The Whole Nine Yards
After a mobster agrees to cooperate with an FBI investigation in order to stay out of prison, he's relocated by the authorities to a life of suburban anonymity as part of a witness protection program. It's not long before a couple of his new neighbours figure out his true identity and come knocking to see if he'd be up for one more hit—suburban style.
Despite a mid-range budget of $41.3M, The Whole Nine Yards became a solid performer, earning $106.4M worldwide—a 158% 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 Whole Nine Yards (2000) demonstrates carefully calibrated narrative design, characteristic of Jonathan Lynn's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 38 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.5, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Nicholas "Oz" Oseransky
Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski
Cynthia Oseransky
Jill St. Claire
Cynthia "Cindy" Tudeski
Frankie Figs
Janni Gogolak
Main Cast & Characters
Nicholas "Oz" Oseransky
Played by Matthew Perry
A mild-mannered dentist trapped in a miserable marriage who becomes entangled with his new neighbor, a notorious hitman.
Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski
Played by Bruce Willis
A charismatic retired hitman in witness protection who befriends his dentist neighbor while trying to escape his past.
Cynthia Oseransky
Played by Rosanna Arquette
Oz's cold, greedy wife who plots to use Jimmy's presence to get rich and have her husband killed.
Jill St. Claire
Played by Amanda Peet
Jimmy's quirky, enthusiastic neighbor who dreams of becoming a contract killer and develops feelings for Oz.
Cynthia "Cindy" Tudeski
Played by Natasha Henstridge
Jimmy's estranged wife who is protected by the mob and becomes a pawn in the dangerous game between criminals.
Frankie Figs
Played by Michael Clarke Duncan
A volatile mob enforcer sent to kill Jimmy and anyone connected to him.
Janni Gogolak
Played by Kevin Pollak
A dangerous Hungarian crime boss and Jimmy's former father-in-law seeking revenge.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Oz Oseransky lives a miserable existence in suburban Montreal - trapped in a loveless marriage to Sophie, who inherited him along with her father's dental practice and its crushing debt. His life is defined by failure and emasculation.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Notorious Chicago hitman Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski moves in next door under witness protection. This chance encounter with a world of danger and excitement disrupts Oz's mundane existence completely.. 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 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Oz makes the fateful choice to fly to Chicago and meet with Janni Gogolak, crossing from his safe suburban world into the dangerous criminal underworld. There's no going back once he's involved with the mob., moving from reaction to action.
At 49 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Jimmy arrives in Chicago and reveals he wants Oz to help him - they form an unlikely alliance. This false victory shifts Oz from pawn to active participant. The stakes escalate as Oz realizes he's now playing both sides., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 74 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Oz's deceptions unravel catastrophically. He's exposed to both sides, Cynthia appears to reject him, and it seems everyone wants him dead. Oz faces the very real possibility of being murdered by any number of parties., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 78 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Oz discovers Jimmy and Cynthia have been working together all along - and they want to include him in their plan. Armed with the truth and a scheme to turn the tables, Oz commits to seeing this through as an active participant, not a victim., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Whole Nine Yards'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 Whole Nine Yards against these established plot points, we can identify how Jonathan Lynn utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Whole Nine Yards within the comedy genre.
Jonathan Lynn's Structural Approach
Among the 7 Jonathan Lynn films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Whole Nine Yards takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jonathan Lynn filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Jonathan Lynn analyses, see Clue, Sgt. Bilko and Greedy.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Oz Oseransky lives a miserable existence in suburban Montreal - trapped in a loveless marriage to Sophie, who inherited him along with her father's dental practice and its crushing debt. His life is defined by failure and emasculation.
Theme
Oz's assistant Jill comments on his pathetic situation, suggesting that sometimes drastic change requires drastic action - foreshadowing that Oz will need to embrace danger to transform his life.
Worldbuilding
Oz's world of dental practice drudgery, Sophie's schemes to kill him for insurance money, and his friendship with assistant Jill are established. The Montreal setting and Oz's complete lack of agency define his ordinary world.
Disruption
Notorious Chicago hitman Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski moves in next door under witness protection. This chance encounter with a world of danger and excitement disrupts Oz's mundane existence completely.
Resistance
Sophie pressures Oz to fly to Chicago to inform mob boss Janni Gogolak of Jimmy's location for reward money. Oz debates the danger but is essentially forced by Sophie's manipulation and the promise of solving his financial problems.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Oz makes the fateful choice to fly to Chicago and meet with Janni Gogolak, crossing from his safe suburban world into the dangerous criminal underworld. There's no going back once he's involved with the mob.
Mirror World
Oz meets Cynthia, Jimmy's estranged wife, who is beautiful, kind, and represents everything Sophie is not. Their instant connection introduces the romantic subplot that will ultimately transform Oz's understanding of what he deserves.
Premise
The comedic premise unfolds as Oz fumbles through Chicago's criminal underworld. He meets Jimmy's wife Cynthia, deals with Gogolak's thugs, and becomes increasingly entangled in schemes involving multiple parties who all want different things from him.
Midpoint
Jimmy arrives in Chicago and reveals he wants Oz to help him - they form an unlikely alliance. This false victory shifts Oz from pawn to active participant. The stakes escalate as Oz realizes he's now playing both sides.
Opposition
The situation spirals as multiple factions close in. Sophie hires a hitman to kill Oz, Gogolak's men hunt Jimmy, and Oz struggles to keep everyone's schemes straight while falling deeper for Cynthia. His lies compound dangerously.
Collapse
Oz's deceptions unravel catastrophically. He's exposed to both sides, Cynthia appears to reject him, and it seems everyone wants him dead. Oz faces the very real possibility of being murdered by any number of parties.
Crisis
Oz hits rock bottom as he processes his apparent betrayal by everyone and faces his mortality. The coward who never took risks must now accept he might die because he finally tried to change his life.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Oz discovers Jimmy and Cynthia have been working together all along - and they want to include him in their plan. Armed with the truth and a scheme to turn the tables, Oz commits to seeing this through as an active participant, not a victim.
Synthesis
The elaborate con unfolds as Oz, Jimmy, and Cynthia execute their plan against Gogolak. Sophie's murderous schemes are turned against her. All the players converge for a climactic confrontation where Oz must show his newfound courage.
Transformation
Oz relaxes on a tropical beach with Cynthia, wealthy and free. The nervous, emasculated dentist has transformed into a confident man who embraced chaos, won the girl, and outsmarted everyone. He found courage by risking everything.