Home Again
Alice (Reese Witherspoon), a recently separated mother of two, finds her life upended when three young, charismatic filmmakers move into her guest house. But her unlikely new family and a budding romance come to a crashing halt when her ex-husband shows up, suitcase in hand. A story of love, friendship, and the families we create, "Home Again" is a modern romantic comedy with one very big life lesson: starting over is not for beginners.
Despite its small-scale budget of $12.0M, Home Again became a financial success, earning $27.0M worldwide—a 125% return.
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%)
Home Again (2017) reveals deliberately positioned dramatic framework, characteristic of Hallie Meyers-Shyer's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 37 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Alice turns 40 in her father's old LA home, separated from her husband, trying to restart her life with her two daughters. She's stuck between her past (famous father, failed marriage) and an uncertain future.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when At her birthday party, Alice meets three young aspiring filmmakers—Harry, Teddy, and George—and feels a spark of excitement and youth she hasn't felt in years. They charm her and her family.. 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 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Alice makes the active choice to let the three young filmmakers move into her guest house. This decision opens her life to new possibilities and complications., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False victory: Alice's interior design career takes off with a major client meeting success, and her relationship with Harry deepens with a romantic moment. Everything seems to be falling into place perfectly., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 72 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Everything falls apart: Harry sees Alice with Austen and feels betrayed. The filmmakers prepare to leave. Alice's attempt to have it all—new romance, reconciliation possibility, career, family—collapses. Her daughter expresses hurt over the instability. The death of her "new life" possibility., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 78 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Alice gains clarity: she realizes she needs to be honest with Austen (their marriage is over), honest with Harry (she has real feelings), and honest with herself (she deserves to build a new life on her own terms). She understands the theme—being open to new possibilities means letting go of old ones., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Home Again's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Home Again against these established plot points, we can identify how Hallie Meyers-Shyer utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Home Again 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
Alice turns 40 in her father's old LA home, separated from her husband, trying to restart her life with her two daughters. She's stuck between her past (famous father, failed marriage) and an uncertain future.
Theme
Alice's mother tells her that sometimes life gives you a second chance when you least expect it, and you have to be open to letting new people in.
Worldbuilding
Establishes Alice's world: newly separated mom of two, living in her late father's LA house, turning 40, trying to launch an interior design career, dealing with her estranged husband Austen in New York, and her mother's well-meaning advice.
Disruption
At her birthday party, Alice meets three young aspiring filmmakers—Harry, Teddy, and George—and feels a spark of excitement and youth she hasn't felt in years. They charm her and her family.
Resistance
Alice debates whether to let the young men into her life. Her mother encourages her to help them. Alice is torn between being responsible (mother of two) and wanting something spontaneous and fun for herself.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Alice makes the active choice to let the three young filmmakers move into her guest house. This decision opens her life to new possibilities and complications.
Mirror World
Harry (the romantic lead) and Alice begin developing a connection. He represents the theme of new beginnings and being open to unexpected relationships. Their chemistry grows as he helps with her daughters and supports her dreams.
Premise
The fun of the premise: Alice navigates her new unconventional living situation. The guys bond with her daughters, help around the house, and Alice begins to feel alive again. Romance develops with Harry while her career starts gaining traction.
Midpoint
False victory: Alice's interior design career takes off with a major client meeting success, and her relationship with Harry deepens with a romantic moment. Everything seems to be falling into place perfectly.
Opposition
Complications intensify: Alice's estranged husband Austen arrives unexpectedly wanting to reconcile. The guys' film project faces obstacles. Jealousy and confusion arise. Alice must balance her daughters' needs, her feelings for Harry, and Austen's presence. Her new life starts unraveling.
Collapse
Everything falls apart: Harry sees Alice with Austen and feels betrayed. The filmmakers prepare to leave. Alice's attempt to have it all—new romance, reconciliation possibility, career, family—collapses. Her daughter expresses hurt over the instability. The death of her "new life" possibility.
Crisis
Alice processes her choices in the darkness after the collapse. She realizes she's been trying to please everyone except herself and hasn't been honest about what she truly wants and needs.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Alice gains clarity: she realizes she needs to be honest with Austen (their marriage is over), honest with Harry (she has real feelings), and honest with herself (she deserves to build a new life on her own terms). She understands the theme—being open to new possibilities means letting go of old ones.
Synthesis
Alice takes action: she has a final honest conversation with Austen, finding closure. She reaches out to Harry and the filmmakers, supporting their dreams. She commits to her own career and her role as a mother. She synthesizes who she was with who she's becoming.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening but transformed: Alice is now confident, at peace with her age and her choices, successfully balancing her career and family, and open to whatever comes next with Harry and her new life—no longer stuck, but moving forward.