Big Trouble
A chain of events starts with the arrival of a mysterious suitcase in Miami. Arthur Herk, a corrupt business owner, wants to get his hands on the case. At the same time, two hit men want him whacked. Tired of his constant fixation on drinking and television, Herk's wife Anna and daughter Jenny decide to find new love interests in divorced dad Eliot Arnold and his son Matt. To add more complication, two thieves decide to steal the case and lead a Miami police team and two FBI agents on a wild goose chase that ends inside the Miami airport terminal.
The film financial setback against its mid-range budget of $40.0M, earning $8.5M globally (-79% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its bold vision within the comedy genre.
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%)
Big Trouble (2002) reveals precise plot construction, characteristic of Barry Sonnenfeld's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 25 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Eliot Arnold
Anna Herk
Arthur Herk
Snake Dupree
Henry Desalvo
Monica Romero
Officer Walter
Matt Arnold
Jenny Herk
Puggy
Main Cast & Characters
Eliot Arnold
Played by Tim Allen
A down-on-his-luck humor columnist going through a divorce who becomes reluctantly involved in chaotic criminal schemes.
Anna Herk
Played by Rene Russo
A divorced mother and advertising executive dealing with her obnoxious ex-husband while developing feelings for Eliot.
Arthur Herk
Played by Stanley Tucci
Anna's sleazy, corrupt ex-husband involved in illegal arms deals who treats everyone around him with contempt.
Snake Dupree
Played by Tom Sizemore
A dim-witted, good-natured criminal who accidentally gets involved in the chaos while trying to rob the Herk household.
Henry Desalvo
Played by Dennis Farina
An incompetent hitman hired to kill Arthur Herk who constantly bungles his assassination attempts.
Monica Romero
Played by Janeane Garofalo
A tough, no-nonsense FBI agent investigating Arthur Herk's illegal weapons smuggling operation.
Officer Walter
Played by Heavy D
A street-smart Miami police officer who gets caught up in the insanity while investigating the various crimes.
Matt Arnold
Played by Ben Foster
Eliot's teenage son who has a crush on Jenny Herk and gets involved in the schemes.
Jenny Herk
Played by Zooey Deschanel
Anna's teenage daughter who becomes part of the chaotic events alongside Matt.
Puggy
Played by Jason Lee
An eccentric homeless man living in a tree who witnesses key events and becomes an unlikely ally.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Eliot Arnold sits at his computer, struggling to write ad copy, embodying his stagnant life as a divorced, uninspired copywriter going through the motions.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Matt Arnold and his friends begin a game of "Killer" (water gun assassin), targeting Jenny Herk at her home, unknowingly setting off a chain reaction that will intersect all the characters' lives with criminals and danger.. 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 21 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Eliot chooses to help Anna when he discovers she's in real danger, actively entering the criminal chaos rather than walking away. The nuclear bomb enters the picture, raising the stakes from a simple hit job to potential catastrophe., moving from reaction to action.
At 44 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The nuclear bomb situation escalates to critical levels as multiple parties converge, and it becomes clear the danger is real and imminent. False defeat: the situation spirals beyond anyone's control, with national security at stake., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 63 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The nuclear device is activated and everyone realizes they may die. The moment of maximum danger where death seems imminent - lives literally hang in the balance as the bomb countdown begins., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 67 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Through absurd luck and the chaos that's plagued them all along, a solution emerges. Characters realize they must work together and embrace the randomness rather than fight it. The bomb threat is neutralized through comedic circumstances., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Big Trouble'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 Big Trouble against these established plot points, we can identify how Barry Sonnenfeld utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Big Trouble within the comedy genre.
Barry Sonnenfeld's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Barry Sonnenfeld films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Big Trouble takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Barry Sonnenfeld filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Barry Sonnenfeld analyses, see Wild Wild West, Addams Family Values and Nine Lives.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Eliot Arnold sits at his computer, struggling to write ad copy, embodying his stagnant life as a divorced, uninspired copywriter going through the motions.
Theme
A character remarks on the randomness and chaos of life in Miami, suggesting that unexpected connections can change everything - the film's core theme of chaos leading to transformation.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the ensemble cast: Eliot's mundane life and relationship with his son Matt; Anna Herk's unhappy marriage to the sleazy Arthur; criminals Snake and Eddie hired to kill Arthur; the Herk household and various Miami characters.
Disruption
Matt Arnold and his friends begin a game of "Killer" (water gun assassin), targeting Jenny Herk at her home, unknowingly setting off a chain reaction that will intersect all the characters' lives with criminals and danger.
Resistance
Eliot is pulled into the situation when Matt is caught at the Herk house; he meets Anna and there's immediate attraction. Meanwhile, hitmen Snake and Eddie stake out the Herk house, and Arthur's shady business dealings with weapons dealers escalate the danger.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Eliot chooses to help Anna when he discovers she's in real danger, actively entering the criminal chaos rather than walking away. The nuclear bomb enters the picture, raising the stakes from a simple hit job to potential catastrophe.
Mirror World
Eliot and Anna's growing connection represents the possibility of new beginnings emerging from chaos. Their developing romance shows how random circumstances can lead to meaningful relationships, mirroring the theme.
Premise
Chaotic fun as multiple storylines collide: bumbling criminals, clueless FBI agents, the deadly suitcase bomb changing hands, Arthur's incompetence, Snake and Eddie's schemes, and Eliot and Anna navigating danger while falling for each other.
Midpoint
The nuclear bomb situation escalates to critical levels as multiple parties converge, and it becomes clear the danger is real and imminent. False defeat: the situation spirals beyond anyone's control, with national security at stake.
Opposition
All storylines converge at the airport as various factions pursue the bomb. FBI incompetence, criminal desperation, and bureaucratic chaos intensify. Eliot and Anna struggle to protect their kids while the threat grows more dangerous.
Collapse
The nuclear device is activated and everyone realizes they may die. The moment of maximum danger where death seems imminent - lives literally hang in the balance as the bomb countdown begins.
Crisis
Characters face potential annihilation, processing fear and regret. In these dark moments, they realize what truly matters - Eliot and Anna acknowledge their feelings, and others confront their life choices.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Through absurd luck and the chaos that's plagued them all along, a solution emerges. Characters realize they must work together and embrace the randomness rather than fight it. The bomb threat is neutralized through comedic circumstances.
Synthesis
Resolution of all storylines: criminals are caught, the bomb is secured, corrupt Arthur gets his comeuppance, FBI bumbles to accidental success, and Eliot and Anna cement their relationship, having survived chaos together.
Transformation
Eliot and Anna together with their families, transformed from lonely isolated people into a connected unit. The chaos that disrupted their stagnant lives has led to renewal, love, and a new beginning forged from randomness.