一直在家自主教学的“瘦高个”詹姆斯正值升学的年纪，母亲阿比盖尔建议他去天才少年才能进入的圣海伦学院。詹姆斯对此并提不起兴致，因为他父亲的逝世让他患上了社交障碍症，和同龄人无法友好相处甚至大打出手，因此给阿比盖尔带来很多困扰。一次偶然的邂逅让詹姆斯对在点心店打工的女孩儿瓦尔产生了好奇心，并发现两个人身世相似都经历了家庭变…

在巴克利正忙于自己的博士论文时，传来了他父亲荣获诺贝尔化学奖的消息。原本一件别人看来很喜庆的事情，对巴克利和他的母亲来说却并非如此。在巴克利父亲获奖的当晚，巴克利就被绑架了，绑匪所要求的赎金正是诺贝尔奖的奖金。巴克利的父亲毫不犹豫的拒绝付款，这个家庭一直暗藏的矛盾就此爆发开来……

Novelist Larry Donner (Billy Crystal) struggles with writer's block due to his resentment towards his ex-wife Margaret (Kate Mulgrew), who stole his book and garnered mainstream success and critical acclaim with it. Owen Lift (Danny DeVito) is a timid, middle-aged man who still lives with his overbearing, abusive mothe…

The Lorax and Pipsqueak do their best to frighten and scare Once-ler to no avail. Pipsqueak's honorary Lorax status may be denied him.