Babysitting 2
Franck and his girlfriend Sonya, plus some of their friends go on holiday in Brazil. Franck, his friends, two girls and Sonya's grandmother leave to visit a cave, but everything goes wrong and their crazy adventures begin.
Despite its modest budget of $9.5M, Babysitting 2 became a commercial success, earning $24.6M worldwide—a 160% return.
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%)
Babysitting 2 (2015) exhibits carefully calibrated narrative architecture, characteristic of Nicolas Benamou'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 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Franck
Sonia
JP
Sam
Christian
José
Elodie
Main Cast & Characters
Franck
Played by Philippe Lacheau
The hapless protagonist who gets caught up in increasingly absurd situations while trying to impress his girlfriend's brother on a trip to Brazil.
Sonia
Played by Alice David
Franck's girlfriend who invites him to Brazil to meet her intimidating brother.
JP
Played by Vincent Desagnat
Franck's loyal but dim-witted best friend who accompanies him on the chaotic Brazilian adventure.
Sam
Played by Tarek Boudali
Another member of Franck's friend group, the voice of reason who often gets ignored.
Christian
Played by Julien Arruti
The neurotic member of the friend group, anxious and easily stressed.
José
Played by Grégoire Ludig
Sonia's intimidating and overprotective brother, a powerful figure in Brazil who tests Franck.
Elodie
Played by Charlotte Gabris
JP's love interest who becomes entangled in the group's misadventures.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Franck and the guys are back in their normal lives in France, trying to move past their chaotic first babysitting adventure. They're shown in their mundane routines, still friends but playing it safe.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Sonia's father is revealed to be in Brazil and they must travel there for the wedding. The comfortable French setting is disrupted by the necessity of an international journey to an unfamiliar place.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to The group boards the plane to Brazil, fully committing to the adventure. This is their active choice to leave France and enter the exotic "mirror world" of Brazil., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False victory: The guys successfully navigate a major challenge and feel like they've conquered Brazil. The wedding seems assured and they're riding high, but this confidence will be their undoing., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Everything falls apart - the wedding is threatened, relationships are broken, someone may be seriously endangered (whiff of death), and the guys are at their lowest point, seemingly unable to fix the disaster they've created., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 74 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Realization/synthesis moment where the protagonists understand they must combine what they've learned from Brazilian culture (boldness, spontaneity) with their own strengths (loyalty, friendship) to save the day., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Babysitting 2'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 Babysitting 2 against these established plot points, we can identify how Nicolas Benamou utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Babysitting 2 within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Franck and the guys are back in their normal lives in France, trying to move past their chaotic first babysitting adventure. They're shown in their mundane routines, still friends but playing it safe.
Theme
A character mentions something about "sometimes you have to go further than you think possible to find what you're really made of" - establishing the theme of pushing beyond comfort zones.
Worldbuilding
Introduction of the characters' current situations, relationships, and the setup of Franck's wedding to Sonia. The domestic French life is established along with the characters' dynamics and lingering insecurities.
Disruption
Sonia's father is revealed to be in Brazil and they must travel there for the wedding. The comfortable French setting is disrupted by the necessity of an international journey to an unfamiliar place.
Resistance
The group debates and prepares for the trip to Brazil. Concerns about safety, the unknown culture, and past babysitting disasters create hesitation. They gather information and reluctantly commit to the journey.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The group boards the plane to Brazil, fully committing to the adventure. This is their active choice to leave France and enter the exotic "mirror world" of Brazil.
Mirror World
Arrival in vibrant, colorful Brazil - a complete contrast to their French existence. They meet Sonia's charismatic Brazilian family who embody the spontaneity and boldness the protagonists lack.
Premise
Fish-out-of-water comedy as the French group navigates Brazilian culture, favelas, local customs, and wild situations. The "fun and games" of the adventure comedy premise in full effect.
Midpoint
False victory: The guys successfully navigate a major challenge and feel like they've conquered Brazil. The wedding seems assured and they're riding high, but this confidence will be their undoing.
Opposition
Complications intensify as local criminals, misunderstandings, and cultural clashes escalate. The group's flaws and cowardice catch up with them. The situation spirals out of control.
Collapse
Everything falls apart - the wedding is threatened, relationships are broken, someone may be seriously endangered (whiff of death), and the guys are at their lowest point, seemingly unable to fix the disaster they've created.
Crisis
Dark night of the soul as the characters face their failures and fears. Emotional processing of the loss and contemplation of giving up versus finding courage they didn't know they had.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Realization/synthesis moment where the protagonists understand they must combine what they've learned from Brazilian culture (boldness, spontaneity) with their own strengths (loyalty, friendship) to save the day.
Synthesis
Final set-piece as the group executes their plan with newfound courage. Confrontation with antagonistic forces, resolution of the wedding crisis, and demonstration of character growth through action.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening but shows transformation: the guys are back in France but are now bolder, more confident, having proven themselves. The wedding succeeded and they've internalized their Brazilian adventure.