City Slickers
Mitch is a middle aged big-city radio ads salesman. He and his friends Ed and Phil are having mid-life crisis. They decide the best birthday gift is to go on a two week holiday in the wild west driving cattle from New Mexico to Colorado. There they meet cowboy Curly who not only teaches them how to become real cowboys, but also one or two other things about life in the open air of the west.
Despite a moderate budget of $27.0M, City Slickers became a commercial juggernaut, earning $179.0M worldwide—a remarkable 563% return.
1 Oscar. 8 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%)
City Slickers (1991) demonstrates precise dramatic framework, characteristic of Ron Underwood's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 54 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.9, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Mitch's nightmare about being trampled by the "running of the bulls" in Pamplona reveals his existential dread and midlife crisis.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Mitch's 39th birthday party where his friends stage an intervention - Phil announces the plan: instead of running with bulls in Spain, they'll do a two-week cattle drive in the Southwest.. 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 23% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to The cattle drive officially begins as the group heads out with the herd. Mitch commits to the journey, leaving his ordinary world behind for the trail., moving from reaction to action.
At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Curly shares the secret to life with Mitch: "One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don't mean shit." This revelation raises the stakes - Mitch must discover his "one thing."., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 81 minutes (71% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The group decides to abandon the cattle drive and go home. Mitch has lost his mentor Curly (whiff of death) and faces returning to his old life without answers, having failed the journey., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 88 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 77% of the runtime. The three friends make the active choice to finish the cattle drive on their own, taking responsibility and committing to see it through despite the odds., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
City Slickers'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 City Slickers against these established plot points, we can identify how Ron Underwood utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish City Slickers within the comedy genre.
Ron Underwood's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Ron Underwood films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. City Slickers takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Ron Underwood filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Ron Underwood analyses, see Speechless, In The Mix and The Adventures of Pluto Nash.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Mitch's nightmare about being trampled by the "running of the bulls" in Pamplona reveals his existential dread and midlife crisis.
Theme
At his son's school career day, Mitch has a breakdown admitting he sells air time for radio - "You just grow up and you lose things" - foreshadowing the film's theme about rediscovering purpose.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Mitch's comfortable but unfulfilling Manhattan life: his job, wife Barbara, kids, and annual birthday tradition with buddies Ed and Phil who are also facing their own crises.
Disruption
Mitch's 39th birthday party where his friends stage an intervention - Phil announces the plan: instead of running with bulls in Spain, they'll do a two-week cattle drive in the Southwest.
Resistance
Mitch debates whether to go, discusses it with Barbara who encourages him. The three men prepare and travel to New Mexico, meeting the dude ranch tourists and real cowboys.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The cattle drive officially begins as the group heads out with the herd. Mitch commits to the journey, leaving his ordinary world behind for the trail.
Mirror World
Mitch's first meaningful conversation with Curly, the tough trail boss who becomes his mentor figure, representing the wisdom and clarity Mitch seeks.
Premise
The "fun and games" of the cattle drive: learning to rope, riding horses, campfire bonding, conflicts with Curly, comic mishaps, and the city slickers proving themselves against nature and the herd.
Midpoint
Curly shares the secret to life with Mitch: "One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don't mean shit." This revelation raises the stakes - Mitch must discover his "one thing."
Opposition
Curly dies suddenly from a heart attack. The corporate dude ranch owners abandon the drive. The group splinters as conflicts intensify - Phil reveals his affair, the Ice Cream brothers cause trouble, and everything falls apart.
Collapse
The group decides to abandon the cattle drive and go home. Mitch has lost his mentor Curly (whiff of death) and faces returning to his old life without answers, having failed the journey.
Crisis
Mitch has an epiphany at Curly's grave, realizing they should finish what they started. He rallies Ed and Phil - they will complete the drive themselves and deliver the herd.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The three friends make the active choice to finish the cattle drive on their own, taking responsibility and committing to see it through despite the odds.
Synthesis
The finale: Mitch, Ed, and Phil face river crossings, stampedes, and deliver a calf Mitch names Norman. They successfully complete the drive, proving themselves and finding what they were looking for.
Transformation
Back home in New York, Mitch returns to his family transformed. He knows his "one thing" - his family and the life he has. He greets them with newfound appreciation and purpose, the opposite of his opening crisis.