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I Married a Strange Person!

I Married a Strange Person! 1997

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I Married a Strange Person! Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for I Married a Strange Person! (1997). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.


As the film opens, a brown bird in flight becomes swept up in a mating frenzy with a blue companion midair. After weaving through a cloud, they tumble into a nosedive and crash into a satellite dish atop a house owned by Grant Boyer. The moment he is struck by a mysterious beam of energy marks the birth of a strange, reality-bending power that surfaces after he marries Keri Boyer. From that point on, Grant’s whims—driven by daydreams, impulses, and imagination—start to tilt the world around him. The effects ripple through ordinary life, turning quiet moments into surreal distortions and making everyday objects respond to his moods.

The newfound abilities alarm his wife, and soon they retreat to her parents’ home to face the unsettling changes in private. At dinner, Keri’s mother and father become unwilling hosts to Grant’s unpredictable influence: insects swarm and torment the former, while musical instruments erupt into chaos around the latter. Even the couple’s tender moment—Grant attempting to comfort Keri—unleashes a peculiar transformation, underscoring how love itself is not immune to the odd pull of his power. The tension between desire, fear, and control threads through the meal as the couple tries to preserve a sense of normalcy.

Meanwhile, a broadcasting company, Smilecorp, pursues higher ratings with a ruthless edge. Led by the calculating Larson P. Giles, he tests the limits of media influence through his underling Col. Ferguson, who moves with military precision to corral Grant for a televised coup of control. Back at Grant’s home, the power pulses again when he encounters his neighbor Bud Sweeny mowing the lawn. Grant ends up animating a blade of grass, which turns hostile and attempts to attack Bud. The danger is averted when Grant instead morphs the mower into a friendly, lumbering caterpillar. This odd display unsettles Grant as much as it excites him, and Bud wastes no time in alerting the high-wlacked world about the marvel.

News of Grant’s abilities reaches the Jackie Jason Variety Show, and Bud calls in the tip with hopes of capturing a larger audience. In the dressing room, Grant confides in Solly Jim, a once-renowned comedian who now struggles to regain his former spark. Solly’s act falters onstage, yet a crucial truth emerges: the boil-like bump on Grant’s neck is the source of his extraordinary powers. After Grant helps Solly, the comedian offers his business card and a possible future partnership, but a stagehand covers the boil with a bandage, halting its influence. When the bandage falls away, Grant’s power erupts with explosive force, nearly destroying the studio. The broadcast’s shocking spectacle rockets Smilecorp’s ratings, drawing even more attention from Giles.

With this new public spotlight, Col. Ferguson returns with Smilecorp’s tanks to capture Grant, but the nimble, power-fueled Boyer escapes through a combination of his abilities and the loyal caterpillar. Ferguson’s pursuit intensifies the chase, while the duet’s private fears—Keri’s worry about losing Grant to his own power—grow heavier. Keri retreats to her parents’ house, while Grant seeks help from Solly, only to discover that Solly betrayed him to the authorities. However, Keri learns the truth by eavesdropping on the Colonel and manipulates the situation to reveal Grant’s location.

The plot thickens as Solly tries to claim the boil’s power for himself, culminating in a staged standoff featuring Giles’s Smilecorp mascot and the colonel. Solly’s bid to implant the boil into his own neck ends in a grotesque, fatal split that eliminates him and complicates the power dynamic. Ferguson seizes a piece of the boil’s power, but his ambitions collapse into his own demise. Giles remains determined to seize the power for himself, while Keri disguises herself as a nurse to slip away with Grant and the boil, intent on keeping them out of Smilecorp’s grasp.

The final chase culminates in a dramatic escape sequence: a car crash, a parachute improvised on the fly, and the butterfly-like caterpillar aiding their descent to safety. They tumble into a red convertible, narrowly dodging gunfire and marching through waves of Smilecorp forces. A massive tank appears, but once again the butterfly intervenes, toppling a squad as Grant and Keri flee into the night.

In the climactic confrontation, Larson and the Smilecorp pulse crash lands in Grant’s car, and the two forcefully retrieve the boil. Larson uses his power to broadcast globally, his head ballooning with the reach of his control. As the world’s screens flare with his image, Grant and Keri intervene, piercing the dwelling of danger with their renewed bond. The swelling head bursts in a spectacular act of exposure, and a stray dog crosses the ground, consuming the boil and gaining a strange power of its own—the ability to conjure massive bones from the sky for its amusement. With the threat temporarily defused, Grant and Keri return to their life as Mr. and Mrs. Boyer, reuniting in a romance that seems newly vibrant.

Yet the film ends with a lingering note: the house itself seems to levitate once more, hinting that Keri may carry some of Grant’s powers after so much time together. The couple’s love remains the anchor of their world, even as the echoes of Grant’s extraordinary abilities blur the line between fantasy and reality, suggesting a future where the ordinary could once again tilt toward the miraculous.

