The trials and tribulations of family life, as seen through the eyes of three generations. Gil Buckman (Steve Martin) is a father rather too determined to give his kids the love and care which had been withheld from him as a child. Meanwhile, his Yuppie brother-in-law Nathan (Rick Moranis) is preparing his 3-year-old daughter for life in the fast lane by an accelerated learning programme which causes her to miss out on the more basic joys of childhood. Gil's sister Helen (Dianne Wiest), a single parent, struggles to control her uncommunicative son and wild daughter, while black sheep of the family Larry (Tom Hulce) returns to sponge off his father Frank (Jason Robards) in order to pay off gambling debts.