Frank Goode (Robert De Niro) has spent his adult life working a local wire factory earning every dollar he can to support his family. Recently retired, he realized that over the years he has spent too little time with his four children and that it's time to reconnect. Frank's late wife was always his main point of contact with his kids but he decides that it's now his responsibility to keep an eye on them. He is inspired to invite the whole extended family for a barbeque weekend. Preparations go well until one by one, such is modern life, they all have a good reason to cancel.