And So It Goes
Nobody likes self-centered realtor Oren Little, and he prefers it that way. He's deliberately mean to anyone who crosses his path and wants nothing more than to sell one final house and retire. His life turns upside-down when his estranged son drops off a granddaughter he never knew existed. Suddenly left in charge of her and with no idea how to take care of a child, he pawns the girl off on his neighbor, Leah -- but he eventually learns how to open his heart.
Working with a moderate budget of $18.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $25.3M in global revenue (+41% profit margin).
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%)
And So It Goes (2014) exhibits deliberately positioned dramatic framework, characteristic of Rob 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 34 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.5, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Oren Little
Leah
Sarah
Luke
Main Cast & Characters
Oren Little
Played by Michael Douglas
A bitter, self-centered real estate agent whose world is disrupted when his estranged son leaves a granddaughter in his care.
Leah
Played by Diane Keaton
A widowed lounge singer and Oren's neighbor who helps him care for his granddaughter and gradually breaks through his emotional walls.
Sarah
Played by Sterling Jerins
Oren's young granddaughter who is left in his care when her father goes to rehab, forcing Oren to confront his emotional distance.
Luke
Played by Scott Shepherd
Oren's estranged son struggling with addiction who unexpectedly brings his daughter to Oren seeking help.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Oren Little, a wealthy and deeply unpleasant realtor, alienates everyone around him including neighbors and clients with his selfish, caustic behavior, living isolated in his luxury duplex.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Oren's estranged son Luke arrives unexpectedly with shocking news: he's going to prison and drops off Sarah, the nine-year-old granddaughter Oren never knew existed, for him to care for.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. 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 26% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Oren accepts that he must care for Sarah and commits to keeping her, moving her into his home and beginning to adjust his self-centered life to accommodate his granddaughter., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False victory: Oren and Leah become romantically involved, and Oren seems transformed—bonding with Sarah, opening his heart, and appearing to have overcome his emotional barriers. Everything seems to be working out., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 71 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Oren sabotages his relationship with Leah through his fear and selfishness, driving her away. He faces losing both Leah and Sarah, recreating the isolation and emotional death he experienced after his wife's passing., 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 79% of the runtime. Oren realizes that love requires risk and vulnerability. He understands that protecting himself from pain has only guaranteed loneliness. He chooses to fight for his relationships rather than retreat into isolation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
And So It Goes'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 And So It Goes against these established plot points, we can identify how Rob Reiner utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish And So It Goes within the comedy genre.
Rob Reiner's Structural Approach
Among the 17 Rob Reiner films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. And So It Goes represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Rob Reiner filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Rob Reiner analyses, see The Sure Thing, The American President and The Princess Bride.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Oren Little, a wealthy and deeply unpleasant realtor, alienates everyone around him including neighbors and clients with his selfish, caustic behavior, living isolated in his luxury duplex.
Theme
Leah, his lounge singer neighbor, tells Oren that you can't go through life without letting people in, suggesting that human connection is essential despite pain.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Oren's world: his estranged relationship with his son, his grief over his deceased wife, his luxury properties, and his contentious relationship with neighbor Leah who performs at a local bar despite stage fright.
Disruption
Oren's estranged son Luke arrives unexpectedly with shocking news: he's going to prison and drops off Sarah, the nine-year-old granddaughter Oren never knew existed, for him to care for.
Resistance
Oren panics and resists taking responsibility for Sarah, attempting to pawn her off on others. Leah reluctantly helps him navigate basic childcare, becoming an impromptu guide as Oren debates whether he can handle this.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Oren accepts that he must care for Sarah and commits to keeping her, moving her into his home and beginning to adjust his self-centered life to accommodate his granddaughter.
Mirror World
Oren and Leah's relationship deepens as she helps him with Sarah. Their growing connection mirrors the theme of opening up to love and vulnerability despite past hurt.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Oren learning to be a grandfather and becoming more human. Sarah softens him; he and Leah grow closer through awkward dates and shared parenting duties, showing the promise of change and connection.
Midpoint
False victory: Oren and Leah become romantically involved, and Oren seems transformed—bonding with Sarah, opening his heart, and appearing to have overcome his emotional barriers. Everything seems to be working out.
Opposition
Old wounds resurface. Oren's fear of loss and abandonment intensifies. His selfishness creeps back; tensions rise with Leah as his emotional walls rebuild. Sarah's situation becomes more complicated as custody questions loom.
Collapse
Oren sabotages his relationship with Leah through his fear and selfishness, driving her away. He faces losing both Leah and Sarah, recreating the isolation and emotional death he experienced after his wife's passing.
Crisis
Oren confronts his darkest fears alone: that his inability to be vulnerable and let people in will cost him everyone he loves. He processes the reality that his self-protection has become self-destruction.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Oren realizes that love requires risk and vulnerability. He understands that protecting himself from pain has only guaranteed loneliness. He chooses to fight for his relationships rather than retreat into isolation.
Synthesis
Oren takes action to win back Leah, demonstrating genuine change through vulnerable gestures. He fights for custody of Sarah, proving his commitment to family. He dismantles his emotional walls and shows up authentically for those he loves.
Transformation
Oren, Leah, and Sarah form a blended family. The once-isolated, bitter man is now surrounded by love, having learned that connection is worth the risk of loss. The final image shows him open, vulnerable, and truly happy.