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I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2007) movie poster

Plot Summary

I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2007) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2007 · 80 min · English
Starring
Jeff Garlin

A struggling actor named James faces a series of disappointments, from a failed relationship to a disastrous audition. Seeking love, success, and a better lifestyle, he unexpectedly meets Beth at an ice cream parlor. Their encounter sparks questions about whether she could be the answer to his hopes or simply another obstacle in his path.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2007)

Where can you watch I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Kanopy and Amazon MX Player: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2007) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

James, a struggling improv actor affiliated with Second City, faces the uphill battle of managing his weight, battling depression, and feeling stuck in life in the vibrant city of Chicago. Despite his attempts to sneak in indulgences on his diet, the weight of his insecurities drags him down further. After an embarrassing stunt on his TV prank show, which leads to its abrupt end, he finds himself in a state of disarray.

The fallout is immediate and painful: his girlfriend Andrea cuts ties, and his agent, Herb, no longer represents him. The final straw occurs when he makes a fool of himself during Career Day at an elementary school, where he shares his personal struggles, much to his dismay, in front of the teacher, Stella.

Seeking solace, James often parks his car outside Wrigley Field as the sun sets, enjoying the picturesque views and reflecting on his life. By day, he wanders Chicago's North Side alongside his friend Luca, who encourages him with the beauty of their surroundings.

Everything shifts one day when James, dressed as a pirate for a hot dog stand, serendipitously learns about a local remake of his favorite film, Marty (1955). Although he knows the director, his attempt to secure an audition falls flat. Defeated, he leaves a Compulsive Eaters Anonymous meeting and finds himself indulging in ice cream to find comfort.

It is here that Beth enters his life—an alluring woman who recognizes him from Second City and offers him complimentary ice cream. While conversing, Beth poses a quirky question, explaining it thoughtfully, which captivates James. As romance blossoms, Beth invites him on adventures, including a shopping spree where she tries on underwear.

Their relationship flourishes with Beth attending one of James' comedy shows and daring to visit his apartment, shared with his mother. As the chemistry builds, she offers to return to his place, indicating their relationship is deepening.

However, as events unfold, it becomes clear Beth has reservations—she admits she has never been with someone of James' stature before, leading to heartbreak when she turns him away the next day, feeling unprepared for the relationship's demands. The situation worsens when James discovers that the role he coveted in Marty has been snatched by teen heartthrob Aaron Carter.

As the narrative progresses, James starts to embark on a new journey in his life. He moves into his own apartment, rekindles a connection with Stella, and continues to chase his acting dreams, demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity.

Last updated: November 21, 2024 at 13:22

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Plot questions answered

I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2007): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why did Beth reject James after their date?

Beth rejected James because she admitted she had never been with someone of his stature (referring to his larger body size). Despite their growing connection and the romantic moments they shared, Beth felt unprepared to handle the demands of a relationship with someone she perceived as different from her past partners. This revelation led her to turn him away the next day, leaving James heartbroken.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in their encounters, Beth seemed charmed by James' vulnerability, but her hesitation became apparent when sheinitially offered to go to his apartment, creating tension before her final rejection.

  • beth
  • james
  • rejection
  • relationship
  • date
  • breakup
Q2

What happened to James' TV prank show?

James appeared on a TV prank show and performed an embarrassing stunt that led to the show's abrupt cancellation. The incident was so damaging that it immediately resulted in the program's end, contributing to his overall professional decline and emotional breakdown.

Foreshadowing: The summary establishes that James was already struggling with his career and self-esteem before this incident, making the prank show failure another in a series of setbacks.

  • tv show
  • prank show
  • cancelled
  • embarrassed
  • career
Q3

Why did Andrea break up with James?

Andrea ended her relationship with James as immediate fallout following the embarrassing incident on his TV prank show. The timeline suggests her breakup was a direct result of the humiliation and the cascading failures James experienced, though the summary doesn't provide specific details about her exact reasons for leaving.

Foreshadowing: The summary notes that James faced immediate fallout in his personal life after the TV show incident, confirming Andrea's decision was connected to this event.

  • andrea
  • breakup
  • girlfriend
  • james
Q4

What caused James' embarrassment during Career Day?

During Career Day at an elementary school, James shared his personal struggles openly with the students and teacher Stella. His vulnerability and willingness to discuss his failures in front of the children backfired, leaving him feeling humiliated by his own honesty and the reactions he received.

Foreshadowing: Earlier references to James' insecurities and depression set the stage for this moment of oversharing, revealing his inability to maintain professional boundaries.

  • career day
  • elementary school
  • embarrassed
  • humiliation
  • stella
Q5

Why did James' agent Herb stop representing him?

James' agent Herb chose to discontinue their professional relationship, following the chain of failures that began with the TV prank show incident. As James' career spiraled downward with the show's cancellation and mounting personal problems, Herb determined that continuing to represent him was no longer viable.

Foreshadowing: The summary presents Herb's decision as part of the immediate fallout from James' public embarrassment, connecting it to the same cascade of failures that included Andrea's breakup.

  • herb
  • agent
  • dropped
  • representation
  • career
Q6

What did Beth mean by saying she had never been with someone of James' stature?

Beth's comment about never being with someone of James' "stature" was a reference to his body size. Despite developing genuine feelings for him and enjoying their time together, Beth ultimately felt unprepared to pursue a serious relationship with someone of James' larger build, leading to her decision to end things.

Foreshadowing: Beth's initial attraction to James and her willingness to engage in intimate moments like the shopping spree suggested she was comfortable with him, making her later hesitation appear suddenly during their first morning after.

