Just Retired
Marilou and Philippe prepare for their future retirement in Portugal. But their daughter separates and a whole procession of solicitations falls on them.
The film earned $9.8M at the global box office.
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%)
Just Retired (2019) demonstrates precise dramatic framework, characteristic of Fabrice Bracq'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 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Marilou and Philippe are established as a retired couple living a quiet, peaceful life in their comfortable home, enjoying their well-deserved retirement after years of work.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Their former criminal associates discover their location, or a dangerous figure from their past resurfaces, threatening to expose their true identities and destroy their peaceful retirement.. 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 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to The couple actively chooses to confront their past rather than run again. They decide to use their old skills one last time to resolve the threat and protect their new life., moving from reaction to action.
At 49 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat A false victory where they believe they've neutralized the threat and can return to retirement, or they successfully complete a major objective that seems to resolve the conflict., 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, Their cover is completely blown, someone important is captured or hurt, or they face the devastating realization that they can never truly escape their past. The dream of peaceful retirement dies., 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. They realize that true retirement isn't about hiding from who you were, but accepting it and choosing how to move forward. They synthesize their old skills with their newfound values to formulate a final plan., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Just Retired's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Just Retired against these established plot points, we can identify how Fabrice Bracq utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Just Retired 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
Marilou and Philippe are established as a retired couple living a quiet, peaceful life in their comfortable home, enjoying their well-deserved retirement after years of work.
Theme
A character mentions that retirement is supposed to be about finally living life on your own terms, but questions whether running from your past is really living at all.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the couple's seemingly normal retirement life, their routines, their relationship dynamics, and hints that they may be hiding something about their past identities.
Disruption
Their former criminal associates discover their location, or a dangerous figure from their past resurfaces, threatening to expose their true identities and destroy their peaceful retirement.
Resistance
The couple debates whether to run again or stand their ground, arguing about what they should do. They wrestle with whether their retirement life was real or just another form of hiding.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The couple actively chooses to confront their past rather than run again. They decide to use their old skills one last time to resolve the threat and protect their new life.
Mirror World
They reconnect with a former ally or mentor figure who represents the life they left behind, creating a thematic contrast between who they were and who they've become.
Premise
The fun of watching retired operatives use their old skills in creative ways, blending their domestic retirement life with action sequences, mining comedy from the contrast between their age and their abilities.
Midpoint
A false victory where they believe they've neutralized the threat and can return to retirement, or they successfully complete a major objective that seems to resolve the conflict.
Opposition
The real antagonist reveals themselves or the threat proves more extensive than anticipated. Their retirement facade crumbles as enemies close in, and their relationship strains under the pressure of returning to their old life.
Collapse
Their cover is completely blown, someone important is captured or hurt, or they face the devastating realization that they can never truly escape their past. The dream of peaceful retirement dies.
Crisis
The couple confronts whether their retirement was ever real or just self-deception. They process the loss and face the emotional darkness of accepting who they truly are.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
They realize that true retirement isn't about hiding from who you were, but accepting it and choosing how to move forward. They synthesize their old skills with their newfound values to formulate a final plan.
Synthesis
The couple executes their final operation, using both their professional expertise and the wisdom gained from retirement. They confront the antagonist and resolve the threat definitively, fighting together as partners.
Transformation
The couple is shown in retirement again, but this time authentically themselves—no longer hiding, but genuinely at peace with both their past and present, having earned their rest through acceptance rather than escape.