Isn't It Romantic
For a long time, Natalie, an Australian architect living in New York City, had always believed that what she had seen in rom-coms is all fantasy. But after thwarting a mugger at a subway station only to be knocked out while fleeing, Natalie wakes up and discovers that her life has suddenly become her worst nightmare—a romantic comedy—and she is the leading lady.
Working with a moderate budget of $31.0M, the film achieved a respectable showing with $48.8M in global revenue (+57% profit margin).
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%)
Isn't It Romantic (2019) reveals carefully calibrated dramatic framework, characteristic of Todd Strauss-Schulson's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 28 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 Young Natalie watches romantic comedies with her mother, who cynically tells her that girls like them don't get fairy tale endings. Present-day Natalie is a cynical architect in NYC, invisible at work and dismissive of romance.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Natalie is mugged in the subway. When she hits her head trying to chase the mugger, she loses consciousness. This physical trauma becomes the gateway to her transformation.. 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 Collapse moment at 64 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, At Josh and Isabella's wedding, Natalie watches Josh marry someone else. She has an emotional breakdown, realizing she's lost him. The "death" is the death of possibility - she waited too long and her fear kept her from being honest about her feelings., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 70 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Natalie runs through the city and interrupts the wedding. She gives a speech about loving herself and her own worth. She wakes up in the real world hospital. Now confident and self-assured, she goes to work, stands up for herself, presents her ideas boldly, and finally tells Josh how she feels., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Isn't It Romantic's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Isn't It Romantic against these established plot points, we can identify how Todd Strauss-Schulson utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Isn't It Romantic within the comedy genre.
Todd Strauss-Schulson's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Todd Strauss-Schulson films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Isn't It Romantic represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Todd Strauss-Schulson filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Todd Strauss-Schulson analyses, see The Final Girls, A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Natalie watches romantic comedies with her mother, who cynically tells her that girls like them don't get fairy tale endings. Present-day Natalie is a cynical architect in NYC, invisible at work and dismissive of romance.
Theme
Whitney tells Natalie "You don't love yourself" when Natalie dismisses romantic comedies and refuses to believe someone like Josh could be into her. The theme: self-love is prerequisite to being loved.
Worldbuilding
Natalie's ordinary world: overlooked at her architecture firm, assistant Whitney loves rom-coms while Natalie mocks them, coworker Josh is sweet but Natalie can't see he likes her, she lives in a cramped apartment with a nosy neighbor. Her cynicism about love protects her from vulnerability.
Disruption
Natalie is mugged in the subway. When she hits her head trying to chase the mugger, she loses consciousness. This physical trauma becomes the gateway to her transformation.
Resistance
Natalie wakes up in a hospital that looks like a rom-com set. She discovers she's trapped inside a PG-13 romantic comedy: her apartment is gorgeous, a handsome billionaire (Blake) is obsessed with her, everyone notices her, but everything is sanitized. She tries to figure out the rules of this new reality.
Act II
ConfrontationMirror World
Josh has become engaged to supermodel Isabella, Natalie's opposite - seemingly perfect, confident, and romantic. As Natalie is forced to spend time with Josh and Isabella, Josh becomes the mirror showing her what she truly wants but won't admit.
Premise
The fun of the premise: Natalie experiences all the rom-com tropes she once mocked. Blake sweeps her off her feet, she gets a makeover montage, has a gay best friend, her life is impossibly glamorous. But she's increasingly uncomfortable and realizes Josh is pulling away. The comedy comes from her experiencing the genre from inside.
Opposition
The rom-com formula starts to crack. Natalie realizes she doesn't actually love Blake. Josh and Isabella's wedding approaches and Natalie becomes jealous, finally recognizing her real feelings for Josh. She tries to break up with Blake but he won't accept it. The forced perfection becomes suffocating.
Collapse
At Josh and Isabella's wedding, Natalie watches Josh marry someone else. She has an emotional breakdown, realizing she's lost him. The "death" is the death of possibility - she waited too long and her fear kept her from being honest about her feelings.
Crisis
Natalie sits alone in the dark night of the soul. She reflects on how her cynicism and self-protection have kept her from love. She processes the pain of losing Josh and confronts her own role in pushing him away.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Natalie runs through the city and interrupts the wedding. She gives a speech about loving herself and her own worth. She wakes up in the real world hospital. Now confident and self-assured, she goes to work, stands up for herself, presents her ideas boldly, and finally tells Josh how she feels.