Some Kind of Wonderful
Keith Nelson, an artsy high school outcast, tries to land a date with popular girl Amanda Jones with some help from his tomboy best friend, Watts. However, Watts realizes she likes Keith as more than just a friend and tries to convince him to stop pursuing Amanda. Matters are further complicated when Keith's invitation draws the ire of Amanda's rich yet snobby ex-boyfriend, Hardy Jenns, who makes plans to get even.
The film earned $18.6M 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%)
Some Kind of Wonderful (1987) demonstrates meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Howard Deutch's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 35 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Keith Nelson works as an auto mechanic, dreaming of art school while living in his working-class world. His tomboy best friend Watts drums for him, hiding her true feelings. Keith pines for Amanda Jones, the beautiful and popular girl who seems out of reach.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Amanda breaks up with Hardy after he humiliates her at a party, making her emotionally vulnerable. This creates an opening for Keith, who seizes the moment and asks Amanda out on a date. To everyone's surprise, she accepts.. 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Keith makes the active choice to cash in his college fund to finance the perfect date with Amanda. This irreversible decision commits him to pursuing Amanda despite the cost, crossing from his safe world into the uncertain territory of acting on his dreams., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Keith's father discovers he spent the college fund money on the date. The blowout confrontation raises the stakes considerably - this isn't just about a date anymore, but about Keith's entire future and his relationship with his family. What seemed like a romantic adventure now has serious consequences., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 71 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Hardy confronts Keith in a brutal showdown, beating him physically and psychologically. Keith's dream dies as he realizes the cost of his fantasy: broken family relationships, lost future opportunities, and damaged friendships. The image of the "perfect girl" is shattered, revealing the emptiness beneath., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 76 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Keith has his realization: he's been in love with an image of Amanda rather than the real person, while the real thing - authentic connection and love - has been with Watts all along. He synthesizes his artistic sensitivity with newfound clarity about what matters, preparing to act on this truth., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Some Kind of Wonderful'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 Some Kind of Wonderful against these established plot points, we can identify how Howard Deutch utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Some Kind of Wonderful within the romance genre.
Howard Deutch's Structural Approach
Among the 9 Howard Deutch films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.5, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Some Kind of Wonderful takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Howard Deutch filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional romance films include South Pacific, Last Night and Diana. For more Howard Deutch analyses, see The Whole Ten Yards, Pretty in Pink and The Great Outdoors.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Keith Nelson works as an auto mechanic, dreaming of art school while living in his working-class world. His tomboy best friend Watts drums for him, hiding her true feelings. Keith pines for Amanda Jones, the beautiful and popular girl who seems out of reach.
Theme
Watts challenges Keith about his obsession with Amanda, suggesting that he's chasing an image rather than seeing what's really in front of him. The theme of authenticity versus surface appearances is introduced.
Worldbuilding
We explore Keith's world: his artistic aspirations conflict with his father's expectation that he work at the garage; his friendship with Watts and Duncan; the class divide between Keith and Amanda; Amanda's relationship with rich, arrogant Hardy Jenns; and the social hierarchies of high school.
Disruption
Amanda breaks up with Hardy after he humiliates her at a party, making her emotionally vulnerable. This creates an opening for Keith, who seizes the moment and asks Amanda out on a date. To everyone's surprise, she accepts.
Resistance
Keith prepares for the date with Amanda, navigating resistance from multiple directions: his father wants college fund money for family expenses; Watts is hurt and jealous; Duncan helps him plan an elaborate date. Keith must decide whether to pursue this dream or stay safe in his familiar world.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Keith makes the active choice to cash in his college fund to finance the perfect date with Amanda. This irreversible decision commits him to pursuing Amanda despite the cost, crossing from his safe world into the uncertain territory of acting on his dreams.
Mirror World
Watts reveals deeper layers of herself beyond the tough tomboy exterior. Her relationship with Keith serves as the emotional B-story that will teach him about authentic connection versus idealized fantasy. She represents what real love looks like.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Keith dating Amanda: the elaborate date unfolds with dinners, museum visits, and romantic moments. Keith gets to live his fantasy of being with the girl of his dreams. Meanwhile, tension builds as Watts struggles with her feelings, Hardy plots revenge, and Keith begins to see Amanda as a real person, not just an ideal.
Midpoint
Keith's father discovers he spent the college fund money on the date. The blowout confrontation raises the stakes considerably - this isn't just about a date anymore, but about Keith's entire future and his relationship with his family. What seemed like a romantic adventure now has serious consequences.
Opposition
Pressure intensifies from all sides: Hardy escalates his campaign of intimidation and threatens Keith; Amanda reveals her own vulnerability and the emptiness of her popular life; Watts pulls away, hurt by Keith's blindness to her feelings; Keith's family situation deteriorates. Keith begins to realize Amanda may not be who he thought she was, and that his fantasy is crumbling.
Collapse
Hardy confronts Keith in a brutal showdown, beating him physically and psychologically. Keith's dream dies as he realizes the cost of his fantasy: broken family relationships, lost future opportunities, and damaged friendships. The image of the "perfect girl" is shattered, revealing the emptiness beneath.
Crisis
Keith processes the wreckage of his dreams. Watts tends to his wounds, literal and metaphorical. In this dark moment, Keith must confront what he's really been seeking and what he's been blind to. The emotional truth of his situation becomes unavoidable.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Keith has his realization: he's been in love with an image of Amanda rather than the real person, while the real thing - authentic connection and love - has been with Watts all along. He synthesizes his artistic sensitivity with newfound clarity about what matters, preparing to act on this truth.
Synthesis
Keith executes his plan: he completes the date with Amanda, giving her the earrings he'd bought as a gift but releasing her from any obligation. He tells Amanda the truth about his feelings and acknowledges that they wanted different things. Then he goes to find Watts and tell her how he really feels, choosing authenticity over fantasy.
Transformation
Keith kisses Watts in the final image, showing complete transformation from the opening. He's no longer the boy pining for an impossible dream, but someone who has learned to see and value what's real. The tomboy best friend is revealed as the true love story, and Keith has grown into authenticity.