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 moderate budget of $41.3M, The Whole Nine Yards became a financial success, 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 story structure, characteristic of Jonathan Lynn's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-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.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Nick "Oz" Oseransky, a miserable Montreal dentist, is trapped in a failing practice and an abusive marriage to Sophie, who inherited the practice from his deceased father-in-law and controls him financially.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski, a notorious hitman in witness protection, moves in next door to Oz. Sophie immediately sees an opportunity and pressures Oz to go to Chicago and betray Jimmy to the mob for a finder's fee.. 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 26% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Oz boards a plane to Chicago, actively choosing to betray Jimmy to mob boss Janni Gogolak, crossing into the dangerous world of organized crime to get money and escape his marriage., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 74 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Cynthia is apparently killed in a shootout at the hotel. Oz believes he's lost the woman he loves and that his attempt to escape his old life has resulted in tragedy and death., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 79 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. The finale: Jimmy executes his plan to eliminate Janni Gogolak and his crew. Sophie's plot to kill Oz backfires when Jill (now working with Jimmy) kills her instead. All loose ends are tied up, with the villains dead and the heroes victorious., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Whole Nine Yards's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. 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 Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Jonathan Lynn analyses, see Clue, Sgt. Bilko and The Fighting Temptations.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Nick "Oz" Oseransky, a miserable Montreal dentist, is trapped in a failing practice and an abusive marriage to Sophie, who inherited the practice from his deceased father-in-law and controls him financially.
Theme
Jill, Oz's dental assistant, tells him "You need to stop letting people walk all over you" - establishing the theme of finding courage and taking control of one's life.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Oz's miserable world: his controlling wife Sophie and her mother Janni plot to kill him for insurance money, his only ally is his assistant Jill (who dreams of being a hitwoman), and he's deeply in debt to the practice.
Disruption
Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski, a notorious hitman in witness protection, moves in next door to Oz. Sophie immediately sees an opportunity and pressures Oz to go to Chicago and betray Jimmy to the mob for a finder's fee.
Resistance
Oz reluctantly befriends Jimmy while Sophie plots. Jimmy reveals his wife Cynthia left him and he's lonely. Oz debates whether to betray Jimmy to the Chicago mob, torn between fear of his wife and his growing friendship with Jimmy.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Oz boards a plane to Chicago, actively choosing to betray Jimmy to mob boss Janni Gogolak, crossing into the dangerous world of organized crime to get money and escape his marriage.
Premise
Oz navigates the dangerous world of mob politics, falling for Cynthia while caught between Janni Gogolak's crew and Jimmy's mysterious agenda. Double-crosses and revelations unfold as Oz discovers Jimmy orchestrated everything, wanting to reunite with Cynthia.
Opposition
The plan spirals out of control: Janni's son Janni Jr. pursues them, Sophie arrives in Chicago complicating everything, and Frankie Figs (Jimmy's former associate) becomes a wild card. Oz's lies and schemes pile up as he tries to protect Cynthia and himself.
Collapse
Cynthia is apparently killed in a shootout at the hotel. Oz believes he's lost the woman he loves and that his attempt to escape his old life has resulted in tragedy and death.
Crisis
Oz grieves and processes the apparent loss of Cynthia, hitting his emotional rock bottom. He confronts the consequences of his choices and prepares to return to his miserable life, defeated.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The finale: Jimmy executes his plan to eliminate Janni Gogolak and his crew. Sophie's plot to kill Oz backfires when Jill (now working with Jimmy) kills her instead. All loose ends are tied up, with the villains dead and the heroes victorious.