Along Came Polly
Reuben Feffer thinks he's found the love of his life but on his honeymoon he discovers her cheating on him with a scuba instructor. Reuben travels back home to get his life on track. On a night out with best pal, Sandy Lyle, Reuben discovers an old school friend, Polly Prince. Reuben feels a connection straight away, and tries constantly to get her to like him. But it's not going to be easy for Reuben, especially when he spends his days calculating risks, and when someone unexpected turns up.
Despite a respectable budget of $42.0M, Along Came Polly became a box office success, earning $178.3M worldwide—a 325% return.
1 win & 9 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%)
Along Came Polly (2004) exemplifies deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of John Hamburg's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 30 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Reuben Feffer
Polly Prince
Sandy Lyle
Lisa Kramer
Claude
Stan Indursky
Main Cast & Characters
Reuben Feffer
Played by Ben Stiller
Risk-averse insurance analyst whose honeymoon disaster forces him to confront his fear-based lifestyle
Polly Prince
Played by Jennifer Aniston
Free-spirited, chaotic waitress and aspiring actress who lives spontaneously without plans
Sandy Lyle
Played by Philip Seymour Hoffman
Reuben's former child-star best friend, now a washed-up actor living recklessly
Lisa Kramer
Played by Debra Messing
Reuben's new wife who cheats on him during their honeymoon with scuba instructor Claude
Claude
Played by Hank Azaria
French scuba instructor who seduces Lisa on Reuben's honeymoon
Stan Indursky
Played by Alec Baldwin
Reuben's business partner and best man, supportive but conventional
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Reuben Feffer, an uptight risk-assessment analyst, is getting married to Lisa on a beautiful beach in St. Barts. He represents order, caution, and playing it safe in life.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Reuben walks in on his new bride Lisa having sex with Claude, the French scuba instructor, on their honeymoon. His perfect planned life collapses immediately.. At 11% 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 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Reuben decides to ask Polly out on a date, stepping outside his comfort zone for the first time. This active choice represents entering a new world of unpredictability and spontaneity., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Reuben and Polly sleep together for the first time, and he experiences genuine connection and joy. False victory: things seem to be working beautifully, but his old world (Lisa) is about to complicate everything. Stakes raise as he's falling in love., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 66 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Polly discovers Reuben's risk analysis comparing her to Lisa. Hurt and betrayed, she breaks up with him. Reuben loses the woman who was teaching him to live. The death of the relationship and his chance at genuine transformation., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 71 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Sandy helps Reuben realize he needs to take the biggest risk of his life: going after Polly without guarantees, without risk analysis, purely on faith. Reuben synthesizes his organized skills with newfound spontaneity to win her back., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Along Came Polly's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Along Came Polly against these established plot points, we can identify how John Hamburg utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Along Came Polly within the comedy genre.
John Hamburg's Structural Approach
Among the 3 John Hamburg films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.5, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Along Came Polly takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete John Hamburg filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more John Hamburg analyses, see Why Him?, I Love You, Man.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Reuben Feffer, an uptight risk-assessment analyst, is getting married to Lisa on a beautiful beach in St. Barts. He represents order, caution, and playing it safe in life.
Theme
Sandy Lyle, Reuben's former child actor best friend, embodies living recklessly without consequences, introducing the theme of risk versus safety and letting go of control.
Worldbuilding
Reuben's wedding and honeymoon setup. We meet his risk-averse personality through his job, his organized life, and his carefully planned future with Lisa. His world is one of spreadsheets, insurance, and avoiding anything unpredictable.
Disruption
Reuben walks in on his new bride Lisa having sex with Claude, the French scuba instructor, on their honeymoon. His perfect planned life collapses immediately.
Resistance
Devastated Reuben returns home and debates how to move forward. Sandy encourages him to get back out there. At a party, Reuben reconnects with Polly Prince, a free-spirited woman from middle school who represents everything he's not: spontaneous, messy, and comfortable with risk.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Reuben decides to ask Polly out on a date, stepping outside his comfort zone for the first time. This active choice represents entering a new world of unpredictability and spontaneity.
Mirror World
Polly takes Reuben to an ethnic restaurant with questionable hygiene. She embodies the film's theme: embracing life's messiness and risk. Their relationship becomes the mirror reflecting what Reuben needs to learn.
Premise
The fun and games of Reuben trying to adapt to Polly's chaotic world. He suffers from spicy food, meets her ferret Rodolfo, attempts salsa dancing, and slowly loosens up. The promise of the premise: watching an uptight guy fall for a free spirit.
Midpoint
Reuben and Polly sleep together for the first time, and he experiences genuine connection and joy. False victory: things seem to be working beautifully, but his old world (Lisa) is about to complicate everything. Stakes raise as he's falling in love.
Opposition
Lisa returns wanting Reuben back, creating a love triangle. Reuben's risk-assessment programming kicks in, and he uses his risk analysis software to compare Lisa (safe, familiar) versus Polly (risky, unpredictable). His old fears resurface. Polly senses his hesitation and pulls away.
Collapse
Polly discovers Reuben's risk analysis comparing her to Lisa. Hurt and betrayed, she breaks up with him. Reuben loses the woman who was teaching him to live. The death of the relationship and his chance at genuine transformation.
Crisis
Reuben wallows in despair. He nearly returns to Lisa and his safe, controlled life. Dark night of the soul as he processes what he's lost and who he wants to be.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Sandy helps Reuben realize he needs to take the biggest risk of his life: going after Polly without guarantees, without risk analysis, purely on faith. Reuben synthesizes his organized skills with newfound spontaneity to win her back.
Synthesis
Reuben crashes Polly's work event and publicly declares his love, embracing embarrassment and vulnerability. He performs a salsa dance (callback to earlier failure) showing he's changed. He chooses love over safety, Polly over Lisa, risk over certainty.
Transformation
Reuben and Polly together, happy and committed. Final image shows Reuben has transformed from a man paralyzed by risk assessment into someone who can embrace life's beautiful unpredictability. The uptight risk analyst now lives with a ferret.