查理(亚当·桑德勒 Adam Sandler饰)是一个9•11的直接受害者，他的妻儿和爱狗都在这场灾难中丧生。查理从此一蹶不振，严重的自闭抑郁。他已经习惯了每天踩着电动滑车，戴着大耳机在街头行尸走肉般游荡，心灵巨大的创伤让他回归不了正常的生活。 艾伦（唐·钱德尔 Don Cheadle 饰）则是一个表面看来非常幸福的男人，有成功的事业和美满的家庭，然而他承受的生活压力是常人无法理解的，他的内心在暗暗苦撑。 直到有一天，艾伦在街头遇上了查理。得知这个老同学为何变得如此颓唐后，艾伦心里便下定决心也帮他一把，让他从低谷中走出来。他们一起谈心，游戏，慢慢的发现彼此的心灵都从窒息中苏醒过来。
Mike Binder wrote and directed this melodrama about two men who meet after a long break in their friendship and struggle to help each other rebuild their lives. Don Cheadle is Alan Johnson, a dentist who feels smothered and unfulfilled by his comfortable life or beautiful wife (Jada Pinkett Smith), when chance brings him across his former college roommate, Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler). Fineman lost his entire family on 9/11 and in the years that have ensued, he has completely isolated himself in a child-like existence. Refusing to acknowledge his past or the tragedy that is too horrible to even think about, Charlie is constantly listening to music, playing video games, watching movies, and banging on his drums. Alan finds himself beginning to enjoy life again in Charlie's child-like presence, but as he realizes the extent of the pain that ravages Charlie he starts to attempt to help Charlie face his past and return to the real world. Also woven into the story are the sensitive psychologist Angela Oakhurst (an excellent Liv Tyler) and a beautiful but confused woman named Donna Remar (Saffron Burows), who is struggling with her divorce. Binder himself stars in an excellent performance as Bryan Sugarman, a lawyer who was Charlie's friend before 9/11, and who Charlie now refuses to acknowledge or speak with. However, he has devoted himself to protecting Charlie's finances, living situation, and general peace-of mind.
After working with Dr. Oakhurst, Charlie is able to begin to acknowledge the deaths of his wife and three daughters. However, the trauma of this memory nearly drives him to suicide, and after a brief stay at a mental hospital, his parents-in-law attempt to commit him permanently. Donald Sutherland and B.J. Novak appear for a courtroom scene, after which Charlie is allowed to be free and to attempt to continue slowly building a new life, with the aid of his friends and loved ones. Alan finds new strength and meaning for his life after helping Charlie, and is able to renew his relationship with his own wife and daughters.
