Aging, stodgy academic Richard (Johnny Depp) was quite resigned to classrooms full of posers and sustaining a loveless marriage to Veronica (Rosemarie DeWitt) for the sake of daughter Olivia (Odessa Young). After being told he has a year at the most to live, however, he resolves to spend it on his terms-and brings measures of comic disruption and crystal clarity to both home and campus.