At forty-something, strait-laced Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) is living the dream—good job, nice house, great kids and marriage to his high school sweetheart. But when Cal learns that his wife, Emily (Julianne Moore), has cheated on him and wants a divorce, his “perfect” life quickly unravels.
Worse, in today’s single world, Cal, who hasn’t dated in decades, stands out as the epitome of un-smooth. Now spending his free evenings sulking alone at a local bar, the hapless Cal is taken on as wingman and protégé to handsome, thirty-something player Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling).
In an effort to help Cal get over his wife and start living his life, Jacob opens Cal’s eyes to the many options before him: flirty women, manly drinks and a sense of style that can’t be found at Supercuts or The Gap.
Cal and Emily aren’t the only ones looking for love in what might be all the wrong places: Cal’s 13-year-old son, Robbie, is crazy about his 17-year-old babysitter, Jessica, who harbors a crush on Cal. And despite Cal’s makeover and his many new conquests, the one thing that can’t be made over is his heart, which seems to keep leading him back to where he began
Honey, I really can't see.
Oh, I got you.
Two.
Now we're on the ground.
One more step.
Three.
Yay.
Mom, no more steps.
We're on the ground.
I am.
Oh, hey.
Can I take this off now, please?
Nope, not yet.
Oh, what's this?
I hear you, giggle puss.
Do it.
May I have your attention?
Many years ago, in the hallway of Woodside Middle School,
Cal Weaver saw Emily Boyle for the first time.
Cal, are you seriously going to do this in front of the kids?
If anything goes wrong, we're supposed to take her upstairs and put the TV on loud.
All right.
Well, we may as well wait for your daughter.
She's right here.
No, no, no.
I mean our other daughter.
Hello?
Nana!
Hi, guys.
Hi, sweetheart.
Hi.
What's going on?
Oh, I don't know.
Some game.
He won't let me take this dumb blindfold off.
Cal?
Is that him?
What are you doing here?
Wait, you guys know each other?
What's going on?
What are you doing here?
Hey, Nana.
Hi, Robbie.
Hey, Nana.
Hi, cutie.
Jacob, it's so nice to meet you.
I've heard so many wonderful things about you from Nana.
I'm sorry, what's a Nana?
I'm a Nana.
You know, I couldn't say Hannah when I was little.
How do you know my dad?
She couldn't say her H's at all.
Okay, I'm having trouble understanding what's going on right now.
Dad, this is Jacob, my boyfriend.
No, it's not.
I was bringing him over to meet mom.
No.
No, no, no.
I want to see the boyfriend, please.
Can I take this off now?
Cal, what are you doing with the daughter that's grown up?
I was 17.
That's why we had to get married so young.
That is something you should have told me.
You never wanted me to talk about my children.
I'm going to go watch TV now.
Yeah, that's fine, honey.
Why don't you go do that?
Yeah, can I come?
No.
You guys, like, really know each other then.
Oh, screw it.
This is ridiculous.
Oh, honey, he's really cute.
No, he's not.
I mean, look at you.
Are you really a mother?
I don't believe a sister.
All right, all right.
Let me get this straight.
So you guys are a thing.
You guys are a couple, right?
You guys are together?
Yeah, yes.
No way.
Break up right now.
Daddy?
Please don't call him that.
Cal, that's not going to happen.
Then I will mess you up!
Dad?
Cal?
Cal.
Jessica?
Bernie?
Daddy, no!
I let her babysit for you, you son of a bitch!
No, my God!
Daddy!
She's only 17 years old!
Daddy!
What are you talking about?
Oh, God!
I don't know what you're talking about!
No!
Bernie!
Daddy, no!
No, no, no, no, no!
Stop!
Oh, God!
Dad!
Jacob!
Oh, God!
Daddy, stop it!
He didn't do anything!
He doesn't even know!
Is your back okay?
No, what?
Is this some kind of a skit?
Because I'm lost.
No!
No, no, no, no, no!
Daddy, he doesn't even know that I'm in love with him!
With who?
With him!
Are you pointing at me?
Are you pointing at him?
She's pointing at him!
No!
Wait, my dad is the older guy you've been seeing?
I knew it!
No, no, no, no!
He doesn't even know about the naked photos!
What?
You can't just...
Jessica!
You made him naked photos?
Seriously?
I'm going to beat you until your brains fall out!
Time out!
Hold on!
But I love her.
Jessica's the one you're in love with?
Excuse me, Emily?
I left your sweater in my car the other night.
Oh.
Who are you?
I'm David Lindhoff.
David Lindhoff?
David Lindhagen.
Okay.
Is this a bad time?
Yeah.
Oh!
Jacob!
How much pain and suffering you caused my friend, you dumb son of a...
Stay the hell away from my daughter!
You!
Stay away from my daughter!
Dad!
I don't even know you!
Come on!
Don't do it!
Dad, stop!
David!
How do you grab it?
Come on!
Let go of me!
So...
Okay, wait.
Which one of you is Lindhagen?
And...
Hagen.
I'm just gonna write domestic disturbance all clear.
Thank you, officer.
Just...
Simmer down, okay?
We all have arguments, but if you're gonna fight, just do it inside.
Keep it in the family, okay?
Let's go.
Daddy?
Now.
Daddy?
Now!
This guy is a lowlife.
He is a womanizer.
That's ironic.
Hey.
Excuse me?
I know him.
I have witnessed him in action.
And you are not to see him anymore.
Dad, I'm not gonna stop seeing him.
Okay.
Well, then we have nothing more to talk about.
Cal, you're being unreasonable.
Get the hell out of my house.
This is not your house anymore.
Yeah, well, you made damn sure of that, didn't you, sweetheart?
Bye, Nana.
Bye, cutie.
She's all yours, David.
Fantastic.
Go big or go home, right, bud?
Go home, Dad.