  • beth
  • james
  • weight
  • stature
  • size
  • relationship
Q7

Why does James spend time parked outside Wrigley Field?

James parks his car outside Wrigley Field to find solace and reflect on his life. The sunset views from the iconic Chicago ballpark provide him with a therapeutic escape from his daily struggles, offering a moment of peace and introspection amid his ongoing disappointments.

Foreshadowing: The consistent imagery of James returning to Wrigley Field establishes it as his coping mechanism, showing his need for visual beauty as a counterbalance to his professional failures.

  • wrigley field
  • chicago
  • sunset
  • reflection
  • solace
Q8

Why was James working at a hot dog stand dressed as a pirate?

James was working at a hot dog stand in a pirate costume as one of his various jobs while struggling as an actor. While dressed as this pirate, he learned about a local remake of his favorite film Marty and attempted to secure an audition, though his efforts ultimately failed.

Foreshadowing: This detail highlights James' desperate financial situation and his continued pursuit of acting roles despite his declining career.

  • pirate
  • hot dog stand
  • costume
  • job
  • marty
  • audition
Q9

Why did James lose the Marty remake role to Aaron Carter?

James lost the coveted role in the local remake of Marty to teen heartthrob Aaron Carter (the summary mistakenly mentions Kevin Carter, but the intent is Aaron Carter, the pop star). Despite knowing the director and wanting the part badly, the role went to the more commercially viable young celebrity rather than the struggling improv actor.

Foreshadowing: James learned about the Marty remake while working at the hot dog stand, showing his continued hope for meaningful acting work despite his circumstances.

  • marty
  • aaron carter
  • role
  • audition
  • lost
  • character role
Q10

Who is Stella and why does James reconnect with her at the end?

Stella was the teacher at the elementary school where James experienced his Career Day humiliation. At the film's end, James decides to reconnect with her, suggesting a potential romantic interest or at least a desire to build a connection with someone who witnessed his lowest moment. This reconnection is part of his broader move toward starting fresh in his life.

Foreshadowing: James' embarrassment at Career Day involved Stella directly, making their later reconnecting a meaningful character arc where vulnerability might transform into genuine connection.

  • stella
  • teacher
  • elementary school
  • reconnect
  • ending
  • future
Q11

Why did Beth give James free ice cream at the parlor?

Beth recognized James from Second City (the famous improv theater) and offered him complimentary ice cream, initiating their romantic connection. Her gesture of free ice cream was both a hospitable act and a conversation starter, leading to the quirky question that captivated James and began their relationship.

Foreshadowing: The ice cream parlor meeting occurred right after James' disappointing Compulsive Eaters Anonymous meeting and his failed Marty audition, positioning Beth's kindness as a turning point in his emotional journey.

  • beth
  • ice cream
  • free
  • second city
  • meeting
  • romance
Q12

Why does James decide to move into his own apartment at the end?

James decides to move into his own apartment as a symbol of his commitment to personal growth and independence. Throughout the film, he lives with his mother, and this move represents a tangible step toward adulthood and self-sufficiency as he continues pursuing his acting dreams while rekindling his connection with Stella.

Foreshadowing: Living with his mother has been part of James' stagnant lifestyle throughout the movie, making this move a significant milestone in his character development.

  • apartment
  • move
  • independence
  • mother
  • new beginning
  • stella

Movie threads

More Movies Like I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Quietly Hopeful Character Studies like I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With

Gentle stories of lonely people finding small moments of connection and hope. If you enjoyed the melancholic yet hopeful journey in I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With, you'll find similar films here. These movies feature relatable protagonists navigating loneliness and seeking connection, often with a steady pace and a blend of gentle humor and heartfelt emotion. Discover more movies like this that explore personal growth through quiet, character-driven stories.

  • lonely
  • reflective
  • hopeful
  • quirky
  • melancholic
  • awkward
  • Tone: melancholic, hopeful
  • Pacing: steady, reflective
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern follows a protagonist, often feeling isolated or stuck, as they navigate a series of minor failures and awkward social interactions. The plot is driven by character rather than high-stakes events, culminating in a moment of genuine connection or a small but significant personal victory that points toward a brighter future.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a specific emotional mix: a melancholic baseline lifted by quirky humor and a fundamentally hopeful outlook. They prioritize character depth over complex plotting and create a relatable, low-intensity viewing experience centered on the universal search for belonging.

Movies with Urban Melancholy and Quirky Romance like I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With

Awkward love stories that bloom in the lonely corners of a city. For viewers who liked the awkward, city-based romance in I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With, this section features similar stories. These films explore relationships that spark in unlikely places, blending romantic disappointment with hopeful new beginnings. Find more movies like this that capture the feeling of finding love while navigating the melancholy rhythm of city life.

  • urban
  • quirky
  • romantic
  • awkward
  • melancholic
  • hopeful
  • Tone: melancholic, quirky, romantic
  • Pacing: steady, conversational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The journey typically involves a protagonist recovering from a personal or romantic setback. Their path crosses with another equally idiosyncratic character, and a tentative connection forms. The romance unfolds through realistic, sometimes cringeworthy interactions, overcoming initial awkwardness to reveal a genuine bond that provides a sense of solace and new possibility.

Why they belong together: This group shares a distinct vibe: the combination of a specific urban atmosphere, a tone of gentle melancholy, and a romance that feels earned through awkward, authentic moments. The pacing is steady, focusing on the emotional landscape of the characters rather than plot twists, creating a relatable and heartfelt experience.

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Every angle

I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2007) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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