The Animal
When loser Marvin Mange is involved in a horrible car accident, he's brought back to life by a deranged scientist as half man and half animal. His newfound powers are awesome -- but their adverse side effects could take over his life. Now, Marvin must fight to control his crazy primal urges around his new squeeze, Rianna, and his rival, Sgt. Sisk, who both think he's one cool cat.
Despite a moderate budget of $22.0M, The Animal became a box office success, earning $84.8M worldwide—a 285% return.
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%)
The Animal (2001) exhibits carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of Luke Greenfield's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 23 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.7, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Marvin Mange
Rianna Holmes
Dr. Wilder
Sgt. Doug Sisk
Police Chief Wilson
Main Cast & Characters
Marvin Mange
Played by Rob Schneider
A bumbling police evidence clerk who becomes part-animal after receiving transplanted animal organs, struggling with newfound animalistic impulses.
Rianna Holmes
Played by Colleen Haskell
An environmental activist and animal rights advocate who becomes Marvin's love interest and helps him understand his transformation.
Dr. Wilder
Played by Michael Caton
An eccentric scientist who secretly transplants animal organs into Marvin, creating the animal-human hybrid.
Sgt. Doug Sisk
Played by John C. McGinley
Marvin's antagonistic police sergeant who belittles him and represents the authority Marvin seeks approval from.
Police Chief Wilson
Played by Ed Asner
The police chief who oversees the department and becomes concerned about mysterious animal attacks.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Marvin Mange is a meek evidence clerk who desperately wants to be a police officer but fails the physical exam. He's ridiculed by real cops and can't command respect.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 9 minutes when Marvin responds to an emergency call alone when all other officers are busy. His car crashes off a cliff into a ravine, leaving him near death.. 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 20 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Marvin discovers he has extraordinary abilities - strength, speed, heightened senses. He chooses to embrace these powers and finally becomes a police officer, entering his "new world."., moving from reaction to action.
At 42 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Animals are being attacked throughout town. Evidence begins pointing to Marvin - he has blackouts and wakes up in strange places. False defeat: his powers come with a terrible cost., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 61 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Marvin is captured and caged like an animal. He believes he's a monster responsible for the attacks. His dream of being a hero has died, replaced by the nightmare of being a dangerous beast., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 65 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Marvin discovers Dr. Wilder is the real culprit behind the attacks. Armed with truth and accepting both his human and animal sides, Marvin breaks free to stop Wilder and save the town., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Animal's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Animal against these established plot points, we can identify how Luke Greenfield utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Animal within the comedy genre.
Luke Greenfield's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Luke Greenfield films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.4, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Animal represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Luke Greenfield filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Luke Greenfield analyses, see The Girl Next Door, Something Borrowed and Let's Be Cops.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Marvin Mange is a meek evidence clerk who desperately wants to be a police officer but fails the physical exam. He's ridiculed by real cops and can't command respect.
Theme
Rianna tells Marvin "You can't change who you are" when he expresses frustration about his limitations, establishing the theme of identity and transformation.
Worldbuilding
Marvin's pathetic daily routine: bullied by cops, attracted to Rianna the environmentalist, unable to assert himself. He lives in his limitations while yearning for more.
Disruption
Marvin responds to an emergency call alone when all other officers are busy. His car crashes off a cliff into a ravine, leaving him near death.
Resistance
Dr. Wilder finds Marvin dying and performs emergency surgery using animal organs. Marvin awakens in the hospital with no memory of what happened, confused by his survival.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Marvin discovers he has extraordinary abilities - strength, speed, heightened senses. He chooses to embrace these powers and finally becomes a police officer, entering his "new world."
Mirror World
Marvin's relationship with Rianna deepens. She represents acceptance of all living creatures and nature - the thematic mirror showing him that identity isn't about power but authenticity.
Premise
Marvin enjoys his new abilities: he becomes a hero cop, saves people, gains respect and confidence. The "fun and games" of being part-animal - sniffing, climbing, strength, but with increasing animalistic behavior.
Midpoint
Animals are being attacked throughout town. Evidence begins pointing to Marvin - he has blackouts and wakes up in strange places. False defeat: his powers come with a terrible cost.
Opposition
Marvin's animal instincts intensify and become uncontrollable. The town turns against him as attacks continue. His relationship with Rianna strains. The police hunt him. He's losing his humanity.
Collapse
Marvin is captured and caged like an animal. He believes he's a monster responsible for the attacks. His dream of being a hero has died, replaced by the nightmare of being a dangerous beast.
Crisis
In captivity, Marvin faces despair about his identity. Rianna stands by him, and he processes whether he's man, animal, or monster. Dark reflection on what he's become.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Marvin discovers Dr. Wilder is the real culprit behind the attacks. Armed with truth and accepting both his human and animal sides, Marvin breaks free to stop Wilder and save the town.
Synthesis
Final confrontation with Dr. Wilder. Marvin uses both his human compassion and animal abilities to defeat Wilder and save Rianna. He integrates both sides of his nature to become a true hero.
Transformation
Marvin is accepted by the community, not despite his animal nature but because of his integrated self. With Rianna by his side, he's no longer the weak man or the beast, but authentically himself.