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 financial setback against its respectable 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) exemplifies strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Nick Hurran's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-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.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Nell (studious, Yale-bound) and Woody (jock, football star) are next-door neighbors who despise each other, living in their separate worlds of academic achievement and athletic glory.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when During a field trip to a museum, Nell and Woody have a heated argument in front of an ancient Aztec statue. They curse each other and wake up the next morning having switched bodies.. At 11% 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Unable to switch back immediately, Nell and Woody make the active decision to pretend to be each other and navigate each other's lives while searching for a way to reverse the curse., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 69 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Everything falls apart: their deceptions are exposed, relationships are damaged, and they have a major fight blaming each other for ruining their lives. The possibility of ever returning to their own bodies or salvaging their futures seems lost., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 76 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The finale: Nell and Woody work together to break the curse through genuine mutual respect and love. They switch back to their own bodies, confess their feelings, resolve conflicts with friends and family, and embrace their transformed understanding of each other., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
It's a Boy Girl Thing's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. 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 Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Nick Hurran analyses, see Little Black Book, Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Nell (studious, Yale-bound) and Woody (jock, football star) are next-door neighbors who despise each other, living in their separate worlds of academic achievement and athletic glory.
Theme
A character remarks about understanding what it's like to walk in someone else's shoes, foreshadowing the body-swap that will force Nell and Woody to literally experience each other's lives.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Nell and Woody's antagonistic relationship, their respective social circles, family dynamics, and academic/athletic goals. Nell is focused on Yale; Woody is focused on football and his girlfriend Breanna.
Disruption
During a field trip to a museum, Nell and Woody have a heated argument in front of an ancient Aztec statue. They curse each other and wake up the next morning having switched bodies.
Resistance
Nell and Woody panic and try to figure out what happened. They attempt to reverse the switch by returning to the statue, debate whether to tell anyone, and struggle with the immediate challenges of inhabiting each other's bodies.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Unable to switch back immediately, Nell and Woody make the active decision to pretend to be each other and navigate each other's lives while searching for a way to reverse the curse.
Premise
The fun of the body-swap premise: Nell-as-Woody fumbles through football practice and dates with Breanna; Woody-as-Nell struggles with academic pressures and Yale interview preparations. Comic mishaps and growing understanding of each other's lives.
Opposition
Complications intensify: their romantic feelings create confusion and conflict with their real-world relationships. Breanna grows suspicious, the Yale interview approaches, and the football championship looms. Their attempts to maintain the charade become increasingly difficult.
Collapse
Everything falls apart: their deceptions are exposed, relationships are damaged, and they have a major fight blaming each other for ruining their lives. The possibility of ever returning to their own bodies or salvaging their futures seems lost.
Crisis
Nell and Woody separately reflect on what they've learned about each other and themselves. They process the pain of their situation and realize that their hatred was based on misunderstanding and that they've fallen in love.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The finale: Nell and Woody work together to break the curse through genuine mutual respect and love. They switch back to their own bodies, confess their feelings, resolve conflicts with friends and family, and embrace their transformed understanding of each other.