Set in a time when social boundaries were far more rigid, Henry Joseph Church (Eddie Murphy) takes on the role of surrogate father to a young girl as she struggles through the loss of her only present parent. He willingly accepts the responsibility of being the sole bread winner, chef, and teacher of the arts, supporting Charlie (Britt Robertson) and her terminally ill mother (Natasha McElhone); all the while creating a genuine loving environment as a member of this unlikely family.