Are We Done Yet?
Newlyweds Nick and Suzanne decide to move to the suburbs to provide a better life for their two kids. But their idea of a dream home is disturbed by a contractor with a bizarre approach to business.
The film earned $58.4M 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%)
Are We Done Yet? (2007) reveals meticulously timed dramatic framework, characteristic of Steve Carr's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 32 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Nick Persons
Suzanne Persons
Chuck Mitchell Jr.
Lindsey Persons
Kevin Persons
Main Cast & Characters
Nick Persons
Played by Ice Cube
A sports memorabilia collector who moves his new family to the suburbs and struggles with a dilapidated fixer-upper house.
Suzanne Persons
Played by Nia Long
Nick's wife and mother of two, who dreams of raising her family in a peaceful suburban home.
Chuck Mitchell Jr.
Played by John C. McGinley
A manipulative contractor who exploits Nick's inexperience and sabotages the house renovation.
Lindsey Persons
Played by Aleisha Allen
Nick's preteen stepdaughter who initially resents the move and struggles to adapt to suburban life.
Kevin Persons
Played by Philip Daniel Bolden
Nick's young stepson who is more adaptable to change but gets into trouble in the new environment.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Nick and Suzanne's wedding day. Nick is marrying Suzanne and becoming a stepfather to her two children, establishing his new family life and desire to be the perfect husband and father.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Nick and Suzanne find their dream house - a beautiful Victorian fixer-upper in the suburbs. Nick sees it as the perfect opportunity to give his family everything they deserve, ignoring warning signs about its condition.. At 10% 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 shows the protagonist's commitment to Nick actively chooses to buy the house and commit to the renovation, moving his family in despite the chaos. This irreversible decision launches them into their suburban adventure and the renovation nightmare., moving from reaction to action.
At 47 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False defeat: A major disaster occurs (possibly the house flooding, a wall collapsing, or another catastrophic renovation failure) that makes Nick realize the project is spiraling out of control. The stakes raise as he faces the reality that his dream is becoming a nightmare., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 69 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, All is lost: The house suffers a final catastrophic failure (possibly during an important event or inspection), and Suzanne tells Nick she's had enough - she would rather move back to the city than watch him destroy their family over a house. The dream of the perfect home "dies."., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 78% of the runtime. Nick has his realization: home isn't about the building, it's about the people. He decides to stop trying to control everything and focus on his family. He gets new perspective on what actually matters, combining his determination with Suzanne's wisdom., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Are We Done Yet?'s emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Are We Done Yet? against these established plot points, we can identify how Steve Carr utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Are We Done Yet? within the family genre.
Steve Carr's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Steve Carr films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Are We Done Yet? represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Steve Carr filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional family films include The Bad Guys, Like A Rolling Stone and Cats Don't Dance. For more Steve Carr analyses, see Daddy Day Care, Next Friday and Rebound.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Nick and Suzanne's wedding day. Nick is marrying Suzanne and becoming a stepfather to her two children, establishing his new family life and desire to be the perfect husband and father.
Theme
Suzanne or a family member mentions that "home is where the family is" or comments about what really matters in a home - foreshadowing that Nick will learn the house itself isn't what makes a home.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Nick's new married life in the city. Suzanne announces she's pregnant, and they realize their apartment is too small. Nick dreams of giving his family the perfect suburban home and life.
Disruption
Nick and Suzanne find their dream house - a beautiful Victorian fixer-upper in the suburbs. Nick sees it as the perfect opportunity to give his family everything they deserve, ignoring warning signs about its condition.
Resistance
Nick debates whether they can afford and handle the house. The inspector warns him about problems, but Nick is determined. He meets contractor Chuck Mitchell Jr., who seems incompetent but Nick hires him anyway, believing he can manage the renovation.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Nick actively chooses to buy the house and commit to the renovation, moving his family in despite the chaos. This irreversible decision launches them into their suburban adventure and the renovation nightmare.
Mirror World
Suzanne tries to help Nick see that the family being together is more important than the house being perfect. She represents the thematic truth he needs to learn - that love and family matter more than material perfection.
Premise
The "fun and games" of renovation disasters. Chuck destroys parts of the house, animals invade, systems fail catastrophically. Nick struggles to maintain control while bonding with his stepkids and dealing with suburban life. Comic set pieces of everything going wrong.
Midpoint
False defeat: A major disaster occurs (possibly the house flooding, a wall collapsing, or another catastrophic renovation failure) that makes Nick realize the project is spiraling out of control. The stakes raise as he faces the reality that his dream is becoming a nightmare.
Opposition
Chuck's incompetence escalates. The house continues falling apart. Nick becomes obsessed with fixing everything perfectly, neglecting his family. Suzanne grows frustrated. The kids feel ignored. Financial pressure mounts. Nick's control-freak tendencies alienate everyone around him.
Collapse
All is lost: The house suffers a final catastrophic failure (possibly during an important event or inspection), and Suzanne tells Nick she's had enough - she would rather move back to the city than watch him destroy their family over a house. The dream of the perfect home "dies."
Crisis
Nick's dark night of the soul. He sits alone in the destroyed house, realizing he's been so focused on creating the perfect home that he's lost sight of the family he was doing it for. He processes that he's become the problem.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Nick has his realization: home isn't about the building, it's about the people. He decides to stop trying to control everything and focus on his family. He gets new perspective on what actually matters, combining his determination with Suzanne's wisdom.
Synthesis
Nick makes things right with his family, apologizes to Suzanne and the kids. Together, they work on the house as a family - not for perfection, but for togetherness. Chuck is dealt with. They finish the house with love rather than obsession. Nick embraces imperfection and family unity.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening: Nick with his family, but now in their imperfect but love-filled home. He's transformed from a man obsessed with material perfection into a husband and father who understands that family togetherness is what makes a house a home.