Three Act Narrative - The Proposal

Hollywood’s Three Act Narrative derives from the Classical Tragic structure. The Tragic structure consists of the rising action, the climax, and the falling action. In this format, the climax of the film resides in the middle. This is where the Hollywood Three Act structure differs. The climax is shifted towards the end, providing a happy ending. It is used for quest and triumphant stories, like for example, Anne Fletcher’s 2009 movie, The Proposal. This movie consists of the three parts Professor Ramirez-Berg explains, the introduction, the complication, and the resolution. These three parts are separated and transitioned by plot points, which propels the action in the current act into the action of the next act, typically by asking a question that the following act will answer.

The Introduction

The introduction of a film typically spans the first 30 minutes. In The Proposal, I have found that the introduction lasts just for the first ten minutes. In the introduction, the audience is introduced to the two main characters, Margaret and Andrew. Margaret is a controlling book editor and Andrew is her assistant. Margaret is faced with a sudden problem – she is going to be deported back to Canada. To solve this problem she tells Andrew that they are going to get married so she can stay in America and keep her high-powered job. When he objects, she gives him an ultimatum: marry her or his dreams of being a book editor will be forever lost.

The Complication

This second part usually lasts from the 30 minute mark to the 60 minute mark. In this particular movie, the second part takes up the majority of the movie, from the end of the introduction to about the 80 minute mark, when the climax occurs. The two go to Andrew’s hometown for his Gammy’s 90^th birthday and announce their “engagement.” From this point to the rest of the introduction, the “happy couple” go through the motions of an engagement with Andrew’s family until the actual wedding, when Margaret realizes just what she’s putting Andrew and his family through, walking away, leaving Andrew alone at the altar.

The Resolution

This last part of a film typically lasts for the last 30 minutes of the film. In this movie, the third part lasts for the last 15 minutes. After Margaret leaves Andrew to save him from marrying illegally, he realizes that he actually does love her. He flies back to New York after her and asks her to marry her for real.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1041829/