I Married a Strange Person! Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of I Married a Strange Person! (1997) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.


Birds collide with a satellite dish, triggering a mysterious beam

A brown bird pairs with a blue bird in midair, then they dive through a cloud and crash into a satellite dish on top of Grant Boyer's house. The impact sends a mysterious beam of energy down to Grant. This moment marks the birth of the strange power that will soon reshape reality around him.

Opening sequence Above Grant Boyer's house

Grant's powers emerge and begin to warp reality

Shortly after the incident, Grant begins to manifest reality-bending abilities that respond to his thoughts and fantasies. The power appears as odd changes to people and objects around him. He is now married to Keri, though the new powers unsettle their life.

Soon after Grant's home

Dinner with Keri's parents reveals their disapproval

Grant and Keri travel to her parents' home for a tense dinner as her parents express disapproval of the marriage. During the meal, Grant's powers lash out: insects invade Keri's mother and fictional musical instrumentation affects her father. Grant and Keri attempt to dance together despite the growing chaos.

Dinner scene Keri's parents' house

Smilecorp's media ambitions are introduced

Smilecorp, a powerful broadcasting company led by Larson P. Giles, signals a ruthless plan to boost ratings. The corporation sees Grant's abilities as a spectacle it can exploit. This subplot sets up a manhunt for the newly empowered man.

Early plot Smilecorp HQ

Grass and mower transformation scene

Back home, Grant witnesses his neighbor Bud Sweeny cutting the lawn and unexpectedly animates a blade of grass toward Bud. The grass tries to strike Bud with the mower, but Grant intervenes and turns the mower into a friendly caterpillar. This odd event marks the first clear demonstration that his powers can alter objects and lifeforms.

After dinner Bud Sweeny's yard

Bud alerts the Jackie Jason Show

Terrified by Grant's powers, Bud calls the Jackie Jason Variety Show to report the phenomenon. The buzz spreads, bringing Grant into the public eye. The TV world moves toward a ratings gold mine.

Following Bud's report Bud's house / Jackie Jason Show studio

Bandage and the birth of a studio disaster

In the dressing room before his appearance, Grant learns a boil on the back of his neck is the source of his powers. A stagehand covers it with a bandage to suppress the power. When the bandage falls off, an immense surge erupts, nearly destroying the studio and boosting its ratings.

During the appearance Jackie Jason Show studio

Ferguson launches the capture and the chase begins

Giles orders Col. Ferguson to bring Grant back alive as the city reels from the broadcast incident. Ferguson's pursuit accelerates, while Grant eludes capture with help from his friendly caterpillar servant and by hiding at Solly Jim's home. Keri tries to locate Grant and ends up heading toward her parents' house.

Chase sequence City outskirts / Solly Jim's home

Solly betrays Grant and the pursuit tightens

Solly betrays Grant by tipping off Ferguson to his location. Keri, though, discovers the truth by listening in at her parents' house and orchestrates her escape. The couple becomes a fugitive as Smilecorp closes in.

Mid-climax Solly Jim's place / Keri's parents' house

Climactic confrontation and the lobe arc

Solly's plan to implant the boil into himself ends in disaster when the boil rejects him, tearing him apart. Ferguson retrieves the detonated lobe and uses it to restore his human form, only to kill himself in the process. Larson presses for control of the power, while Keri and Grant race to thwart them.

Climax Smilecorp complex

Keri and Grant escape and the final battle begins

Keri disguises herself as a nurse to steal back the boil and flee with Grant. They crash out of a window under gunfire, with a parachute improvised by Keri and aided by their caterpillar ally, who becomes a butterfly. The couple battles Smilecorp forces and fights to survive.

Final escape City streets and outskirts

Larson's defeat and the odd fallout

Larson's head swells and broadcasts across all screens as he tries to seize total control. The butterfly-assisted strike pierces Larson's ballooned head, causing a spectacular explosion. A dog later consumes the boil, gaining bone-creating power, while Grant and Keri return home and the house levitates, with Keri showing signs she may gain powers from living with Grant.

Ending City / Grant's home

I Married a Strange Person! Characters

Explore all characters from I Married a Strange Person! (1997). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.


Grant Boyer (Tom Larson)

Grant is a husband whose wild imagination manifests as reality-bending powers after a satellite-beam incident. He struggles to control the chaos his whims unleash on his wife, family, and bystanders, revealing both endearing vulnerability and dangerous volatility.

⚡️ Power 🧠 Mind-bending 💔 Relationship strain

Keri Boyer (Charis Michelsen)

Keri is Grant’s wife who grapples with fear and bewilderment as his powers erupt around them. She seeks stability and safety, yet her resilience keeps her fighting to salvage their relationship.

