菲利普教授(罗宾·威廉姆斯 Robin Williams 饰)对研究工作的痴迷就像瘾君子沉溺毒品般,终日为了研究忙得不可开交,甚至因此已经错过了自己的两次结婚典礼。眼下第三次大婚的钟声已来到门外,菲利普的研究却出现了重大突破,毫无意外,他再一次因此错过了婚礼,留未婚妻莎拉(马西娅·盖伊·哈登 Marcia Gay Harden 饰)在教堂苦苦等候,怨言满腹。菲利普看着被他称为“飞天法宝”的新发明——一种绿色的胶状物质,能够克服地心引力,只需将它涂在任何物体上,那个物体就会腾空而起。不过这种物质也有个难以捉摸的特性,随时会捉弄一下使用它的人。为了追回被他气走的未婚妻,同时挽救即将关闭的学校,菲利普教授将飞天法宝涂在校篮球队员的球鞋上,结果球队大获全胜。然而同时,也招来了别有用心者对飞天法宝的觊觎……
At Christine's funeral, her foster son suddenly shows up, a grown-up man with whom the family has been out of contact for quite some time. He brought a letter, stating that Christine wants to be buried in Wentelen, to the bewilderment of her biological children, and even more so to that of her husband. In addition to that, all the relatives are surprised that the foster son of Christine apparently maintained a correspondence with Christine. Nevertheless, Christine's last wish is respected, and they decided to bury her in Wentelen, and wish to do so traditionally, meaning walking behind the hearse. During a walk of several days, all the relatives (foster sisters, foster father, alleged friends and real ones, the foster son, lovers) have enough time to get to know each other better. Because in the end they have no other conclusion than that nobody really knew anyone. Old intrigues are dug up, the foster sisters finally learn why the foster brother just disappeared from the family, and they can begin to develop a real image of the mother. Once Christine's final resting place is reached and she is buried, all family ties, good and bad, are shaken around.