The Shape of Things

The Shape of Things

Company type	Film
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	2003
Founder	Neil LaBute
Products	Romantic drama film

The Shape of Things is a romantic drama film from 2003, both written and directed by Neil LaBute, adapted from his own stage play. The movie features performances by Paul Rudd, Rachel Weisz, Gretchen Mol, and Fred Weller. Set against the backdrop of a Midwestern college town, it delves into the intertwined emotional and romantic experiences of four university students. Key themes examined include stoicism, the boundaries of artistic expression, psychopathy, intimacy, and the sacrifices individuals make for love.

Plot

Adam Sorenson, a student majoring in English Literature at Mercy College, encounters Evelyn Ann Thompson, a graduate student specializing in art, while working at a museum. Lacking success with women, Adam is flattered by Evelyn’s attention and embarks on a physical makeover: he alters his hairstyle, adopts healthier lifestyle choices, upgrades his wardrobe, adopts a more confident demeanor, and switches to contact lenses. His transformation draws positive reactions from his friend Phillip and Phillip’s fiancée Jenny. Jenny, who had known Adam prior to her relationship with Phillip, finds herself attracted to him, culminating in a passionate kiss.

Evelyn convinces Adam to undergo rhinoplasty and gradually distances him from Phillip and Jenny, causing strain in their friendship. Eventually, Adam uncovers Evelyn’s true intentions: he has been the subject of her MFA thesis. She publicly reveals to faculty and students that her project involved "sculpting" Adam into a more appealing individual as part of an art installation. Her feelings toward him were never genuine; their relationship was merely an element of her artistic performance. Additionally, she discloses that she will not marry him—the engagement ring he gave her was simply a prop for the exhibit.

Feeling betrayed and humiliated, Adam confronts Evelyn alone after her presentation. She insists that he should appreciate the changes she facilitated, arguing they enhanced his social desirability. Rejecting this as cruel manipulation, Adam demands the return of his grandmother’s ring. Evelyn complies but affirms that one intimate truth she shared with him was authentic.

Evelyn leaves Adam alone in the gallery as he watches repeated footage of their private moments, overwhelmed with tears.

Cast

• Paul Rudd as Adam Sorenson
• Rachel Weisz as Evelyn Ann Thompson
• Gretchen Mol as Jenny
• Frederick Weller as Phillip

Play

The Shape of Things originally debuted at London’s Temporary Almeida Theatre in 2001 with Paul Rudd, Rachel Weisz, Gretchen Mol, and Fred Weller in the cast. Directed by LaBute himself, the production was performed straight through without an intermission or curtain call. LaBute later adapted this play into a film featuring the same principal actors.

The play has seen numerous revivals featuring different casts over time: including a 2002 staging at Dublin's Gate Theatre starring Cillian Murphy and Flora Montgomery, a 2007 production at New York City's Bernie West Theater directed by Brian Rhinehart, London's Gallery Soho production in 2011 under Tom Attenborough’s direction, and a 2013 run at the Arcola Theatre led by Samuel Filler. In 2023, the Park Theatre hosted a revival starring Luke Newton and Amber Anderson. While Adam and Evelyn are traditionally portrayed as the leads, some productions choose to reverse genders with characters named Amy and Evan.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 64% derived from 138 critiques, with an average score of 6.3 out of 10. Reviewers highlight LaBute's revisitation of themes centered on relational cruelty, resulting in a powerful impact. Additionally, the film earned a Metacritic score of 59 out of 100.

Publication

An acting edition of The Shape of Things has been released by Broadway Play Publishing Inc.

Sources

• Rush, David (2005) The Student Guide to Play Analysis, Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press.