Leap Year
When yet another anniversary passes without a marriage proposal from her boyfriend, Anna decides to take action. Aware of a Celtic tradition that allows women to pop the question on Feb. 29, she plans to follow her lover to Dublin and ask him to marry her. Fate has other plans, however, and Anna winds up on the other side of the Emerald Isle with handsome, but surly, Declan -- an Irishman who may just lead Anna down the road to true love.
Working with a respectable budget of $19.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $32.7M in global revenue (+72% 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%)
Leap Year (2010) exhibits deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Anand Tucker's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 40 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Anna Brady is a meticulous Boston stager who obsessively controls every detail of her life and apartment, waiting for her cardiologist boyfriend Jeremy to propose after four years together.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Jeremy leaves for a conference in Dublin without proposing, despite Anna's hints. She discovers the leap day tradition and impulsively decides to fly to Ireland to propose to him herself.. 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 Collapse moment at 73 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Anna reaches Dublin and Jeremy surprises her by proposing in front of everyone at the conference. She accepts, getting exactly what she planned for, but the victory feels hollow. Declan witnesses this and walks away, their connection seemingly dead., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 79 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Anna flies back to Ireland and goes to Declan's inn. She proposes to him on leap day, but this time it's real - not following a plan, but following her heart. She embraces spontaneity and authentic connection over control., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Leap Year's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Leap Year against these established plot points, we can identify how Anand Tucker utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Leap Year within the romance genre.
Anand Tucker's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Anand Tucker films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Leap Year takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Anand Tucker filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional romance films include South Pacific, Last Night and Diana. For more Anand Tucker analyses, see Shopgirl.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Anna Brady is a meticulous Boston stager who obsessively controls every detail of her life and apartment, waiting for her cardiologist boyfriend Jeremy to propose after four years together.
Theme
Anna's father mentions the Irish tradition where women can propose to men on leap day, stating "A woman has the right to claim her man" - foreshadowing the theme of taking control versus letting life happen.
Worldbuilding
Establishes Anna's controlled, plan-oriented life in Boston, her staging business, her relationship with Jeremy, and her expectation of an engagement that doesn't come when he gives her earrings instead of a ring.
Disruption
Jeremy leaves for a conference in Dublin without proposing, despite Anna's hints. She discovers the leap day tradition and impulsively decides to fly to Ireland to propose to him herself.
Resistance
Anna debates her plan, books the flight to Ireland, encounters weather problems that force her to land in Wales, then takes a boat to Dingle where she meets innkeeper Declan O'Callaghan, who reluctantly agrees to drive her to Dublin.
Act II
ConfrontationMirror World
Declan serves as Anna's thematic mirror - he's spontaneous, unplanned, and comfortable with life's messiness, the opposite of her rigid control. Their bickering relationship begins to challenge her worldview.
Premise
The road trip across Ireland delivers the rom-com promise: Anna and Declan face mishaps including a castle stay where they pretend to be married, a muddy hike, missed trains, and a traditional Irish wedding where they dance together. Anna's control breaks down as she experiences spontaneity.
Opposition
Anna pushes forward to Dublin despite her growing feelings for Declan. They grow closer but fight about their different values. Anna's plan starts falling apart as she confronts the gap between what she thought she wanted and what she actually needs.
Collapse
Anna reaches Dublin and Jeremy surprises her by proposing in front of everyone at the conference. She accepts, getting exactly what she planned for, but the victory feels hollow. Declan witnesses this and walks away, their connection seemingly dead.
Crisis
Back in Boston with Jeremy, Anna goes through the motions of planning her wedding but feels empty. She realizes her perfectly planned life doesn't make her happy. She sits with the darkness of having chosen security over authenticity.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Anna flies back to Ireland and goes to Declan's inn. She proposes to him on leap day, but this time it's real - not following a plan, but following her heart. She embraces spontaneity and authentic connection over control.