The Third Wheel 2002

Stanley [Luke Wilson] finally asks Diana Evans [Denise Richards] out on a date after more than a year of fantasizing about asking out his co-worker, setting a night that promises romance but quickly spirals into a series of unpredictable misadventures.

Meanwhile, their office buzzes with activity as co-workers form a friendly betting pool around the date, and one close colleague, Michael [Ben Affleck], watches the pairing with keen interest. A devoted observer trails their every move, keeping tabs on how far Stanley will go with the striking Diana during the evening. What begins as a simple evening soon veers off course in comic fashion.

The night takes a sharp turn when Stanley accidentally strikes a homeless man named Phil with his car as they depart the spot where they had a drink, on the way to a theater. In a gesture meant to soften the mistake, Stanley offers to pay for the man’s damaged belongings, and the trio—Stanley, Diana, and Phil—end up at an ATM and then at a hospital, as Phil’s limp and persistent presence complicate the evening further. A misguided attempt to slip away from the man backfires when Phil chases them down, throwing himself against the car in a desperate, unsettling yet oddly humorous moment.

They manage to reach an open-air performance just in time for the second act, which unfolds as a quirky sequence of monologues attributed to famous figures. To everyone’s surprise, Phil wanders onto the stage and delivers a rambling monologue on bread, earning a standing ovation that oddly legitimizes the chaos around them. The night’s chaos continues as Stanley discovers his car had been towed in a tow-away zone, and Diana joins in to help navigate the impound process. With the attendant uncooperative, Diana flirts her way to a resolution, and they pay nearly a hundred and fifty dollars to retrieve the vehicle.

As the evening evolves, Stanley contemplates dropping Phil off, but a change of heart leads Diana to guide them toward a meal, a Japanese restaurant where the duo nearly share a kiss—only for Diana’s ex to unexpectedly appear. Phil steps in with comic bravado, calming the situation with a playful slap and then soothing the tensions by singing “Puff the Magic Dragon,” a quirky touch that underlines Phil’s odd charm.

Later, when it’s time to drop Phil at a place to sleep, Stanley’s resolve shifts again. He resists leaving Phil behind and, in a pivotal moment, returns to shield Diana from any uncomfortable advance. This act of protection culminates in a quiet, genuine kiss, hinting at a possible connection beyond the chaotic evening.

In the final scene, Phil is revealed not simply as a slow-wandering homeless man but as a cunning con artist who can improvise his way through trouble. He reappears in a dramatic finale by throwing himself in front of a tow truck, a stunt mirroring the chaotic start of the night and signaling that the evening’s peculiar chain of events may have a sly, manipulative undercurrent beneath the comedy.