It's a Boy Girl Thing
The next door neighbors Nell Bedworth and Woody Deane have opposite behaviors and hate each other: the virgin geek Nell is polite, sensitive and well-prepared to go to Yale, while Woody is rude and his greatest expectation is to join a mediocre university due to his abilities playing football. When Nell and Woody are assigned to visit a museum together, they argue in front of a statue of an Aztec god. During the night, their souls swap bodies, bringing difficult situations to them. They first try to damage each other's reputation in high school, but soon they discover that their dream of joining college can only happen with mutual respect and support.
The film box office disappointment against its moderate budget of $15.5M, earning $7.4M globally (-52% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its fresh perspective within the comedy genre.
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%)
It's a Boy Girl Thing (2006) exhibits carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of Nick Hurran's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 35 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.7, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Nell Bedworth
Woody Deane
Main Cast & Characters
Nell Bedworth
Played by Samaire Armstrong
An academic overachiever focused on Yale admission who finds herself trapped in her neighbor's body.
Woody Deane
Played by Kevin Zegers
A popular jock and football star who suddenly wakes up in his rival's body.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Nell Bedworth and Woody Deane are introduced as feuding next-door neighbors with completely opposite personalities—she is a studious overachiever focused on Yale, he is a popular football jock—establishing their mutual contempt and incompatibility.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when After a heated argument in front of the Aztec god statue at the museum, Nell and Woody are cursed by Tezcatlipoca. They wake up the next morning having switched bodies, completely disrupting both their lives.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Nell and Woody make the reluctant decision to cooperate and live each other's lives, agreeing to attend school, maintain appearances, and protect each other's futures—an active choice to enter this new uncomfortable reality together., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat A shift occurs as Nell and Woody stop sabotaging and start genuinely helping each other. Woody coaches Nell's body for the crucial Yale interview while Nell helps his body prepare for the championship game—false victory as cooperation seems to solve everything., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 71 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The consequences of their mutual sabotage converge catastrophically. Nell's Yale interview is in jeopardy due to Woody's earlier actions, while the championship game and Woody's scholarship hang by a thread. Their dreams—and newfound relationship—appear destroyed., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 77 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Nell and Woody switch back to their own bodies, the curse lifted now that they truly understand each other. Armed with this new perspective and genuine care for one another, they resolve to fix the damage they caused and fight for each other's dreams., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
It's a Boy Girl Thing'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 It's a Boy Girl Thing against these established plot points, we can identify how Nick Hurran utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish It's a Boy Girl Thing within the comedy genre.
Nick Hurran's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Nick Hurran films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.6, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. It's a Boy Girl Thing represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Nick Hurran filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Nick Hurran analyses, see Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor, Little Black Book.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Nell Bedworth and Woody Deane are introduced as feuding next-door neighbors with completely opposite personalities—she is a studious overachiever focused on Yale, he is a popular football jock—establishing their mutual contempt and incompatibility.
Theme
During a class field trip to the museum, the teacher explains the Aztec god Tezcatlipoca's power, noting that true understanding only comes from experiencing life through another's eyes—foreshadowing the transformative journey ahead.
Worldbuilding
The world of Wooddale High School is established, showcasing Nell's academic obsession and dream of attending Yale, Woody's football stardom and scholarship aspirations, their neighboring families' contrasting dynamics, and the deep-seated antagonism between the two protagonists.
Disruption
After a heated argument in front of the Aztec god statue at the museum, Nell and Woody are cursed by Tezcatlipoca. They wake up the next morning having switched bodies, completely disrupting both their lives.
Resistance
Nell and Woody panic and attempt to reverse the body swap, returning to the museum and researching the curse. When no quick fix is found, they must learn to navigate each other's bodies while debating whether to reveal the truth or maintain the charade.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Nell and Woody make the reluctant decision to cooperate and live each other's lives, agreeing to attend school, maintain appearances, and protect each other's futures—an active choice to enter this new uncomfortable reality together.
Mirror World
As they immerse in each other's worlds, genuine understanding begins. Woody-as-Nell experiences her family's intellectual pressure; Nell-as-Woody discovers his parents' dysfunction and financial struggles. The subplot of forced empathy carries the film's central theme.
Premise
The promise of the premise delivers body-swap comedy as Woody-as-Nell embarrasses her at school while Nell-as-Woody fumbles through football practice. Both attempt sabotage—he damages her Yale prospects, she humiliates him socially—creating escalating comedic chaos.
Midpoint
A shift occurs as Nell and Woody stop sabotaging and start genuinely helping each other. Woody coaches Nell's body for the crucial Yale interview while Nell helps his body prepare for the championship game—false victory as cooperation seems to solve everything.
Opposition
Complications intensify as romantic feelings develop between them, confusing both. Their earlier sabotage begins surfacing with consequences—damaged reputations, strained friendships, and suspicious parents. The pressure of maintaining the deception while falling for each other creates mounting tension.
Collapse
The consequences of their mutual sabotage converge catastrophically. Nell's Yale interview is in jeopardy due to Woody's earlier actions, while the championship game and Woody's scholarship hang by a thread. Their dreams—and newfound relationship—appear destroyed.
Crisis
In the dark night of the soul, both Nell and Woody face the wreckage of their sabotage. They must confront how their hatred hurt not just each other but themselves. The emotional weight of potentially losing everything—including each other—settles in.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Nell and Woody switch back to their own bodies, the curse lifted now that they truly understand each other. Armed with this new perspective and genuine care for one another, they resolve to fix the damage they caused and fight for each other's dreams.
Synthesis
Now back in their own bodies, Nell and Woody race to salvage their futures. Nell delivers an authentic Yale interview drawing on her new understanding; Woody plays the championship game with heart. They support each other publicly, revealing their transformed relationship.
Transformation
Nell and Woody share a kiss, now openly in love. The former enemies who couldn't stand each other have transformed into partners who truly understand one another—the closing image mirrors the opening antagonism but shows complete reversal through genuine connection.