Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

A Happening of Monumental Proportions (2018) movie poster

Characters & Themes

A Happening of Monumental Proportions (2018) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2018 · 81 min · English
Echo score 48
JustWatch #23,263 1
Starring
Anders Holm, Katie Holmes, Keanu Reeves, Kumail Nanjiani, Jennifer Garner, Common

During a Career Day event at an elementary school, administrators find themselves in a bizarre and stressful situation. They must discreetly conceal the presence of a deceased individual while dealing with inquisitive students and worried parents. The unfolding events create a chaotic and macabre challenge for everyone involved.

On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (3)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like A Happening of Monumental Proportions
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch A Happening of Monumental Proportions (2018)

Where can you watch A Happening of Monumental Proportions? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Philo, Starz and Tubi TV: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

3 main characters · contains spoilers

A Happening of Monumental Proportions Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of A Happening of Monumental Proportions (2018), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Daniel

    played by Common

    Daniel is a father caught in the turmoil of personal and professional crises. His recent affair complicates his relationships, particularly with his daughter, as he attempts to navigate the fallout from his actions. Despite his challenges, Daniel seeks to redeem himself and find closure, demonstrating his resilience and commitment to his family.

    • 👨‍👧 Father
    • 💼 Professional
    • ❤️ Complicated Relationships
  • Nadine

    played by Jennifer Garner

    Nadine serves as the source of Daniel's affair, embodying the complexities of adult relationships. As his married assistant, she complicates the professional realm with personal entanglements. Her involvement forces Daniel to confront his choices and the impact they have on his family, making her a pivotal character in his journey.

    • 🌀 Chaotic
    • 💔 Affair
    • 💼 Professional
  • Darius

    played by Storm Reid

    Darius is the introverted son of Daniel's former boss, driven by his fondness for Patricia, Daniel's daughter. His quest for affection leads him to seek guidance from adults, highlighting his desire to connect and understand his feelings. Darius's development throughout the chaotic day underscores themes of love and adolescence.

    • ❤️ Infatuation
    • 👦 Adolescence
    • 🎓 Student

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:32

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does A Happening of Monumental Proportions Take Place?

The setting of A Happening of Monumental Proportions (2018): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The events of the film take place in a single day, encapsulating the frenzy and unpredictability that can accompany significant life moments. The timeline is fluid, focusing on how one day can dramatically alter relationships and perspectives. It highlights the chaos of everyday life, revealing underlying tensions and the complexities of personal connections.

Location

Elementary School

The story unfolds during Career Day at an elementary school, a setting often filled with excitement and anticipation for both students and parents. It's a place where young minds are inspired, but on this chaotic day, it becomes the backdrop for unexpected drama and conflict. The school community grapples with various personal crises, turning a typical event into an unforgettable experience.

  • 🏫 School
  • 🎉 Career Day

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:32

Was this helpful?

3 major themes

A Happening of Monumental Proportions Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is A Happening of Monumental Proportions (2018) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Affair

    The theme of infidelity emerges through Daniel's affair with Nadine, which becomes a catalyst for chaos in his life. This betrayal not only affects his professional standing but also tests his personal relationships and responsibilities as a parent. The heartache stemming from his actions echoes throughout the story, emphasizing the fragility of trust.

  • Parenting

    Parenting serves as a central theme as Daniel grapples with raising his daughter Patricia amidst personal turmoil. The film explores the dynamics between fathers and children, revealing the challenges they face. Darius's budding feelings for Patricia also highlight the complexities of youth and emotional growth, making family relationships the crux of the unfolding drama.

  • Connection

    The quest for connection resonates throughout the film, as characters navigate their own struggles with isolation and dissatisfaction. The conversations between Darius and Mr. McRow on the rooftop illustrate the need for honest dialogue and support in the face of adversity. Connections shape the characters' journeys, leading to moments of insight and introspection.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:32

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

A Happening of Monumental Proportions Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about A Happening of Monumental Proportions (2018): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the movie set?

The movie takes place at an elementary school during Career Day, a special event where parents visit to share their professions with students. This setting creates an unusual backdrop for the story's chaotic events, as the school is typically associated with learning and inspiration rather than crisis.

  • elementary school
  • career day
  • setting
  • location
Q2

What is Career Day in the context of the movie?

Career Day is an event at the elementary school where parents volunteer to talk to students about their jobs. It usually brings excitement and anticipation, but in this film, it becomes the backdrop for unexpected drama and conflict.

  • career day
  • elementary school
  • event
Q3

When is the movie set?

The film takes place within a single day, following a fluid timeline that captures the frenzy of one particularly chaotic day. This compressed timeframe highlights how one day can dramatically alter relationships and perspectives.

