3-Act-Structure and "Liar, Liar"

Professor Ramirez-Berg's lecture on Monday was very informative, particularly in regards to the different structures used in film narration. Professor Ramirez-Berg explained the three different types of narrative structure: 5 Act Structure, 3 Act Structure and Alternative Structure. Today, however, I will focus on the most common narrative structure, the 3 Act Structure, which is split into an introduction, complication and resolution.

"Liar, Liar," starring Jim Carrey is one of my favorite comedies and I have seen it countless times. The comedy's first act introduces the main characters and their relationship. Jim Carrey plays Fletcher, a father who has a bad habit of lying to his ex wife and his young son whom he has joint custody of. The first plot-point,  is when the son, makes a birthday wish that his father "just for one day.... won't tell a lie." This scene escalates the stakes, because the son's wish comes true and turns Fletcher's life upside down (the complication.)

The second act, the longest act of the film, shows the effect on Fletcher's life and career that his son, Max's, wish has on him. He struggles fighting a court case in which he depended on lying in order to win. He also slowly realizes the devastating effect his continual lying has had on his son and his ex-wife, who he still deeply loves. This act clearly explains the complication that his sons' wish has imposed on him. The second plot point comes at the end of this act, when Fletcher realizes that his inability to lie is not actually a curse, it is something that he wants to continue after the 24 hour period is up. He realizes that his son and wife are the most important thing to him by not being able to lie to them for one day. This plot point propels the movie into the third act by inspiring Fletcher to track down his ex-wife and son on an airplane in order to get them back for good. 

The final act is the resolution act. In the climax of the film, Jim Carrey successfully tracks down his ex-wife and son after a wild chase down an airport runway. In the end, he confesses his realization to Max and Audrey and convinces them to give him one last chance. He expresses what he has learned from the "curse" and that he wont be lying ever again. Hence, the Happy Ending Structure that the 3 Act Structure has become synonymous with. 

I have attached a short clip of the climax below. 

http://www.hulu.com/watch/39184/liar-liar-stopping-the-plane