My Giant
A down-on-his-luck movie agent (Billy Crystal) goes to a movie site in Romania to be with his only client, his former paperboy. But once he gets there, the kid tells him he is getting a big time agent and that he is fired. Despondent, the agent roams the countryside until he loses control of his car and overturns into a pond where he seemingly is going to drown until a pair of gigantic hands pulls him free of the car. Later he awakens in a monastery and discovers that a 7-1/2' man (NBA player Gheorge Muresan) rescued him. Money dances in front of the agent as he figures ways to get him back to America and into the movies. The giant is only interested in getting to Gallup to see his childhood girl friend. First the agent gets him a small role in the Romanian-filmed movie which earns his plane fare. Then he takes him to Las Vegas where he convinces Steven Seagal (in a cameo as himself) to include the giant in a new action film.
The film earned $8.0M at the global box office.
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 Giant (1998) demonstrates precise plot construction, characteristic of Michael Lehmann's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 43 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 Sammy, a struggling Hollywood talent agent, is shown in his chaotic, failing professional life - desperate for a big break and neglecting his family.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Sammy's car crashes in Romania while on a business trip. He's rescued from the wreckage by Max, a 7'7" giant who lives in a remote monastery.. 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Sammy convinces Max to come to America with the promise of helping him find his lost love, while secretly planning to turn him into a movie star., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False victory: Max gets a movie deal and Sammy seems to have found his golden ticket. But the celebration masks growing tension - Sammy is using Max, and Max's health is secretly failing., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 77 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Max collapses from his heart condition. Sammy realizes he's been so focused on exploiting Max that he's endangered his friend's life and lost what really matters - genuine human connection., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Sammy decides to abandon the movie deal and focus on what Max truly wants - finding his lost love - and on reconnecting with his own family, choosing relationship over exploitation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
My Giant'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 My Giant against these established plot points, we can identify how Michael Lehmann utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish My Giant within the comedy genre.
Michael Lehmann's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Michael Lehmann films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. My Giant represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Michael Lehmann filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Michael Lehmann analyses, see Airheads, Because I Said So and Hudson Hawk.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Sammy, a struggling Hollywood talent agent, is shown in his chaotic, failing professional life - desperate for a big break and neglecting his family.
Theme
A character mentions that success isn't about fame or money, but about what really matters in life - foreshadowing Sammy's journey of discovering true values.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Sammy's world: his strained marriage, distant relationship with his son, failing talent agency, and desperation to find the next big star in Hollywood.
Disruption
Sammy's car crashes in Romania while on a business trip. He's rescued from the wreckage by Max, a 7'7" giant who lives in a remote monastery.
Resistance
Sammy recovers and debates whether to exploit Max's size for Hollywood stardom. Max is reluctant, wanting only to find his long-lost love in America. Sammy sees dollar signs.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Sammy convinces Max to come to America with the promise of helping him find his lost love, while secretly planning to turn him into a movie star.
Mirror World
Max's gentle, genuine nature and simple wisdom begin to contrast sharply with Sammy's superficial Hollywood hustle - Max becomes the mirror showing what Sammy lacks.
Premise
The fun and games: Sammy parades Max around Hollywood for auditions and meetings, fish-out-of-water comedy as the giant navigates LA, and Max's search for his lost love.
Midpoint
False victory: Max gets a movie deal and Sammy seems to have found his golden ticket. But the celebration masks growing tension - Sammy is using Max, and Max's health is secretly failing.
Opposition
Max discovers Sammy has been lying and exploiting him. Sammy's family relationships deteriorate further. Max's heart condition worsens. The movie production becomes a nightmare of exploitation.
Collapse
Max collapses from his heart condition. Sammy realizes he's been so focused on exploiting Max that he's endangered his friend's life and lost what really matters - genuine human connection.
Crisis
Sammy sits with the hospitalized Max, confronting his own emptiness and realizing he's become everything he despises - someone who uses people and has lost his family in pursuit of hollow success.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Sammy decides to abandon the movie deal and focus on what Max truly wants - finding his lost love - and on reconnecting with his own family, choosing relationship over exploitation.
Synthesis
Sammy helps Max find his lost love and reunite with her. He uses his Hollywood connections for good instead of exploitation. He reconciles with his wife and son, proving he's changed.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening: Sammy with his family, but now present and engaged rather than distant and distracted. He's learned that real success is measured in relationships, not deals.