Employee of the Month
Slacker Zack Bradley works as a box boy at Super Club, a warehouse club store. It is the lowest in the job hierarchy at the store. He doesn't work very hard at his job, and along with some of his fellow employee friends treats the store like his playground. Regardless, he is well liked by most of the other employees. He used to be hard working, when he was developing a dot com, but he lost all his and his grandmother's money in the process. As such, he decided not to take any risks in life while he now lives with her so as to provide her with what he considers at least a more reliable life. On the other extreme is Vince Downey, who lords an air of superiority over his fellow employees as the store's head cashier. He lives to be the store's best employee solely so that he can be named Employee of the Month, which he has been named seventeen months in a row. If he is named Employee of the Month for a record eighteenth time in a row, he will be rewarded with entrance into the corporation's management track program and a new car. Zack decides he wants to break Vince's streak if only because he reads in the employment record of recent transfer, the pretty Amy Renfro, that she had a thing at her previous store for men who have been named Employee of the Month. Zack finds that working toward being Employee of the Month is not as easy as he thought, especially as Vince will not relinquish the title and all its perks without a fight, dirty or not. Zack has to decide how far he is willing to go to get the title and the girl.
Despite its tight budget of $12.0M, Employee of the Month became a solid performer, earning $38.5M worldwide—a 221% return. The film's unconventional structure attracted moviegoers, confirming that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
Employee of the Month (2006) showcases precise narrative architecture, characteristic of Greg Coolidge'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 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Zack Bradley slacks off as a box boy at Super Club, content in his underachieving lifestyle with his slacker friends. He watches Vince Downey, the arrogant 17-time Employee of the Month, bask in glory and perks.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Amy Renfro, a beautiful new cashier, arrives at Super Club. Zack is immediately smitten, but learns she only dates guys who are Employee of the Month—disrupting his comfortable slacker existence.. 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 shows the protagonist's commitment to Zack makes the active choice to compete for Employee of the Month, transforming from slacker to motivated worker. He commits to the competition and begins working hard for the first time., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Zack takes the lead in the Employee of the Month race and shares a romantic moment with Amy. False victory: he appears to be winning both the competition and the girl, but his motivation remains superficial., 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, Amy discovers the truth about Zack's motivations—that he only pursued Employee of the Month to date her, not for genuine self-improvement. She rejects him, and his friendship with his crew is strained. He loses everything that matters., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Zack realizes he should work hard for himself, not for Amy or a title. He synthesizes his natural charm with newfound work ethic and authenticity. He decides to compete in the final Employee of the Month challenge for the right reasons., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Employee of the Month'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 Employee of the Month against these established plot points, we can identify how Greg Coolidge utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Employee of the Month 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
Zack Bradley slacks off as a box boy at Super Club, content in his underachieving lifestyle with his slacker friends. He watches Vince Downey, the arrogant 17-time Employee of the Month, bask in glory and perks.
Theme
Zack's co-worker mentions that some things are worth working hard for, and that real success requires effort and dedication—a theme Zack dismisses as he coasts through his job.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Super Club's workplace hierarchy, the Employee of the Month culture, Vince's ego and privileges, and Zack's slacker crew. The rivalry between departments and Vince's dominance is established.
Disruption
Amy Renfro, a beautiful new cashier, arrives at Super Club. Zack is immediately smitten, but learns she only dates guys who are Employee of the Month—disrupting his comfortable slacker existence.
Resistance
Zack debates whether to actually try to win Employee of the Month. His friends encourage him while he wrestles with abandoning his slacker identity. He observes Vince's ruthless tactics and the commitment required.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Zack makes the active choice to compete for Employee of the Month, transforming from slacker to motivated worker. He commits to the competition and begins working hard for the first time.
Mirror World
Zack's budding relationship with Amy develops as they connect over work. She represents the life and person he could become if he applies himself—mirroring the theme of effort and authenticity.
Premise
The fun competition montage: Zack works harder than ever, impressing customers and management. He gains ground on Vince while bonding with Amy. The rivalry escalates with pranks and sabotage between the two men.
Midpoint
Zack takes the lead in the Employee of the Month race and shares a romantic moment with Amy. False victory: he appears to be winning both the competition and the girl, but his motivation remains superficial.
Opposition
Vince fights back ruthlessly with escalating sabotage. Zack's lies and shallow motivations catch up with him. Amy begins to see through his act, and Vince exposes that Zack only changed to win her over.
Collapse
Amy discovers the truth about Zack's motivations—that he only pursued Employee of the Month to date her, not for genuine self-improvement. She rejects him, and his friendship with his crew is strained. He loses everything that matters.
Crisis
Zack wallows in his failure and considers giving up. He reflects on who he's become and realizes he was working for the wrong reasons. His friends help him see that real change means being authentic.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Zack realizes he should work hard for himself, not for Amy or a title. He synthesizes his natural charm with newfound work ethic and authenticity. He decides to compete in the final Employee of the Month challenge for the right reasons.
Synthesis
Zack faces Vince in the final Employee of the Month challenge. He competes with integrity and genuine effort, proving himself to his coworkers and management. He defeats Vince through skill and character rather than manipulation.
Transformation
Zack stands with genuine pride as a changed person—no longer a slacker but someone who values authentic effort. Whether or not he wins Amy, he's won himself. The closing image shows him continuing to work hard, transformed from who he was at the opening.