Threesome
Eddy and Stuart share two-thirds of a dormitory suite. Due to bureaucratic error, a woman named Alex is added to their room. At first, relations among the three are tense. Soon, however, Alex falls for Eddy, and Stuart lusts after Alex. Eddy comes to realize not only that he's gay, but that he's attracted to Stuart. The three pledge not to act on any romantic (or lustful) feelings with each other, and become close friends . . . while bottling up a lot of sexual tension.
The film earned $14.8M 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%)
Threesome (1994) reveals carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of Andrew Fleming's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 33 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.5, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Eddy
Alex
Stuart
Main Cast & Characters
Eddy
Played by Josh Charles
A bookish, intellectual college student who becomes part of an unconventional living arrangement with two roommates, navigating complex romantic and sexual feelings.
Alex
Played by Lara Flynn Boyle
A confident, androgynous woman assigned as Eddy's roommate due to a housing mix-up, who challenges conventional relationship boundaries.
Stuart
Played by Stephen Baldwin
A charismatic, athletic jock who becomes the third member of the unusual living situation, exploring his own sexuality and emotional depth.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Eddy arrives at college as a freshman, settling into his new dorm room with his assigned roommate Stuart. He narrates his ordinary life as a student beginning his college journey, unaware of the disruption to come.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Alex arrives at the dorm room due to a housing computer error that mistakenly assigned a female student to the all-male floor. Rather than being reassigned, she decides to stay, disrupting the established dynamic.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to The three consciously decide to embrace their unusual arrangement rather than seek separate housing. They commit to being a trio, choosing to explore their complicated feelings rather than avoid them., moving from reaction to action.
At 47 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat The three finally consummate their relationship together in a threesome, seemingly achieving the ultimate expression of their bond. It appears they have found a way to resolve their circular desire through mutual intimacy., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 70 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The threesome arrangement falls apart completely. Stuart rejects the complicated dynamic, Eddy's secret desires are exposed, and Alex feels used. Their friendship seems destroyed, and each faces the loneliness they tried to escape., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 74 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Eddy accepts his true identity and realizes that authentic connection requires honesty, not just proximity. The characters begin to understand that love can't be forced into convenient arrangements., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Threesome's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Threesome against these established plot points, we can identify how Andrew Fleming utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Threesome within the comedy genre.
Andrew Fleming's Structural Approach
Among the 7 Andrew Fleming films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Threesome takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Andrew Fleming filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Andrew Fleming analyses, see The Craft, Hamlet 2 and Dick.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Eddy arrives at college as a freshman, settling into his new dorm room with his assigned roommate Stuart. He narrates his ordinary life as a student beginning his college journey, unaware of the disruption to come.
Theme
Stuart makes a comment about love and desire being unpredictable forces that don't follow rules, foreshadowing the complicated romantic entanglements that will define their year together.
Worldbuilding
The film establishes the college world, introducing Eddy and Stuart's dorm life, their personalities, and the social dynamics of campus. Eddy's internal conflict about his sexuality begins to surface through his narration.
Disruption
Alex arrives at the dorm room due to a housing computer error that mistakenly assigned a female student to the all-male floor. Rather than being reassigned, she decides to stay, disrupting the established dynamic.
Resistance
The three roommates navigate the awkwardness of their unconventional living situation. Stuart immediately pursues Alex, while Eddy finds himself increasingly drawn to Stuart. Alex begins showing interest in Eddy, creating an unspoken tension.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The three consciously decide to embrace their unusual arrangement rather than seek separate housing. They commit to being a trio, choosing to explore their complicated feelings rather than avoid them.
Mirror World
The love triangle dynamic fully crystallizes: Alex wants Eddy, Eddy wants Stuart, Stuart wants Alex. This circular pattern of unrequited desire becomes the thematic mirror reflecting questions about identity and the nature of love.
Premise
The trio explores the promise of their unconventional relationship. They share intimate moments, push boundaries, and test the limits of friendship and desire. The film delivers on its provocative premise as they grow closer.
Midpoint
The three finally consummate their relationship together in a threesome, seemingly achieving the ultimate expression of their bond. It appears they have found a way to resolve their circular desire through mutual intimacy.
Opposition
The aftermath of their threesome creates complications. Jealousy emerges, emotional needs go unmet, and the unsustainable nature of their arrangement becomes clear. Eddy's true feelings for Stuart create tension with Alex.
Collapse
The threesome arrangement falls apart completely. Stuart rejects the complicated dynamic, Eddy's secret desires are exposed, and Alex feels used. Their friendship seems destroyed, and each faces the loneliness they tried to escape.
Crisis
The three separate and process the collapse of their relationship. Eddy confronts his sexuality and the pain of unrequited love. Each character faces the emptiness of having lost what they had together.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Eddy accepts his true identity and realizes that authentic connection requires honesty, not just proximity. The characters begin to understand that love can't be forced into convenient arrangements.
Synthesis
The three reconcile with a more mature understanding of their relationships. They graduate and prepare to go their separate ways, having learned that the year together changed them all, even if not in the ways they expected.
Transformation
Eddy narrates the conclusion, reflecting on how the threesome ultimately taught him to accept himself. The three part as friends who shared something unique, transformed by the experience of loving imperfectly but honestly.