Character Relationship Map: When in Rome

Characters

• Antonio (played by Will Arnett) — supporting

  A doting painter whose coin Beth took from the fountain. He joins the group of suitors chasing Beth through New York City.

• Lance (played by Jon Heder) — supporting

  A lanky street illusionist whose coin Beth collected. He pursues Beth in New York and later reveals at her wedding that he possessed multiple poker chips, explaining why Nick's spell initially did not...

• Gale (played by Dax Shepard) — supporting

  A narcissistic male model whose coin Beth took from the fountain. He is part of the group of suitors vying for Beth's attention in New York.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Lance → Gale (Alliance Temporary Teammate) — Their alliance is practical and temporary, formed to recover the coins.

  Lance and Gale join the other suitors at the apartment and help retrieve the coins in the yellow microcar.

• Antonio → Gale (Alliance Temporary Teammate) — They cooperate as members of the same pursuit group despite competing for the same person's affection.

  Antonio and Gale are both part of the group of suitors that gathers at the apartment and joins the pursuit through New York.

• Antonio → Lance (Alliance Temporary Teammate) — Antonio and Lance temporarily cooperate as fellow suitors during the coin-retrieval pursuit.

  The plot states that all of the suitors show up together and later aid the protagonist in retrieving the stolen coins.

Story Analysis

A skeptical professional learns to distinguish genuine love from magically induced devotion.

Plot Progression

1. Rome Opens the Heart — A career-focused protagonist travels to Rome for a wedding and meets the best man. Their awkward encounters create an unexpected romantic connection.
2. Coins Create Chaos — After witnessing an apparently compromising kiss, the protagonist removes coins from a fountain. The legend transforms her jealousy into a wave of unwanted suitors in New York.
3. The Spell Is Questioned — The protagonist learns that the spell may be reversed by returning the coins. A secretary steals them, forcing the protagonist and the suitors into a frantic recovery mission.
4. Proof Beneath the Storm — The coins are returned during a dangerous chase, but uncertainty about the poker chip remains. A storm, a wedding interruption, and a final return to the fountain test the romance.