My Favorite Martian
Life couldn't get much worse for News Producer Tim O'Hara. He humiliates the one he loves, Brace Channing and ends up getting fired by her father. Then, a Martian from Mars arrives in his home. The Martian adopts the name 'Uncle Martin' and becomes friends with Tim, whilst he fixes his ship. Unaware to Martin, Tim actually wants to reveal him to the world, but can he actually do that to his new friend and 'Uncle'?
The film underperformed commercially against its mid-range budget of $65.0M, earning $36.9M globally (-43% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its fresh perspective 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%)
My Favorite Martian (1999) exhibits strategically placed story structure, characteristic of Donald Petrie's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 34 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.9, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Uncle Martin
Tim O'Hara
Brace Channing
Lizzie
Zoot
Coleye
Main Cast & Characters
Uncle Martin
Played by Christopher Lloyd
A Martian anthropologist who crash-lands on Earth and must repair his spaceship while posing as a human uncle.
Tim O'Hara
Played by Jeff Daniels
An ambitious TV news producer who discovers Martin and helps him while trying to advance his career.
Brace Channing
Played by Elizabeth Hurley
Tim's rival news producer who is ruthless and competitive, willing to do anything for a story.
Lizzie
Played by Daryl Hannah
Tim's love interest and colleague who is kind-hearted and supportive of his ambitions.
Zoot
Played by Wayne Knight
Martin's wise-cracking animated spacesuit with a personality of its own.
Coleye
Played by Wallace Shawn
A government agent obsessed with proving the existence of extraterrestrial life.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Tim O'Hara is a struggling TV news producer desperate for his big break, stuck doing fluff pieces while his ambitious colleague Brace Channing gets the hard news assignments.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Tim witnesses a spaceship crash in the California desert. This is his ticket to fame - the biggest story of all time. He rushes to investigate and discovers an alien survivor.. 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 First Threshold at 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Tim actively chooses to help Martin disguise himself as his "Uncle Martin" and integrate into human society while they search for Martin's missing spaceship component, committing to this partnership., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Coleye, a government agent, identifies Martin as an alien and begins actively hunting him. The stakes raise dramatically - it's no longer just about Tim's career, but Martin's freedom and safety. False victory turns to danger., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 65 minutes (70% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Martin is captured by Coleye and taken to a government facility for experimentation. Tim's betrayal or negligence led to this. The friendship appears dead, and Martin faces dissection. Tim has lost what truly mattered., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 75 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Tim chooses friendship over fame. He destroys his footage of Martin and recruits Lizzie to help rescue him from the government facility, synthesizing his resourcefulness with newfound selflessness., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
My Favorite Martian's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping My Favorite Martian against these established plot points, we can identify how Donald Petrie utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish My Favorite Martian within the comedy genre.
Donald Petrie's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Donald Petrie films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. My Favorite Martian takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Donald Petrie filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Donald Petrie analyses, see Miss Congeniality, My Life in Ruins and Ri¢hie Ri¢h.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Tim O'Hara is a struggling TV news producer desperate for his big break, stuck doing fluff pieces while his ambitious colleague Brace Channing gets the hard news assignments.
Theme
Lizzie tells Tim that chasing fame and success isn't everything - what matters is being genuine and connecting with people. Tim dismisses this, focused only on his career ambitions.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Tim's world: his career struggles, rivalry with Brace, friendship with Lizzie, and his desperation to become a serious journalist. Meanwhile, a Martian spaceship approaches Earth.
Disruption
Tim witnesses a spaceship crash in the California desert. This is his ticket to fame - the biggest story of all time. He rushes to investigate and discovers an alien survivor.
Resistance
Tim debates what to do with Martin the Martian. He hides Martin in his home, torn between exploiting him for career advancement and helping him repair his ship. Martin reveals his technology and abilities.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Tim actively chooses to help Martin disguise himself as his "Uncle Martin" and integrate into human society while they search for Martin's missing spaceship component, committing to this partnership.
Mirror World
Lizzie becomes more involved with Tim and Martin, representing the authentic relationship Tim has been missing. She accepts Martin for who he is, modeling the genuine connection Tim needs to learn.
Premise
Fish-out-of-water comedy as Martin navigates human society with Tim's help. Martin's alien abilities cause chaos and attract attention. Tim tries to balance helping Martin while still pursuing his career goals.
Midpoint
Coleye, a government agent, identifies Martin as an alien and begins actively hunting him. The stakes raise dramatically - it's no longer just about Tim's career, but Martin's freedom and safety. False victory turns to danger.
Opposition
Coleye closes in on Martin and Tim. Tim's selfish ambitions conflict with protecting Martin. The government conspiracy intensifies, and Tim's relationship with Lizzie strains as his priorities become clear.
Collapse
Martin is captured by Coleye and taken to a government facility for experimentation. Tim's betrayal or negligence led to this. The friendship appears dead, and Martin faces dissection. Tim has lost what truly mattered.
Crisis
Tim processes his failure and realizes his ambition cost him his only real friend. He recognizes that career success means nothing without genuine relationships, finally understanding what Lizzie tried to tell him.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Tim chooses friendship over fame. He destroys his footage of Martin and recruits Lizzie to help rescue him from the government facility, synthesizing his resourcefulness with newfound selflessness.
Synthesis
Tim and Lizzie execute a rescue plan, infiltrating the facility. Action-packed finale where they free Martin, defeat Coleye, and help Martin repair his ship. Tim sacrifices his career scoop for his friend.
Transformation
Tim says goodbye to Martin as he returns to Mars. Tim is now with Lizzie, having learned that genuine relationships matter more than ambition. He's content with meaningful work and authentic connections.