Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
A small-town girl wins a date with a Hollywood star through a contest. When the date goes better than expected, a love triangle forms between the girl, the celebrity, and the girl's best friend.
The film struggled financially against its respectable budget of $17.0M, earning $17.0M globally (0% loss).
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%)
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004) exhibits carefully calibrated narrative architecture, characteristic of Robert Luketic's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 35 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Rosalee Futch works at Piggly Wiggly grocery store in small-town West Virginia, living an ordinary life, admiring movie star Tad Hamilton from afar alongside her best friend Pete, who secretly loves her.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Rosalee sees the contest announcement: "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!" Her friends encourage her to enter, disrupting her passive admiration with the possibility of actually meeting her fantasy crush.. 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 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Rosalee boards the plane to Los Angeles to meet Tad Hamilton, leaving her small-town world behind and entering the glamorous world of Hollywood celebrity., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False victory: Tad Hamilton arrives in West Virginia and pursues Rosalee, sweeping her off her feet with grand romantic gestures. She seems to have won the fairy tale, but Pete realizes he's losing her and must fight for her love., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 71 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Pete confronts Rosalee about her choice, pouring his heart out about his love for her and how Tad doesn't truly know her. Rosalee, confused and hurt, pushes Pete away. The friendship "dies" - Pete gives up and walks away from her., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 76 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Rosalee has a realization: she sees through the Hollywood fantasy and recognizes that Pete's authentic love and deep knowledge of who she really is matters more than Tad's surface-level infatuation. She knows what she must do., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!'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 Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! against these established plot points, we can identify how Robert Luketic utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! within the comedy genre.
Robert Luketic's Structural Approach
Among the 7 Robert Luketic films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Robert Luketic filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Robert Luketic analyses, see Killers, Legally Blonde and 21.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Rosalee Futch works at Piggly Wiggly grocery store in small-town West Virginia, living an ordinary life, admiring movie star Tad Hamilton from afar alongside her best friend Pete, who secretly loves her.
Theme
Pete or Cathy makes a comment about being true to yourself and real love versus fantasy, foreshadowing the film's central question: what matters more - glamorous fantasy or authentic connection?
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Rosalee's world: her job at the grocery store, friendship with Pete and Cathy, her crush on movie star Tad Hamilton. Meanwhile in Hollywood, Tad's managers decide he needs a PR makeover after tabloid scandals.
Disruption
Rosalee sees the contest announcement: "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!" Her friends encourage her to enter, disrupting her passive admiration with the possibility of actually meeting her fantasy crush.
Resistance
Rosalee debates entering the contest. Pete is conflicted, wanting her to be happy but fearing he'll lose her. Rosalee wins the contest. Pete and Cathy help her prepare, though Pete is clearly heartbroken.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Rosalee boards the plane to Los Angeles to meet Tad Hamilton, leaving her small-town world behind and entering the glamorous world of Hollywood celebrity.
Mirror World
Rosalee meets Tad Hamilton in person. Unlike the superficial celebrity she expected, Tad is charmed by her authenticity and genuineness - she represents everything his hollow Hollywood life is missing.
Premise
The promise of the premise: Rosalee's magical date with Tad in Los Angeles, the glamour and romance. Tad, genuinely smitten, follows her back to West Virginia. Small-town girl gets the movie star - the fantasy comes true.
Midpoint
False victory: Tad Hamilton arrives in West Virginia and pursues Rosalee, sweeping her off her feet with grand romantic gestures. She seems to have won the fairy tale, but Pete realizes he's losing her and must fight for her love.
Opposition
Love triangle intensifies. Pete struggles to compete with Tad's Hollywood charm. Tad tries to adapt to small-town life but his celebrity status creates complications. Rosalee is torn between fantasy (Tad) and reality (Pete). Pete's jealousy and frustration build.
Collapse
Pete confronts Rosalee about her choice, pouring his heart out about his love for her and how Tad doesn't truly know her. Rosalee, confused and hurt, pushes Pete away. The friendship "dies" - Pete gives up and walks away from her.
Crisis
Rosalee processes the loss of Pete's friendship and questions what she really wants. She examines her relationship with Tad and realizes the difference between fantasy and genuine connection. Dark night of emotional reckoning.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Rosalee has a realization: she sees through the Hollywood fantasy and recognizes that Pete's authentic love and deep knowledge of who she really is matters more than Tad's surface-level infatuation. She knows what she must do.
Synthesis
Rosalee breaks things off with Tad, acknowledging he's a good person but not right for her. She goes to Pete to confess her love. Tad gracefully accepts, having learned something about authenticity from Rosalee. Pete and Rosalee finally come together.
Transformation
Pete and Rosalee together at the Piggly Wiggly, their ordinary world now transformed by acknowledged love. The same setting as the opening, but Rosalee has learned that real love beats fantasy, and she's found it with the person who was there all along.