Tooth Fairy
When minor-league hockey player Derek Thompson -- who has a penchant for knocking out his opponents' teeth every time he plays -- disillusions a fan, he is sentenced to a stint for one week as a bona fide, tutu-clad, real-life tooth fairy. Soon, Derek is inspired to rekindle his youthful dreams.
Despite a respectable budget of $48.0M, Tooth Fairy became a commercial success, earning $112.5M worldwide—a 134% 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%)
Tooth Fairy (2010) reveals carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Michael Lembeck's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 41 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.7, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Derek "Tooth Fairy" Thompson is introduced as a cynical minor league hockey player who crushes opponents and dreams alike. He's famous for knocking out teeth and has embraced his tough-guy persona.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Derek wakes up with wings and is magically summoned to Fairyland. He's informed he's being charged with "Dissemination of Disbelief" for telling Tess there's no Tooth Fairy. His cynical world is literally disrupted by magic.. 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 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Derek reluctantly accepts his first tooth fairy assignment and enters the real world with wings and magic. He crosses into the magical realm's demands, beginning his actual service despite his resistance., moving from reaction to action.
At 49 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False victory: Derek has a breakthrough game and thinks he might make it back to the NHL. He's also getting better at being a tooth fairy. Everything seems to be coming together - he can have both worlds., 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 (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Derek crushes Randy's dream of performing at the talent show, telling him he'll never make it as a musician. Carly breaks up with Derek for poisoning her son's aspirations. Derek loses his relationship and realizes he's become what he hates., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 79 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 78% of the runtime. Derek has an epiphany: dreams matter, even if they don't come true the way you expect. He realizes his role isn't to make the NHL but to inspire others. He embraces being a tooth fairy and what it represents - protecting belief., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Tooth Fairy's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Tooth Fairy against these established plot points, we can identify how Michael Lembeck utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Tooth Fairy within the comedy genre.
Michael Lembeck's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Michael Lembeck films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.4, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Tooth Fairy represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Michael Lembeck filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Michael Lembeck analyses, see The Santa Clause 2, The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Derek "Tooth Fairy" Thompson is introduced as a cynical minor league hockey player who crushes opponents and dreams alike. He's famous for knocking out teeth and has embraced his tough-guy persona.
Theme
Derek tells his girlfriend's daughter Tess that there's no such thing as the Tooth Fairy, crushing her belief. Randy (girlfriend Carly) scolds him: "You can't take away a child's dreams." Theme stated: the importance of protecting dreams and belief.
Worldbuilding
Establish Derek's world: his fading hockey career, relationship with Carly and her kids (Tess and Randy), his cynicism about his own NHL dreams, and his habit of crushing other people's aspirations with harsh "reality."
Disruption
Derek wakes up with wings and is magically summoned to Fairyland. He's informed he's being charged with "Dissemination of Disbelief" for telling Tess there's no Tooth Fairy. His cynical world is literally disrupted by magic.
Resistance
Derek resists his sentence (two weeks as a real tooth fairy). He meets his caseworker Tracy and receives fairy equipment from Jerry. He argues, mocks, and tries to find loopholes. Lily the Fairy Godmother explains the rules.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Derek reluctantly accepts his first tooth fairy assignment and enters the real world with wings and magic. He crosses into the magical realm's demands, beginning his actual service despite his resistance.
Mirror World
Derek bonds with Randy (Carly's son) over guitar, seeing the kid's dream of being a rock star. This relationship will mirror Derek's journey: Randy represents the dreams Derek must learn to nurture rather than crush.
Premise
The fun of watching Derek fumble through tooth fairy duties: shrinking, invisibility failures, flying mishaps, collecting teeth. He gradually becomes less terrible at the job while juggling hockey and relationship responsibilities.
Midpoint
False victory: Derek has a breakthrough game and thinks he might make it back to the NHL. He's also getting better at being a tooth fairy. Everything seems to be coming together - he can have both worlds.
Opposition
The balancing act falls apart. Derek's fairy duties interfere with hockey and his relationship. He disappoints Randy by dismissing his music dreams. Carly grows frustrated with his absences and attitude. His double life becomes unsustainable.
Collapse
Derek crushes Randy's dream of performing at the talent show, telling him he'll never make it as a musician. Carly breaks up with Derek for poisoning her son's aspirations. Derek loses his relationship and realizes he's become what he hates.
Crisis
Derek hits rock bottom, facing his own crushed NHL dreams and recognizing how his cynicism has hurt everyone around him. He reflects on what he's lost and who he's become - a dream killer, not just in hockey but in life.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Derek has an epiphany: dreams matter, even if they don't come true the way you expect. He realizes his role isn't to make the NHL but to inspire others. He embraces being a tooth fairy and what it represents - protecting belief.
Synthesis
Derek makes amends: he encourages Randy to perform at the talent show, uses his fairy powers to help, reconciles with Carly and the kids. He completes his tooth fairy sentence with newfound purpose and becomes a mentor figure in hockey instead of just an enforcer.
Transformation
Derek watches Randy perform confidently at the talent show. The former dream-crusher is now a dream-encourager, smiling with genuine pride. He's transformed from cynic to believer, finding purpose in lifting others up rather than knocking them down.