Love and Other Disasters
Emily Jackson lives a fast-paced life. Always on the go, able to talk around the clock, with a sensitive soul she loves playing matchmaker for her friends. It's Emily's gay roommate and frequent companion Peter, who becomes again the subject matchmaking skills when handsome new photographer assistant Paolo arrives at the Vogue offices, where Emily works. She makes it her mission to bring the two men together. Unfortunately for her, she is so busy arranging a love connection between Peter and Paolo that she remains completely blind to the one suitor who longs to provide her with the loving companionship that she so cheerfully arranges for others. And so it does make sense that Peter, a screenwriter in the making, starts telling the story from his own point of view.
The film disappointed at the box office against its limited budget of $9.0M, earning $6.4M globally (-29% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its innovative storytelling 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%)
Love and Other Disasters (2006) reveals meticulously timed plot construction, characteristic of Alek Keshishian's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 31 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Emily "Jacks" Jackson
Peter Simon
Paolo Sarmiento
Tallulah
James Wildstone
Chloe
Main Cast & Characters
Emily "Jacks" Jackson
Played by Brittany Murphy
A fashion assistant obsessed with romance and matchmaking who believes she's found the perfect man, not realizing he's gay.
Peter Simon
Played by Santiago Cabrera
A charming Argentine photographer who Jacks mistakes for straight and pursues romantically, despite his obvious gay identity.
Paolo Sarmiento
Played by Matthew Rhys
Jacks' gay best friend and roommate, a witty and supportive confidant who watches her romantic misadventures unfold.
Tallulah
Played by Catherine Tate
Jacks' other roommate and close friend, a pragmatic observer of the romantic chaos in their social circle.
James Wildstone
Played by Orlando Bloom
A genuine romantic interest who develops feelings for Jacks, but she's too fixated on Peter to notice him initially.
Chloe
Played by Gwyneth Paltrow
A friend in the social circle who becomes involved with Paolo, adding complexity to the group dynamics.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Jacks narrates her life philosophy about love and dating disasters in London, establishing her as a romantically unlucky but optimistic American expat working at British Vogue.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Jacks meets Paolo, a charming photographer, at a Vogue photo shoot. She assumes he's gay based on superficial signals, disrupting her usual approach to men and setting up her misguided matchmaking mission.. 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 26% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Jacks commits to playing matchmaker and actively begins setting up Paolo with Peter, while simultaneously helping Tallulah pursue the handsome James. She fully embraces her role as romantic orchestrator., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False victory: Jacks's matchmaking seems to be working - Paolo and Peter appear to be getting along, and Tallulah's romance with James heats up. Jacks celebrates her success as a love guru while remaining oblivious to her own romantic situation., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 67 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jacks discovers that Paolo is straight and has been in love with her all along. She realizes she's been the fool, projecting her assumptions onto him. Her identity as a romantic expert collapses - she couldn't even see love right in front of her., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 73 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Jacks has an epiphany, recognizing that her friendship with Paolo was the truest connection she's ever had. She realizes she loves him and must act on it rather than continue to hide behind matchmaking for others., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Love and Other Disasters'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 Love and Other Disasters against these established plot points, we can identify how Alek Keshishian utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Love and Other Disasters within the comedy genre.
Alek Keshishian's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Alek Keshishian films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Love and Other Disasters represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Alek Keshishian filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Alek Keshishian analyses, see With Honors.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jacks narrates her life philosophy about love and dating disasters in London, establishing her as a romantically unlucky but optimistic American expat working at British Vogue.
Theme
Tallulah tells Jacks that she keeps looking for love in all the wrong places and that sometimes the right person is right in front of you - but you're too blind to see them.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Jacks's world at British Vogue, her flat with roommate Peter, her friend Tallulah's romantic troubles, and the fashionable London setting. Jacks's pattern of dating disasters is established.
Disruption
Jacks meets Paolo, a charming photographer, at a Vogue photo shoot. She assumes he's gay based on superficial signals, disrupting her usual approach to men and setting up her misguided matchmaking mission.
Resistance
Jacks debates whether to help Peter find love and decides Paolo would be perfect for him. She gathers evidence that Paolo is gay while Paolo tries to spend time with her, his interest misinterpreted.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jacks commits to playing matchmaker and actively begins setting up Paolo with Peter, while simultaneously helping Tallulah pursue the handsome James. She fully embraces her role as romantic orchestrator.
Mirror World
Paolo becomes Jacks's close confidant and friend. Their deepening platonic intimacy (from her perspective) becomes the mirror world where she experiences genuine connection without her usual romantic anxiety.
Premise
Fun and games of the premise: Jacks orchestrates increasingly elaborate schemes to bring Paolo and Peter together while navigating Tallulah's romantic escapades. Paolo plays along, hoping Jacks will eventually see the truth.
Midpoint
False victory: Jacks's matchmaking seems to be working - Paolo and Peter appear to be getting along, and Tallulah's romance with James heats up. Jacks celebrates her success as a love guru while remaining oblivious to her own romantic situation.
Opposition
Complications mount: Peter reveals he doesn't have feelings for Paolo. Tallulah's relationship with James hits obstacles. Paolo becomes increasingly frustrated that Jacks can't see his feelings for her.
Collapse
Jacks discovers that Paolo is straight and has been in love with her all along. She realizes she's been the fool, projecting her assumptions onto him. Her identity as a romantic expert collapses - she couldn't even see love right in front of her.
Crisis
Jacks spirals in self-doubt and embarrassment. She distances herself from Paolo, convinced she's ruined everything. She questions whether she's capable of real love or just performs romance for others.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Jacks has an epiphany, recognizing that her friendship with Paolo was the truest connection she's ever had. She realizes she loves him and must act on it rather than continue to hide behind matchmaking for others.
Synthesis
Jacks pursues Paolo, who has begun to give up hope. She must prove she finally sees him clearly. Meanwhile, all the romantic threads resolve - Tallulah finds her path, Peter finds peace. Jacks confesses her love to Paolo.
Transformation
Jacks and Paolo are together, genuinely in love. The closing image shows Jacks no longer narrating about disasters but living her own love story - transformed from a spectator of romance into a participant.