💞 Romance 🛡️ Protective 🧭 Resolve

Smiley (Jennifer Senko)

Smiley is a television entity within Smilecorp’s world, representing a gleaming but menacing corporate persona that amplifies the show’s reach and power over viewers.

🎭 Villainy 🗣️ TV Presence 🧪 Manipulation

Col. Ferguson (Christopher Cooke)

A militaristic operative tasked with capturing Grant, Ferguson is ruthless and loyal to Smilecorp’s agenda, escalated to seize the power Grant wields.

🪖 Authority 💥 Conflict 🗡️ Duty

Larson P. Giles (Richard Spore)

The power-hungry Smilecorp chief intent on controlling Grant’s abilities and steering global communications to his own ends, regardless of personal or ethical costs.

🏢 Ambition 🛰️ Control 💡 Mastermind

Dad (J.B. Adams)

Grant and Keri’s father represents the ordinary world unsettled by strange events, adding a domestic texture to the upheaval.

👪 Family 🕊️ Stability 🧷 Normalcy

Mom (Ruth Ray)

Keri’s mother experiences Grant’s powers through disruptive manifestations during family scenes, highlighting how the chaos penetrates the home.

👵 Family 🪲 Weirdness 🌀 Transformation

Bud Sweeny (John Russo Jr.)

The neighbor who witnesses Grant’s power and triggers public alarm by contacting the Jackie Jason Show, illustrating how ordinary life becomes entangled in spectacle.

🧭 Neighbor 🗞️ Media buzz 🛎️ Disclosure

Solly Jim (Unknown Actor)

A washed-up comic who temporarily assists Grant but betrays him; his fate underscores the entertainment industry’s perilous lure and the costs of power.

🎤 Comic 🕵️‍♂️ Betrayal 🧯 Temporary helper

I Married a Strange Person! Settings

Learn where and when I Married a Strange Person! (1997) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.


Location

Grant Boyer's House, Smilecorp Studios, Jackie Jason Show Studio, Keri Boyer’s Parents’ House

Primarily set around Grant Boyer’s suburban house, the satellite dish becomes the catalyst for his reality-bending powers. The Smilecorp studios and the Jackie Jason Show function as stages for media spectacle and public manipulation. Domestic locations like Keri’s parents’ house and the neighbor Bud Sweeny’s yard show how ordinary spaces are upended by extraordinary events.

🏡 Suburban 🎬 Media Power 🗺️ Contemporary

I Married a Strange Person! Themes

Discover the main themes in I Married a Strange Person! (1997). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.


⚡️

Power

Grant’s unpredictable abilities emerge from a mysterious beam, bending reality to his whims. The story traces the seduction and danger of unchecked power and how it destabilizes relationships and society.

📺

Media Control

Smilecorp’s thirst for high ratings drives a plan to weaponize Grant’s powers for global reach. The narrative critiques how media empires monetize spectacle to manipulate public perception and consolidate power.

❤️

Love Under Pressure

Keri and Grant’s relationship is strained by the chaos of his powers, yet their bond persists as they navigate fear and longing. Love acts as a fragile anchor amid manipulation and upheaval.

🦋

Transformation

Characters undergo literal and metaphorical metamorphoses—from Grant’s boil-powered chaos to butterfly-assisted salvation—reflecting how power reshapes bodies, loyalties, and destinies.

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I Married a Strange Person! Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of I Married a Strange Person! (1997). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.


In the wake of a nervous wedding night, Grant discovers that his imagination can reshape reality itself—an unexpected gift that turns the familiar world of newlyweds into a playground of the uncanny. Ordinary moments ripple with surreal consequences, as thoughts materialize in ways both whimsical and unsettling. The film settles into a tone that blends domestic intimacy with a creeping, almost comic‑horror sensibility, inviting the audience to wonder how far a shared life can stretch when the laws of physics bend to personal whim.

Keri, his bride, finds herself caught between devotion and terror, trying to ground a marriage that is rapidly slipping into the extraordinary. Their dynamic becomes a delicate dance of love and fear, each tender gesture potentially triggering a cascade of strange phenomena. The couple’s attempts to maintain a semblance of normalcy are set against a world that subtly mirrors their inner turbulence—quiet suburbs, family meals, and everyday objects all poised on the edge of transformation.

Beyond the bedroom, the ripple of Grant’s power begins to attract attention from forces far larger than their kitchen table. A corporate leader with ambitions that eclipse personal ethics watches the couple’s strange abilities with a calculating eye, hinting at a larger conflict that could test the limits of their bond. The story balances the intimate with the expansive, offering a visual palette that oscillates between the mundane and the fantastical, and leaves viewers hovering between wonder and dread as the couple navigates a reality that may never be the same again.

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