Fun with Dick and Jane
When an affluent couple lose all their money following a series of blunders, they turn to a life of crime to make ends meet.
Despite a substantial budget of $100.0M, Fun with Dick and Jane became a box office success, earning $202.0M worldwide—a 102% return.
1 win & 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
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Dick Harper celebrates his promotion to VP of Communications at Globodyne, living the American Dream with his wife Jane and son Billy in their suburban home.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 9 minutes when Dick appears on live TV to defend Globodyne as CEO Jack McCallister announces the company is bankrupt and flees, leaving Dick to face angry investors. Dick is fired.. At 10% 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 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to After losing everything and facing complete financial ruin, Dick and Jane make the active choice to rob a convenience store, crossing into a life of crime., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False victory: Dick and Jane successfully pull off a major robbery and begin to feel invincible, but they're still not solving their real problem—getting justice., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 67 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Their elaborate plan to rob McCallister's estate fails spectacularly. They face arrest, losing their son, and complete destruction of their lives—everything seems lost., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 71 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Dick realizes they can expose McCallister's fraud publicly and steal back the stolen pension funds for all the employees—combining crime with justice., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Fun with Dick and Jane'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 Fun with Dick and Jane against these established plot points, we can identify how Dean Parisot utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Fun with Dick and Jane within the comedy genre.
Dean Parisot's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Dean Parisot films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Fun with Dick and Jane exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Dean Parisot filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Dean Parisot analyses, see Galaxy Quest, RED 2 and Bill & Ted Face the Music.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Dick Harper celebrates his promotion to VP of Communications at Globodyne, living the American Dream with his wife Jane and son Billy in their suburban home.
Theme
Dick's colleague warns him about corporate corruption and the illusion of success, foreshadowing the theme: material wealth without integrity is worthless.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Dick's corporate world at Globodyne, Jane quitting her job to become a housewife, their affluent lifestyle, and the culture of excess and ambition.
Disruption
Dick appears on live TV to defend Globodyne as CEO Jack McCallister announces the company is bankrupt and flees, leaving Dick to face angry investors. Dick is fired.
Resistance
Dick and Jane struggle with denial, attempt to maintain appearances, burn through savings, face mounting bills, and resist accepting their new reality of poverty.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
After losing everything and facing complete financial ruin, Dick and Jane make the active choice to rob a convenience store, crossing into a life of crime.
Mirror World
Dick and Jane rediscover their partnership and connection through their criminal activities, working as a team in ways they never did in their corporate life.
Premise
The "fun and games" of their crime spree: robbing stores, banks, and businesses with increasing skill and audacity, becoming modern-day Robin Hoods.
Midpoint
False victory: Dick and Jane successfully pull off a major robbery and begin to feel invincible, but they're still not solving their real problem—getting justice.
Opposition
The stakes rise as Dick and Jane realize petty crime won't restore what they lost. They discover McCallister has millions hidden and become determined to target him directly.
Collapse
Their elaborate plan to rob McCallister's estate fails spectacularly. They face arrest, losing their son, and complete destruction of their lives—everything seems lost.
Crisis
Dick and Jane hit rock bottom emotionally, questioning everything. They must decide: give up or find a new approach that doesn't compromise their integrity.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Dick realizes they can expose McCallister's fraud publicly and steal back the stolen pension funds for all the employees—combining crime with justice.
Synthesis
Dick and Jane execute their final plan: infiltrating the building, transferring McCallister's money back to employee accounts, and ensuring he faces public humiliation and justice.
Transformation
Dick and Jane, now working honest jobs at a lower income level, are happy and fulfilled with their family. They've learned that integrity and togetherness matter more than wealth.