All of Me
Having just turned thirty-eight, Angeleno Roger Cobb is at a crossroads in his life. From a humble background, he is competent at his job as a lawyer at Burton Schuyler's prestigious firm, but is unsatisfied working on behalf of rich people and the problems of the one percent. Although he would rather eke out a life as a musician if he could, he would be more satisfied as a lawyer if he made partner and got better cases. While Roger always bringing his dog Bix to the office does not instill much confidence for Burton in Roger as partner material, Roger seriously dating Burton's daughter, Peggy Schuyler, may give him a path to partner, especially if he and Peggy get married. In the latest of those unsatisfying work tasks, he is asked by extremely wealthy client, single Edwina Cutwater, to make a change to her will. Edwina, a selfish middle aged woman who has never done a nice thing in her life, has always been sickly, and as such has not really enjoyed what life she has had despite her wealth. On her deathbed, Edwina now wants to deed her entire estate to Terry Hoskins, the beautiful adult daughter of her stableman, Fred Hoskins. The reason: Edwina plans to use the services of Tibetan swami Prahka Lasa to transfer her soul into Terry's body, Terry, in putting her wild past behind her, agreeing for her own soul to float into the ethers. In being in Terry's healthy body, Edwina, after her own body has given out, wants to enjoy what her money has not been able to buy for herself. Little does Edwina know that even if Terry did believe in the the swami's powers, Terry has no intention of giving up her body to Edwina, Terry planning to live the high life with Edwina's money after Edwina's death. Even after Edwina does die, she and Roger become more connected in body and soul, they, while needing to adjust to their time together, may get a better perspective of their respective lives.
The film earned $36.4M at the global box office.
2 wins & 3 nominations
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%)
All of Me (1984) showcases carefully calibrated dramatic framework, characteristic of Carl Reiner's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 33 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Roger Cobb
Edwina Cutwater
Terry Hoskins
Tyrone Wattell
Peggy Schuyler
Main Cast & Characters
Roger Cobb
Played by Steve Martin
A uptight attorney whose body becomes possessed by half of Edwina Cutwater's soul, forcing him to share control of his physical form.
Edwina Cutwater
Played by Lily Tomlin
A wealthy dying woman who attempts to transfer her soul into a younger body but ends up trapped inside Roger Cobb instead.
Terry Hoskins
Played by Victoria Tennant
Roger's girlfriend and fellow attorney who becomes confused by his increasingly bizarre behavior.
Tyrone Wattell
Played by Richard Libertini
A blind street musician and spiritual guide who performs the soul transmigration ritual.
Peggy Schuyler
Played by Dana Elcar
Edwina's stable worker and the intended recipient of Edwina's soul transfer.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Roger Cobb is an uptight corporate lawyer going through the motions at his stuffy law firm, dissatisfied with his life and career path but unable to break free from his rigid existence.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Roger is assigned to handle Edwina Cutwater's will, forcing the uptight lawyer into contact with the eccentric dying heiress and her bizarre plan for spiritual transmigration.. 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Edwina dies and the transmigration ceremony goes wrong—her soul accidentally enters Roger's body instead of Terry's, trapping both consciousness in one body with Roger controlling the right side and Edwina the left., moving from reaction to action.
At 47 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Roger and Edwina reach a tentative cooperation, learning to move in sync. Roger experiences a moment of joy and freedom he's never felt before, dancing with newfound grace at a party—a false victory as the arrangement cannot last., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 70 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Edwina's servants succeed in kidnapping Roger to extract Edwina's soul, threatening both Roger's life and any chance he has for happiness with Terry. Roger realizes he may die without ever truly having lived., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 75 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Roger and Edwina work together in perfect synchronization to escape their captors. Roger fully embraces the lessons Edwina has taught him about letting go of control and living authentically, combining his determination with newfound spontaneity., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
All of Me'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 All of Me against these established plot points, we can identify how Carl Reiner utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish All of Me within the comedy genre.
Carl Reiner's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Carl Reiner films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. All of Me takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Carl Reiner filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Carl Reiner analyses, see Summer Rental, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid and The Jerk.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Roger Cobb is an uptight corporate lawyer going through the motions at his stuffy law firm, dissatisfied with his life and career path but unable to break free from his rigid existence.
Theme
Edwina Cutwater's guru Prahka Lasa speaks about the soul's journey and the possibility of transmigration, establishing the theme: true freedom comes from experiencing life from another perspective.
Worldbuilding
Roger's mundane legal work and strained relationship with his girlfriend Peggy are established. We meet the wealthy, dying Edwina Cutwater who plans to transfer her soul into a younger woman's body through mystical means.
Disruption
Roger is assigned to handle Edwina Cutwater's will, forcing the uptight lawyer into contact with the eccentric dying heiress and her bizarre plan for spiritual transmigration.
Resistance
Roger reluctantly deals with Edwina's strange requests and meets Terry Hoskins, the stable master who is supposed to receive Edwina's soul. Roger is skeptical and resistant to the mystical elements surrounding the case.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Edwina dies and the transmigration ceremony goes wrong—her soul accidentally enters Roger's body instead of Terry's, trapping both consciousness in one body with Roger controlling the right side and Edwina the left.
Mirror World
Roger begins interacting with Terry Hoskins, who represents the free-spirited life Roger has denied himself. She becomes the romantic interest who will help Roger discover what he truly values beyond his rigid existence.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Roger learning to navigate life with Edwina's soul controlling half his body—physical comedy as they fight for control, arguing constantly while Roger tries to maintain his normal life and hide the situation.
Midpoint
Roger and Edwina reach a tentative cooperation, learning to move in sync. Roger experiences a moment of joy and freedom he's never felt before, dancing with newfound grace at a party—a false victory as the arrangement cannot last.
Opposition
The impossible nature of the situation intensifies. Roger's career crumbles as he cannot maintain his professional facade. Edwina's scheming servants plot to capture her soul for their own purposes. Roger's relationship with Peggy ends while his feelings for Terry deepen.
Collapse
Edwina's servants succeed in kidnapping Roger to extract Edwina's soul, threatening both Roger's life and any chance he has for happiness with Terry. Roger realizes he may die without ever truly having lived.
Crisis
Roger, trapped and facing death, reflects on what he's learned from being forced to share his existence with Edwina. He recognizes that his rigid control over his life has prevented him from truly experiencing joy, love, and spontaneity.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Roger and Edwina work together in perfect synchronization to escape their captors. Roger fully embraces the lessons Edwina has taught him about letting go of control and living authentically, combining his determination with newfound spontaneity.
Synthesis
Roger and Edwina race to complete the transmigration ceremony correctly, transferring Edwina's soul into Terry's body. Roger must let go of control and trust in the mystical process he once mocked. The transfer succeeds, freeing both souls.
Transformation
Roger, now alone in his body but fundamentally changed, embraces Terry (now housing Edwina's soul). He has transformed from an uptight, controlled lawyer into someone capable of love, spontaneity, and accepting life's mysteries—free at last.