  • time period
  • single day
  • contemporary
Q4

What role does infidelity play in the movie?

Infidelity emerges as a central theme through Daniel's affair with Nadine, his married assistant. This betrayal acts as a catalyst for chaos in his life, affecting his professional standing and testing his relationships, particularly with his daughter Patricia. The theme emphasizes the fragility of trust.

  • infidelity
  • affair
  • daniel
  • nadine
  • trust
Q5

How does parenting factor into the story?

Parenting serves as a central theme as Daniel navigates raising his daughter Patricia while dealing with personal turmoil from his affair. The film explores father-daughter dynamics and the challenges of parenting through difficult circumstances, making family relationships a core element of the narrative.

  • parenting
  • daniel
  • patricia
  • father daughter
Q6

What does the movie say about human connection?

The quest for connection resonates throughout the film as characters navigate isolation and dissatisfaction. Conversations between characters like Darius and Mr. McRow on a rooftop illustrate the need for honest dialogue and support, showing how meaningful connections shape characters' journeys.

  • connection
  • relationships
  • darius
  • communication
Q7

Who is Daniel in the movie?

Daniel is a father caught in personal and professional crises, dealing with the fallout from a recent affair with his married assistant Nadine. He grapples with maintaining his relationship with his daughter Patricia while seeking redemption and closure, showing resilience and commitment to his family despite his mistakes.

  • daniel
  • father
  • protagonist
  • affair
Q8

Who is Nadine in the story?

Nadine is Daniel's married assistant who becomes involved in an affair with him. She represents the complexities of adult relationships and professional entanglements, forcing Daniel to confront his choices and their impact on his family.

  • nadine
  • jennifer garner
  • assistant
  • affair
Q9

Who is Darius and what is his role?

Darius is the introverted son of Daniel's former boss who develops feelings for Patricia, Daniel's daughter. His quest for affection and guidance from adults highlights themes of adolescence and emotional growth, making his character arc central to the movie's exploration of connection.

  • darius
  • storm reid
  • patricia
  • crush
  • teenager
Q10

What kind of movie is this?

This is a comedy film that uses a light, farcical tone despite dealing with serious subject matter like infidelity and death. The movie treats these heavy topics as macabre MacGuffins rather than sources of genuine grief, aiming for amusement over sorrow while exploring complex human relationships.

  • comedy
  • genre
  • tone
  • lighthearted

Movie threads

More Movies Like A Happening of Monumental Proportions, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes A Happening of Monumental Proportions tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Single-Day Farces like A Happening of Monumental Proportions

Comedies where a single day spirals into absurd, high-pressure chaos. If you enjoyed the frantic, single-day chaos of A Happening of Monumental Proportions, explore these movies like it. This list features comedies where a compressed timeline leads to absurd, high-stakes situations and madcap problem-solving, perfect for viewers seeking similar fast-paced, laugh-out-loud stories.

  • chaotic
  • fast-paced
  • absurd
  • awkward
  • satirical
  • high-energy
  • Tone: light, absurd
  • Pacing: fast, frantic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically feature a ticking clock—often just one day—that forces characters to deal with a central, chaotic problem. Multiple subplots involving misunderstandings, secrets, and social faux pas collide, creating a domino effect of comedic disasters that must be resolved before time runs out.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared narrative engine: a high-pressure, time-bound scenario that generates relentless, fast-paced comedy. They share a light tone, a sense of escalating absurdity, and a focus on the humorous fallout of trying to maintain control in an uncontrollable situation.

Quirky Confined Satire like A Happening of Monumental Proportions

Stories that use a single location to lampoon social norms with quirky humor. Fans of the quirky, school-set satire in A Happening of Monumental Proportions will enjoy these similar movies. Discover comedies that use a single location to expose social absurdities, featuring awkward characters and unpredictable plots that capture a uniquely comedic and observational vibe.

  • quirky
  • satirical
  • awkward
  • observational
  • eccentric characters
  • social commentary
  • Tone: quirky, satirical
  • Pacing: steady to fast
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a microcosm of society, usually in one primary location, where a disruptive event exposes the quirks and flaws of the characters. The humor stems from the contrast between the characters' desire for normalcy and the increasingly bizarre reality they must navigate together.

Why they belong together: These films are united by their use of a confined setting to create a satirical lens, their focus on character-driven awkwardness, and a tone that is both light-hearted and observantly critical of social conventions. They deliver comedy through situational absurdity rather than slapstick.

If you liked this

Movies Like A Happening of Monumental Proportions

Similar movies to A Happening of Monumental Proportions: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

A Happening of Monumental Proportions (2018) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about A Happening of Monumental Proportions in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app