Brittany Runs a Marathon
Hilarious, outgoing and always up for a good time, New Yorker Brittany Forgleris everybody's best friend -- except maybe her own. At 27, her hard-partying ways, chronic underemployment and toxic relationships are catching up with her, but when she stops by a new doctor's office to try to score some Adderall, she gets slapped with a prescription she never wanted: Get healthy. Too broke for a gym and too proud to ask for help, Brit is at a loss, until her seemingly together neighbor Catherine pushes her to lace up her Converse sneakers and run one sweaty block. The next day, she runs two. And soon, after finishing her first mile, she sets an almost unthinkable goal: running in the New York City Marathon.
The film earned $7.4M at the global box office.
2 wins & 7 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%)
Brittany Runs a Marathon (2019) reveals carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Paul Downs Colaizzo's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 43 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Brittany Forgler
Seth
Jern
Gretchen
Jern's Boyfriend
Main Cast & Characters
Brittany Forgler
Played by Jillian Bell
A struggling, self-destructive woman who transforms her life by training for the NYC Marathon
Seth
Played by Micah Stock
Brittany's supportive neighbor and running partner who becomes her close friend
Jern
Played by Alice Lee
Brittany's wealthy, self-absorbed roommate and former best friend
Gretchen
Played by Michaela Watkins
An overachieving runner who befriends Brittany and becomes part of her running group
Jern's Boyfriend
Played by Dan Bittner
Jern's successful real estate developer boyfriend who represents the life Brittany envies
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Brittany wakes up hungover in her messy apartment, late for work. She lives a party lifestyle as a 28-year-old underachiever working at an off-Broadway theater, using humor to deflect from her unhappiness and unhealthy habits.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Brittany tries to get Adderall from her doctor to lose weight the easy way, but the doctor refuses and tells her she has high blood pressure and borderline fatty liver. She needs to lose 45-50 pounds. Brittany can't joke her way out of this reality.. 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 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Brittany makes the active choice to commit to running. She joins Catherine's running group and meets Seth, a lovable overweight guy also trying to get healthy. She declares her goal: to run the New York City Marathon. This is her choice to change., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False victory: Brittany completes a half-marathon and starts a romantic relationship with Jern, the homeowner's brother. She's lost significant weight, looks great, and feels on top of the world. But the stakes raise—her identity is becoming entirely wrapped up in being a "runner" rather than addressing deeper issues., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 76 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Brittany injures herself badly during a run, right before the marathon. The doctor says she can't run it. Her dream dies. Worse, she realizes she's destroyed her friendships with Catherine and Seth through her toxic behavior. Jern sees her cruelty. Everything she built collapses, and she's forced to see she hasn't really changed inside., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Brittany has a realization: the marathon was never about the finish line or proving something. It was about the journey and the person she could become. She apologizes to Seth and Catherine, taking real accountability. She decides to run the next year's marathon—not to validate herself, but because she genuinely loves running and the person it helps her be., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Brittany Runs a Marathon's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Brittany Runs a Marathon against these established plot points, we can identify how Paul Downs Colaizzo utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Brittany Runs a Marathon 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
Brittany wakes up hungover in her messy apartment, late for work. She lives a party lifestyle as a 28-year-old underachiever working at an off-Broadway theater, using humor to deflect from her unhappiness and unhealthy habits.
Theme
Doctor tells Brittany she needs to take better care of herself, that she can't keep treating her body this way. "You need to make some changes." The theme: true self-improvement requires confronting who you really are, not just changing what you do.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Brittany's world: her party-girl roommate Gretchen, her dead-end job, her using comedy as a shield, her jealousy of her successful sister-in-law, and her pattern of self-sabotage. We see how she uses alcohol and partying to avoid dealing with her life.
Disruption
Brittany tries to get Adderall from her doctor to lose weight the easy way, but the doctor refuses and tells her she has high blood pressure and borderline fatty liver. She needs to lose 45-50 pounds. Brittany can't joke her way out of this reality.
Resistance
Brittany resists change, trying to find shortcuts. She can't afford a gym, so reluctantly tries running. Her first attempt is humiliating—she can barely run one block. She meets her neighbor Catherine, an irritatingly perfect runner. Brittany debates whether she can actually do this.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Brittany makes the active choice to commit to running. She joins Catherine's running group and meets Seth, a lovable overweight guy also trying to get healthy. She declares her goal: to run the New York City Marathon. This is her choice to change.
Mirror World
Brittany develops a friendship with Seth and Catherine—genuine connections based on mutual support rather than partying. Seth especially becomes her mirror, someone also struggling with weight and self-worth. These relationships will teach her what she truly needs: authentic self-acceptance.
Premise
The "promise of the premise"—Brittany training for the marathon. She loses weight, gains confidence, gets healthier. She takes a house-sitting job for a wealthy couple. She bonds with Seth and Catherine. She starts standing up for herself. Everything seems to be working—but she's still defining herself by external achievements.
Midpoint
False victory: Brittany completes a half-marathon and starts a romantic relationship with Jern, the homeowner's brother. She's lost significant weight, looks great, and feels on top of the world. But the stakes raise—her identity is becoming entirely wrapped up in being a "runner" rather than addressing deeper issues.
Opposition
Brittany's flaws emerge as success goes to her head. She becomes judgmental and mean, criticizing Gretchen and pushing away Seth. She obsesses over running and weight. Her relationship with Jern grows but she's insecure. When the homeowners return early, she must face that she's been playing pretend in someone else's life. Her old patterns of self-sabotage resurface.
Collapse
Brittany injures herself badly during a run, right before the marathon. The doctor says she can't run it. Her dream dies. Worse, she realizes she's destroyed her friendships with Catherine and Seth through her toxic behavior. Jern sees her cruelty. Everything she built collapses, and she's forced to see she hasn't really changed inside.
Crisis
Brittany spirals into depression. She returns to her old apartment, her old patterns. She's lost everything—the marathon, her friends, Jern, her confidence. In this darkness, she must confront the truth: she used running the same way she used partying—as a way to avoid dealing with who she really is and learning to accept herself.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Brittany has a realization: the marathon was never about the finish line or proving something. It was about the journey and the person she could become. She apologizes to Seth and Catherine, taking real accountability. She decides to run the next year's marathon—not to validate herself, but because she genuinely loves running and the person it helps her be.
Synthesis
One year later: Brittany runs the New York City Marathon with Seth and Catherine by her side. This time it's not about weight or proving anything—it's about showing up for herself and her friends. She struggles, wants to quit, but pushes through. She crosses the finish line not as a transformed perfect person, but as someone who has learned to accept and respect herself.
Transformation
Brittany crosses the marathon finish line, exhausted and emotional. Unlike the Status Quo image of her waking up hungover and lost, she's now someone who shows up for herself and others. She's learned that real change isn't about external achievements—it's about self-acceptance and genuine human connection.