Taking Care of Business
An uptight advertising exec has his entire life in a filofax organizer which mistakenly ends up in the hands of a friendly convict who poses as him.
Working with a small-scale budget of $14.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $20.0M in global revenue (+43% profit margin).
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%)
Taking Care of Business (1990) exhibits strategically placed narrative architecture, characteristic of Arthur Hiller's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 48 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Jimmy Dworski is a model prisoner in minimum security, obsessed with watching the Chicago Cubs play in the World Series. Spencer Barnes is a high-strung advertising executive whose entire life is controlled by his Filofax organizer.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Spencer loses his precious Filofax at the airport. Jimmy, given a day pass to attend the World Series, finds the Filofax and escapes from custody instead of returning to prison.. 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 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Jimmy makes the active choice to assume Spencer's identity, checking into his hotel and entering his corporate world. This is not forced - he chooses to step into this new life., moving from reaction to action.
At 55 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False victory: Jimmy successfully closes Spencer's biggest deal and wins Elizabeth's heart. He seems to be thriving in this new identity. But the stakes raise - Spencer is getting closer to finding him, and Jimmy is falling for Elizabeth under false pretenses., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 80 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jimmy's true identity is revealed. Elizabeth feels betrayed by the lies. The business deal falls apart. Spencer confronts Jimmy and reclaims his Filofax. Jimmy faces returning to prison, having lost the girl and the life he'd briefly tasted. The dream dies., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 86 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Synthesis moment: Spencer realizes Jimmy taught him how to truly live. He decides to help Jimmy. Jimmy accepts responsibility for his choices while recognizing his worth. They form an unlikely alliance to set things right., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Taking Care of Business'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 Taking Care of Business against these established plot points, we can identify how Arthur Hiller utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Taking Care of Business within the comedy genre.
Arthur Hiller's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Arthur Hiller films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Taking Care of Business takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Arthur Hiller filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Arthur Hiller analyses, see The Babe, See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Silver Streak.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jimmy Dworski is a model prisoner in minimum security, obsessed with watching the Chicago Cubs play in the World Series. Spencer Barnes is a high-strung advertising executive whose entire life is controlled by his Filofax organizer.
Theme
A character suggests that sometimes you have to "let go and live a little" - hinting at the film's exploration of rigid control versus spontaneous living.
Worldbuilding
Parallel worlds established: Jimmy's prison life where he's respected and dreams of Cubs tickets, and Spencer's corporate world where he's completely dependent on his Filofax for every detail of his controlled existence.
Disruption
Spencer loses his precious Filofax at the airport. Jimmy, given a day pass to attend the World Series, finds the Filofax and escapes from custody instead of returning to prison.
Resistance
Jimmy debates what to do with his newfound freedom and the Filofax. He discovers it contains Spencer's entire life. Spencer desperately tries to reconstruct his business deals from memory while falling apart.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jimmy makes the active choice to assume Spencer's identity, checking into his hotel and entering his corporate world. This is not forced - he chooses to step into this new life.
Mirror World
Jimmy meets Elizabeth, Spencer's neglected girlfriend/business contact. She represents the human connection and spontaneity that Spencer's rigid lifestyle has pushed away. She responds positively to "Spencer's" new relaxed demeanor.
Premise
The fun and games: Jimmy successfully impersonates Spencer using the Filofax, charming clients with his street-smart approach. He closes deals Spencer couldn't by being genuine and loose. Spencer struggles comically without his organizer, missing appointments and unraveling.
Midpoint
False victory: Jimmy successfully closes Spencer's biggest deal and wins Elizabeth's heart. He seems to be thriving in this new identity. But the stakes raise - Spencer is getting closer to finding him, and Jimmy is falling for Elizabeth under false pretenses.
Opposition
Pressure intensifies: Spencer tracks down leads to find his Filofax. Jimmy's prison past threatens to surface. The lies become harder to maintain. Elizabeth grows closer to Jimmy, making the deception more painful. Prison authorities close in.
Collapse
Jimmy's true identity is revealed. Elizabeth feels betrayed by the lies. The business deal falls apart. Spencer confronts Jimmy and reclaims his Filofax. Jimmy faces returning to prison, having lost the girl and the life he'd briefly tasted. The dream dies.
Crisis
Jimmy's dark night: he processes the loss and recognizes he genuinely changed Spencer's life for the better by teaching him to loosen up. Spencer reflects on how his obsessive control had cost him Elizabeth and real happiness.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Synthesis moment: Spencer realizes Jimmy taught him how to truly live. He decides to help Jimmy. Jimmy accepts responsibility for his choices while recognizing his worth. They form an unlikely alliance to set things right.
Synthesis
The finale: Spencer and Jimmy work together to salvage the business deal and restore relationships. Spencer shows his new spontaneous side. Jimmy proves his genuine character. They resolve the situation with authorities and Elizabeth.
Transformation
Closing image mirrors the opening but transformed: Spencer is relaxed, no longer enslaved by his Filofax, enjoying life and relationship with Elizabeth. Jimmy has earned redemption and respect. Both men have integrated the other's strengths into their lives.