12 Movie Subplots That Are WAY More Interesting Than The Actual Movie
- Photo: MGM
The 1980s movie, The Princess Bride, is a classic enjoyed by all ages and genders. Like Frozen, even young boys love this film for reasons they can't articulate. And that reason probably has less to do with the appearance of Andre The Giant than they think. Maybe it's the timeless subplot about a man seeking to avenge the death of his father. Inigo Montoya follows the film's primary protagonist, Westley, and he becomes one of Westley's independent side-kicks. However, the moment when Montoya gets to showcase his swordsman skill-set and defeat one of the antagonists of the film, Count Rugen, the man responsible for killing Montoya's father, gets viewers wholly engaged. Montoya's revenge pushes the love story of Westley and Buttercup to the back burner.
While Superbad undoubtedly stands on its own, the subplot involving Fogell's friendship with the police played by Bill Hader and Seth Rogen dominates the film. Superbad is ultimately about the friendship between Seth and Evan. However, when people discuss this movie, it takes approximately 15 seconds before someone screams, "McLovin!" This subplot is a prime example of how a b-story can take over a film.
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The Sandlot is a childhood classic for many. The main plot focuses on a group of friends who need to retrieve a Babe Ruth autographed ball from a fierce (well, not really) dog. However, even this great film and its plot seem to get overshadowed by the relationship between Scotty Smalls and Benjamin Franklin Rodriguez. The all-star athlete Rodriguez mentors Smalls and offers the lonely unathletic kid friendship when he needs it the most. In return, Smalls is a lifetime fan of Rodriguez, and roots on Rodriguez after the baseball player makes it to the "big leagues."
- Photo: Warner Brothers
Snape is an interesting character in the Harry Potter films. His backstory seems to steal the show in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and the Deathly Hallows. We learn about Snape's struggles fitting in and his love for Harry's mother, Lily. Ultimately, Snape's character had to appear to be bad, so that good could prevail. And that subplot provides another layer of interesting for Harry Potter fans to explore in the Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows.
- Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Napoleon Dynamite is a cult hit. It's more or less about Napoleon's inability to fit in and his journey to help Pedro win class president. However, Kip's online love story with Lafawnduh has inspired some of the best quote-worthy moments in the film. Kip could definitely star in a follow-up movie, one that, of course, focuses on the online exploits and cage fighting of Kip. This film about nothing has something for everyone to latch on to and quote during parties.
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The Tragic Plight Of The Beast's Servants In 'Beauty And The Beast' Trumps The Anodyne Love Story
Disney's live action remake of the classic animated film, Beauty, and the Beast, had children and adults ecstatic. While the film mostly focuses on Emma Watson's character, Belle, the selfless heroine and the Beast's attempt to win her affections, the subplot of the Beast's helpers who are trapped living as typically inanimate objects provides a more interesting subplot. The Beast's servants are trapped living as objects like an armoire, candlestick, and a clock.
The punishment of the servants arrives from their lack of quality control on the Beast during his life as a human being. The audience watches the suffering and hopes that the servants express as they foster the relationship of Belle and Beast for their own gain. The subplot kind of leaves the audience wondering if the servants ever stopped acting with self-interest - a character trait antithetical to Belle's character.
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In the film, Stand By Me, there are a lot of parallel stories happening. The main plot focuses on friendship despite trying times, as teen friends seek out a dead body. However, Gordie's subplot seems to dominate the film as he and his family cope with his older brother's death. At the end of the film, we see that Gordie is all grown up with a son of his own. He is writing the final chapter to the story about his youth. While on the surface the film is about the friendship between the young men, the subplot involving Gordie's maturation into adulthood carries the theme.
- Photo: Warner Brothers
While American Sniper received criticism from some because it glorified Chris Kyle's military accomplishments at the expense of everything else, this films also had a captivating but less explored subplot. The movie glanced over Kyle's home life, where he felt a constant tug between his family and his calling as a military sniper. Many critics suggest that American Sniper missed the real story - the many ways that post-traumatic stress disorder can manifest.
Kyle's home life was unfulfilled despite the fact that he had a family. He felt an unquenchable need to return to Iraq, if only to get one more kill. Ultimately, his inability to leave war and the military behind led to his death and left his family without him despite his notorious military career. Critics of the film believe that the emotional tug-of-war experience by military personnel after returning home was the real story, and this subplot should have received more exploration.
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The Night Before is becoming a Christmastime movie classic for millennials. While the main plot focuses on the Christmas Eve adventures of three friends, the subplot is without a doubt epic and provides much-needed relief to the comedy film's sometimes heavy themes. Mr. Green, a former weed dealer, meets with the struggling friends three times during the night before Christmas to not only sell some high quality bud, but also to impart some Christmas wisdom. At the end of the film, the dealer, Mr. Green, earns his angel's wings, and viewers learn that Mr. Green's father is indeed Santa Claus. The story of the pot-dealing Mr. Green deserves a film of its own.
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In 'Boss Baby,' Tim's Struggle To Accept His Younger Brother Makes The Film (Somewhat) Watchable
Photo: DreamWorks AnimationOn its face, Boss Baby is the story about Boss Baby's attempt to stop the CEO of Puppy Co. And while the subplot gets lost by most young viewers, it's the subplot that dominates the film for older viewers and parents. The subplot of Boss Baby is an endearing story about a young boy with a vivid imagination. This part of the story focuses on Tim's journey to love and accept his new brother. Boss Baby's other story provides insights into the fears that older siblings experience when a new sibling arrives, like the prospect of having to share parental time and the concept of enough love to go around.
The Big Lebowski is a cult classic. The main plot revolves around the mistaken identity of the protagonist, Jeff Lebowski, AKA The Dude. However, the nihilists in the film, led by Karl Hungus, steal the show. Driven by the meaning behind their nickname, the group seeks to gain by whatever means because there is no moral code in their existence. However, the team, despite their heavy philosophy, are hapless and humorous antagonists. One of the best lines in the film comes when the nihilists explain to Lebowski that they will "cut off his chonson."
On the surface, Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie, is a story about two friends who "bring to life" a comic book character they created to battle an evil scientist. The film's battle-action drives that plot. However, the subplot is much more subtle, and it's surprising for a film with so many "potty" jokes.
The subplot follows the fears of George and Harold, two young and inseparable friends who fear that as they progress academically in school, they will be forced to separate and their friendship will fade away. Their comic book superhero Captain Underpants functions as a coping mechanism for the two young men who don't seem to enjoy or even fit in at school. Younger audiences likely get drawn into this film for not only the "potty" humor, but also the subplot's exploration of adolescent fears about friendship, school, and outside forces that appear to pull children outside of their comfort zones.
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