I Give It a Year
After a quick courtship, two lovers hastily decide to tie the knot. As their first year of marriage unfolds, temptation and incompatibility put their relationship in jeopardy.
Despite its small-scale budget of $13.0M, I Give It a Year became a commercial success, earning $29.2M 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%)
I Give It a Year (2013) reveals precise plot construction, characteristic of Dan Mazer'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 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Nat and Josh's wedding montage. Beautiful ceremony shows them happily getting married, establishing the fairy tale beginning of their relationship.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Marriage counseling session reveals deeper incompatibilities. Their therapist's questions expose fundamental differences in values, communication styles, and life goals.. 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 indicates the protagonist's commitment to Nat meets Guy at a work function and feels instant chemistry. Josh meets Chloe and is clearly attracted. Both choose to continue despite knowing they're drawn to others - committing to explore these dangerous territories., moving from reaction to action.
At 49 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat A disastrous couples' retreat or anniversary celebration forces Nat and Josh to confront the truth: they are deeply unhappy. False defeat - their attempt to save the marriage is clearly failing., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 73 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, A public humiliation or confrontation exposes the sham of their marriage. The death of the illusion - they can no longer pretend to be happy. Their relationship is truly over., shows 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 80% of the runtime. Nat and Josh have an honest conversation, admitting they were wrong for each other. They give each other permission to pursue happiness with the right people. Mutual release and understanding., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
I Give It a Year'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 I Give It a Year against these established plot points, we can identify how Dan Mazer utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish I Give It a Year within the comedy genre.
Dan Mazer's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Dan Mazer films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.4, reflecting strong command of classical structure. I Give It a Year exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Dan Mazer filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Dan Mazer analyses, see Dirty Grandpa.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Nat and Josh's wedding montage. Beautiful ceremony shows them happily getting married, establishing the fairy tale beginning of their relationship.
Theme
At a dinner party, a friend warns about the challenges of marriage and compatibility. "The first year is the hardest" - setting up the thematic question of whether love is enough.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Nat and Josh's world: their personalities, friends, careers. Nat is uptight and organized, Josh is laid-back and juvenile. We meet their social circle and see early cracks in compatibility.
Disruption
Marriage counseling session reveals deeper incompatibilities. Their therapist's questions expose fundamental differences in values, communication styles, and life goals.
Resistance
Nat and Josh try to make it work despite growing tensions. They navigate social obligations, meet each other's colleagues, and struggle with their differences. Chloe (Guy's girlfriend) and Guy (client) enter their orbits.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Nat meets Guy at a work function and feels instant chemistry. Josh meets Chloe and is clearly attracted. Both choose to continue despite knowing they're drawn to others - committing to explore these dangerous territories.
Mirror World
Development of Nat's connection with Guy (sophisticated client) and Josh's friendship with Chloe (his ex-girlfriend). These relationships represent what each truly needs versus what they settled for.
Premise
The comedy of a failing marriage plays out. Awkward couple's activities, terrible gift exchanges, embarrassing social situations. Meanwhile, attractions to Guy and Chloe intensify, creating comedic and romantic tension.
Midpoint
A disastrous couples' retreat or anniversary celebration forces Nat and Josh to confront the truth: they are deeply unhappy. False defeat - their attempt to save the marriage is clearly failing.
Opposition
Pressure mounts from all sides. Family expectations, social obligations, and guilt keep them together while emotional affairs with Guy and Chloe deepen. The lie becomes harder to maintain.
Collapse
A public humiliation or confrontation exposes the sham of their marriage. The death of the illusion - they can no longer pretend to be happy. Their relationship is truly over.
Crisis
Nat and Josh separately process the end of their marriage. Guilt, relief, sadness, and fear mix together. They must find the courage to be honest about their mistake.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Nat and Josh have an honest conversation, admitting they were wrong for each other. They give each other permission to pursue happiness with the right people. Mutual release and understanding.
Synthesis
Final grand gestures: Josh pursues Chloe, Nat pursues Guy. Comic obstacles and romantic payoffs as they fight for their true loves. The divorce becomes official but celebratory.
Transformation
Closing image mirrors the opening wedding but shows Nat with Guy and Josh with Chloe, both genuinely happy with compatible partners. They've learned that ending the wrong relationship was the right choice.