Laws of Attraction
Amidst a sea of litigation, two New York City divorce lawyers find love.
Working with a mid-range budget of $28.0M, the film achieved a respectable showing with $30.0M in global revenue (+7% 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%)
Laws of Attraction (2004) reveals deliberately positioned plot construction, characteristic of Peter Howitt's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 30 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Audrey Woods is introduced as a highly successful, perfectionist divorce attorney in New York, completely focused on her career and winning cases. She's organized, methodical, and has no room for romance in her structured life.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Audrey and Daniel are assigned to opposing sides of a high-profile, contentious celebrity divorce case that will force them to work in close proximity. The case threatens to be career-defining for both, raising the professional stakes.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Audrey and Daniel arrive in Ireland together. After a night of drinking and letting loose at a local festival, they wake up married to each other, crossing the threshold into a completely unexpected relationship they must now navigate., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False victory: Audrey and Daniel acknowledge their feelings and begin a real romantic relationship, deciding to see where this unexpected connection might lead. They appear to have found a way to balance their professional competition with personal intimacy., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Audrey and Daniel have a devastating fight, with their relationship collapsing under the weight of their differences and professional pressures. They decide to annul the marriage and return to being rivals, with Audrey retreating to her controlled, emotionless world. The dream of love appears dead., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Audrey has a realization that combines her professional skills with her newfound emotional openness. She understands that she doesn't have to choose between career success and love, and that Daniel's spontaneity complements rather than threatens her strengths. She decides to fight for the relationship., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Laws of Attraction'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 Laws of Attraction against these established plot points, we can identify how Peter Howitt utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Laws of Attraction within the comedy genre.
Peter Howitt's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Peter Howitt films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Laws of Attraction takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Peter Howitt filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Peter Howitt analyses, see Antitrust, Johnny English and Sliding Doors.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Audrey Woods is introduced as a highly successful, perfectionist divorce attorney in New York, completely focused on her career and winning cases. She's organized, methodical, and has no room for romance in her structured life.
Theme
A colleague or client mentions that "opposites attract" or comments on how Audrey's need for control might be keeping her from real connection, hinting at the film's exploration of love emerging from conflict.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Audrey's world as a top divorce lawyer and introduction of Daniel Rafferty, her charming but chaotic Irish rival. We see their professional antagonism in court, their opposing styles (her precision vs. his improvisation), and the high-stakes divorce cases they handle.
Disruption
Audrey and Daniel are assigned to opposing sides of a high-profile, contentious celebrity divorce case that will force them to work in close proximity. The case threatens to be career-defining for both, raising the professional stakes.
Resistance
Audrey and Daniel engage in escalating legal battles and one-upmanship. Despite her resistance, Audrey finds herself increasingly aware of Daniel's charm. The case requires them to travel to Ireland for depositions, and Audrey debates whether she can maintain her professional composure.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Audrey and Daniel arrive in Ireland together. After a night of drinking and letting loose at a local festival, they wake up married to each other, crossing the threshold into a completely unexpected relationship they must now navigate.
Mirror World
Daniel represents the spontaneous, passionate approach to life that Audrey has been missing. Their accidental marriage forces Audrey to confront what a relationship might look like, serving as the emotional subplot that will teach her to embrace vulnerability and imperfection.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Audrey and Daniel trying to keep their marriage secret while continuing to battle in court. Romantic chemistry builds through their forced proximity, witty banter, and glimpses of genuine connection beneath their professional rivalry.
Midpoint
False victory: Audrey and Daniel acknowledge their feelings and begin a real romantic relationship, deciding to see where this unexpected connection might lead. They appear to have found a way to balance their professional competition with personal intimacy.
Opposition
The pressures intensify as their secret marriage threatens to become public, which could compromise the case and their careers. Their different approaches to life create mounting tension. Professional obligations and personal insecurities drive them apart as the case reaches critical moments.
Collapse
Audrey and Daniel have a devastating fight, with their relationship collapsing under the weight of their differences and professional pressures. They decide to annul the marriage and return to being rivals, with Audrey retreating to her controlled, emotionless world. The dream of love appears dead.
Crisis
Audrey returns to her old life but realizes how empty it feels. She processes the loss and recognizes that her need for control has prevented her from truly living and loving. Dark night of the soul as she confronts what she's given up.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Audrey has a realization that combines her professional skills with her newfound emotional openness. She understands that she doesn't have to choose between career success and love, and that Daniel's spontaneity complements rather than threatens her strengths. She decides to fight for the relationship.
Synthesis
Audrey makes a grand gesture to win Daniel back, possibly involving a public declaration or creative solution to their dilemma. The divorce case resolves in a way that reflects the film's themes about partnership. Audrey and Daniel reunite, having both grown from the experience.
Transformation
Closing image shows Audrey, once rigidly controlled and closed off to love, now embraced in a passionate, imperfect, joyful relationship with Daniel. She's learned to balance her professional excellence with emotional vulnerability, transformed from someone who feared chaos into someone who embraces it.