fully embracing the power rather than rejecting it.
Mirror World
Neil gives Dennis the power to speak, creating a companion who reflects back Neil's own selfishness and impulsive desires. Dennis becomes the thematic mirror, showing what unchecked wish fulfillment looks like.
Premise
The 'fun and games' of absolute power: Neil makes himself famous, manipulates Catherine's feelings, deals with Dennis's escalating demands for food and walks, and enjoys wish fulfillment while ignoring growing complications.
Midpoint
False defeat: Catherine discovers Neil has been manipulating her emotions with his powers. She's horrified and disgusted, rejecting him completely. Neil realizes his powers can't create genuine love or connection. Stakes raise: the aliens are watching his moral choices.
Opposition
Neil's attempts to fix things only make them worse. Dennis's wishes spiral out of control. Colonel Grant discovers the power and tries to steal it for military purposes. Neil's selfish use of power creates escalating chaos and danger.
Collapse
Dennis is killed by Colonel Grant's men who are trying to capture Neil. The one genuine relationship Neil had—with his dog—dies because of the power. Neil experiences real loss and grief, the 'whiff of death' that clarifies everything.
Crisis
Neil processes Dennis's death and his own responsibility. He resurrects Dennis but realizes power without wisdom is destructive. He reflects on what actually matters: genuine connection, free will, and using power responsibly.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Neil realizes the solution: he must give up the power entirely. He understands that true happiness comes from authentic relationships, not manipulation. He decides to transfer the power to everyone on Earth equally, solving the test the aliens set.
Synthesis
Neil confronts Colonel Grant, outsmarts him, and executes his plan to distribute power equally to all humanity. This act of selflessness proves humanity's worth to the aliens. He pursues Catherine without powers, on honest terms. The world transforms as everyone shares equal power.
Transformation
Neil and Catherine are together genuinely, without manipulation. Dennis is happy and free. The world has changed because Neil learned to value authenticity over control. The closing image mirrors the opening but shows a transformed man who understands that real power is self-restraint.