Mr. Destiny
Larry Burrows (Jim Belushi) is unhappy and feels powerless over his life. He believes his entire life could have turned out differently had he not missed that shot in a baseball game when was a kid. One night he meets this mysterious man named Mike (Sir Michael Caine), who could change his fate by offering him that alternative life of which he always dreamed. But as Burrows embarks on this journey of self discovery he realizes that even this new life has its problems and drawbacks.
The film disappointed at the box office against its moderate budget of $20.0M, earning $15.4M globally (-23% loss).
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%)
Mr. Destiny (1990) exemplifies precise narrative architecture, characteristic of James Orr's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 50 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.3, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Larry Burrows
Mike
Ellen Burrows
Cindy Jo
Clip Metzler
Niles Pender
Main Cast & Characters
Larry Burrows
Played by James Belushi
A frustrated middle-aged man who believes one missed baseball catch ruined his entire life, gets to see an alternate reality where he succeeded.
Mike
Played by Michael Caine
Mysterious bartender with magical powers who shows Larry an alternate life to teach him appreciation for what he has.
Ellen Burrows
Played by Linda Hamilton
Larry's loyal wife in the original timeline who loves him despite their modest circumstances.
Cindy Jo
Played by Rene Russo
Larry's glamorous wife in the alternate reality, a self-centered woman who married him for status and money.
Clip Metzler
Played by Jon Lovitz
Larry's best friend and business partner who has a different relationship with him across both timelines.
Niles Pender
Played by Hart Bochner
Larry's wealthy boss and rival in the original timeline who becomes his business partner in the alternate reality.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Larry Burrows celebrates his 35th birthday at work, surrounded by colleagues at the sporting goods company where he's a mid-level employee. His ordinary suburban life is established—decent job, loving wife Ellen, modest home.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when On his 35th birthday, Larry's car breaks down in the rain. Everything goes wrong—his birthday dinner is ruined, he feels like a failure. He wanders into a mysterious bar called "The Universal Joint" that he's never seen before.. 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 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Mike offers Larry a special drink called "The Spilt Milk" and grants his wish. Larry accepts, choosing to see what life would be like if he had hit that home run. He wakes up in an alternate reality., moving from reaction to action.
At 55 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Larry discovers that in this reality, he's a ruthless businessman who stepped on everyone to get to the top. He finds Ellen, now married to Niles Pender, and realizes she's the one he truly loves. His "dream life" is revealed as hollow., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 83 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Larry is accused of murder and faces arrest. He's lost everything—Ellen doesn't trust him, he's wanted by the police, and he realizes his alternate self was a monster. The dream has become a nightmare, and he desperately wants his old life back., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 88 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Larry finds The Universal Joint again and pleads with Mike to send him back. He now truly understands the theme—he had everything he needed all along. Mike agrees to restore his original destiny., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Mr. Destiny's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Mr. Destiny against these established plot points, we can identify how James Orr utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Mr. Destiny within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Larry Burrows celebrates his 35th birthday at work, surrounded by colleagues at the sporting goods company where he's a mid-level employee. His ordinary suburban life is established—decent job, loving wife Ellen, modest home.
Theme
Larry's friend Clip tells him he should stop obsessing over what might have been and appreciate what he has now. "You can't keep living in the past, Larry"—foreshadowing the lesson Larry must learn.
Worldbuilding
Larry's dissatisfaction with his ordinary life is established. He obsesses over the high school championship game where he struck out. His relationship with wife Ellen is loving but strained by his regrets. His boss Niles Pender treats him poorly.
Disruption
On his 35th birthday, Larry's car breaks down in the rain. Everything goes wrong—his birthday dinner is ruined, he feels like a failure. He wanders into a mysterious bar called "The Universal Joint" that he's never seen before.
Resistance
Larry meets the enigmatic bartender Mike, who listens to Larry's tale of woe about the strikeout that ruined his life. Mike challenges Larry's assumptions that hitting the home run would have made everything better, but Larry insists it would have.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Mike offers Larry a special drink called "The Spilt Milk" and grants his wish. Larry accepts, choosing to see what life would be like if he had hit that home run. He wakes up in an alternate reality.
Mirror World
Larry discovers he's now married to Cindy Jo, the beautiful woman he had a crush on in high school. She represents what he thought he wanted—wealth, status, beauty—but their relationship lacks the genuine connection he had with Ellen.
Premise
Larry explores his new life as a wealthy executive who owns the company. He enjoys the mansion, the sports car, the prestige. But strange things emerge—his best friend Clip doesn't know him, Ellen is married to someone else, and people seem afraid of him.
Midpoint
Larry discovers that in this reality, he's a ruthless businessman who stepped on everyone to get to the top. He finds Ellen, now married to Niles Pender, and realizes she's the one he truly loves. His "dream life" is revealed as hollow.
Opposition
Larry tries to win back Ellen while dealing with the consequences of alternate-Larry's actions. Cindy Jo and her lover plot against him. The police suspect him of crimes alternate-Larry committed. His attempts to reconnect with Ellen are complicated by her marriage.
Collapse
Larry is accused of murder and faces arrest. He's lost everything—Ellen doesn't trust him, he's wanted by the police, and he realizes his alternate self was a monster. The dream has become a nightmare, and he desperately wants his old life back.
Crisis
Larry flees from the police and reflects on everything he's lost. He finally understands that his ordinary life with Ellen was precious. The wealth and status meant nothing without love and genuine human connection.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Larry finds The Universal Joint again and pleads with Mike to send him back. He now truly understands the theme—he had everything he needed all along. Mike agrees to restore his original destiny.
Synthesis
Larry wakes back in his original life. He rushes home to Ellen with new appreciation for everything he has. He confronts Niles Pender with confidence, no longer feeling inferior. He embraces his ordinary life with genuine joy and gratitude.
Transformation
Larry celebrates with Ellen, finally at peace with his life. He passes by where The Universal Joint was, but it's gone—perhaps it never existed except when he needed it. He walks forward into his life, transformed by gratitude and contentment.