Awful Nice (2013) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Two hostile brothers are forced to confront family obligations while trying to repair a damaged property and manage their destructive partnership.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Funeral They Resist

Dave tells Jim about their father's death and the next day's funeral. Jim resists leaving, but Dave uses money and pressure to bring him into the journey.

Key Events

• News of the Father's Death — Dave tells Jim that their father has died and that the funeral is the next day. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Shared room
• Jim Refuses the Trip — Jim says he cannot leave because of long-term plans and an expected bird delivery. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Shared room
• Dave Offers Money — Dave offers Jim money and pressures him to attend the funeral trip. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Shared room
• The Possessions Argument — The brothers fight over shared space, childhood possessions, sports posters, cards, and a watch. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Shared room

Bickering on the Highway

The brothers argue over their possessions and clash throughout the road trip. Rules, complaints, and physical horseplay reveal their unstable but inseparable partnership.

Key Events

• Rules on the Road — Jim tries to impose rules and keep Dave focused during the journey. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Car
• Music and Car Complaints — Dave complains about the music, the car, and Jim's restrictions. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Road
• Road Trip Horseplay — Their bickering escalates into physical horseplay, but they continue traveling together. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Road
• Arrival at the Property — The brothers arrive at an old family property connected to their father. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Old family property

The House and the Deed

At the damaged family property, Jim explains that the deed depends on repairing the house. Dave's disappearance and return with unsuitable purchases immediately threaten their shared obligation.

Key Events

• The Damaged House — They discover that the house is badly damaged and filled with belongings from childhood. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Family house
• Repairing the Deed — Jim explains that Dave will not sign the deed unless they repair the house. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Family house
• Dave Disappears — Dave leaves for several hours while Jim remains concerned with the repair work. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Family property
• The Wrong Supplies — Dave returns with beer, clothes, and expensive entertainment items instead of construction supplies. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Family property
• The Construction Attack Claim — Dave claims that construction workers attacked him while searching for materials. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Family property

Old Embarrassments

Dave's contradictory account of his injury adds more instability. Meeting Lauren exposes embarrassing parts of the brothers' past before drinking and joking resume at the property.

Key Events

• The Construction Attack Claim — Dave claims that construction workers attacked him while searching for materials. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Family property
• The Motorcycle Admission — Dave later admits that a motorcycle struck him rather than construction workers attacking him. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Family property
• Meeting Lauren — The brothers unexpectedly meet Lauren, whom they knew when they were younger. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette, Lauren Location: Store
• Embarrassing Past Revealed — Their conversation with Lauren exposes embarrassing details about past relationships. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette, Lauren Location: Store
• Drinking at the Property — Back at the property, the brothers drink and joke while the repair project remains unstable. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Family property

A Deal Behind Jim's Back

Jim discovers that Dave secretly contacted Jon Charbineau and hired outside workers. Dave proposes a deceptive negotiation, while Jim insists on responsibility, leaving the project unresolved.

Key Events

• Secret Contact with Jon — Dave secretly contacts Jon Charbineau and hires outside workers without consulting Jim. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jon Charbineau Location: Family property
• Jim Discovers the Deal — Jim learns about Dave's secret arrangement with Jon and reacts to the lack of consultation. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette, Jon Charbineau Location: Family property
• A Manipulation Plan — Dave apologizes and proposes manipulating the workers to reveal their intentions and improve the deal. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Family property
• Responsibility Versus Deception — Jim insists they must act responsibly, while Dave argues for a covert negotiation. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette Location: Family property
• Dave Enters Alone — Dave goes inside alone to get the workers drunk during a covert negotiation, leaving the project unresolved. Characters: Dave Brouillette, Jim Brouillette, Jon Charbineau Location: Family house

Story Breakdown

• Funeral Compulsion — The father's death forces Dave and Jim into an unwanted family journey.
  • Death Announcement — Dave tells Jim that their father has died and that the funeral is the next day.
  • Money and Pressure — Dave offers money and pressures Jim after Jim refuses to leave.
• Sibling Hostility — The brothers' shared history appears through arguments over possessions and personal boundaries.
  • Room Dispute — They fight over their shared room and old belongings.
  • Watch and Posters — Sports posters, trading cards, and a watch become objects of conflict.
• Chaotic Road Trip — Travel exposes the brothers' opposing habits while keeping them dependent on each other.
  • Road Rules — Jim tries to establish rules and keep the journey focused.
  • Physical Horseplay — Complaints about music and restrictions escalate into physical horseplay.
• Family Property Burden — The damaged house turns the family visit into a practical and emotional obligation.
  • Damaged House — The brothers find the property badly damaged and filled with childhood belongings.
  • Deed Condition — Jim explains that Dave will not sign the deed unless they repair the house.
• Unreliable Repair Effort — Dave's behavior repeatedly disrupts Jim's attempt to complete the repair project.
  • Missing Materials — Dave disappears while the property needs construction supplies.
  • Wrong Purchases — He returns with beer, clothes, and entertainment items instead of materials.
• Past Connections — The brothers' earlier lives resurface through injury stories and their meeting with Lauren.
  • False Attack Claim — Dave claims construction workers attacked him before admitting a motorcycle struck him.
  • Lauren Encounter — Lauren's appearance exposes embarrassing details about the brothers' past relationships.
• Secret Outside Deal — Dave's private arrangement with Jon creates a new crisis in the house project.
  • Jon Contacted — Dave secretly contacts Jon Charbineau and hires outside workers.
  • Jim's Discovery — Jim learns about the arrangement and objects to Dave's lack of responsibility.
• Covert Negotiation — The available ending leaves Dave and Jim divided over deception and responsibility.
  • Manipulation Proposal — Dave suggests manipulating the workers to reveal their intentions and improve the deal.
  • Unresolved Entry — Dave enters alone to get the workers drunk while the project remains unresolved.

Directed by

Todd Sklar

Key Cast

• Alex Rennie — Dave Brouillette
• James Pumphrey — Jim Brouillette
• Christopher Meloni — Jon Charbineau
• Brett Gelman — Ivan
• Keeley Hazell — Petra