Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Awful Nice (2014) movie poster

Plot Summary

Awful Nice (2014) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2014 · 92 min · English
JustWatch #33,107
Directed by
Todd Sklar

Two estranged brothers, Jim and Dave, are forced to reconnect when they inherit their childhood lake house. While attempting to renovate the neglected property, they find themselves entangled in a series of comical situations and meet a memorable group of locals, including a suspicious business contact and a captivating waitress hiding a secret. As they navigate these challenges, the brothers must confront their past and work together to repair their relationship and restore the house to its former glory.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Awful Nice
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Awful Nice (2014)

Where can you watch Awful Nice? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on fuboTV, Fawesome and Plex: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Awful Nice: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Awful Nice (2014) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Dave, a man who struggles to keep a steady job, claims to have assisted in building houses after Hurricane Katrina, but his life is filled with instability. After yet another failed attempt to settle down, his practical brother, Jim, tracks him down in a wigwam on an Indian reservation in South Dakota. The reason for Jim's search becomes all too clear when they learn that their father, affectionately known as "The Colonel," has passed away. Reluctantly, the brothers make their way back to Kansas City for the funeral, marking a somber reunion with their family.

The funeral dinner is a tense affair, filled with awkwardness as the brothers reflect on their lives and relationships. Their differing perspectives—Jim, the responsible brother with a stable family life, and Dave, the carefree spirit focused on personal enjoyment—clash during this difficult time. After the funeral proceedings conclude, it's time for them to confront their inheritance: a rundown cabin located near Branson, Missouri, which they need to assess. The possibility of a road trip suddenly becomes their next shared experience.

Upon reaching their inherited cabin, the brothers are taken aback by its dilapidated state. They debate whether to demolish it, sell the land, and split the profits. Despite the cabin's poor condition, they discover a treasure trove of memorabilia, including an extensive sports card collection, which captivates Dave, particularly his Alonzo Mourning rookie card.

Before making any final decisions, the brothers must meet with The Colonel's eccentric business partner, Jon Charbineau. His appearance suggests a time warp from a 70s action television series, though thankfully, his attire is not as dated as his looks. With a mix of cash and discount coupons for various Branson attractions at their disposal, the brothers, especially Dave, seize the opportunity to indulge in the flamboyant local culture of tourism.

Finding the cabin too much of an eyesore, they opt for a motel. Yet, they soon find themselves the victims of a well-executed prank by the motel owner, who captures their humorous misadventures. One particularly memorable scene occurs when Dave, attempting to sneak into an upscale hotel's buffet while donning just a bathrobe, inadvertently attracts the attention of the law. This culminates in an encounter with Sheriff Wegman and Deputy Bruce, who playfully enact the classic “good cop, bad cop” routine.

As the brothers attempt to renovate the cabin, their journey is peppered with entertaining escapades and colorful encounters. They meet Lauren, a kind-hearted girl with a past connection to Jim, as well as Petra, an alluring waitress whose friendliness leaves them questioning her true profession. Through these experiences, Dave and Jim navigate their complex relationship, learning to navigate not only their inheritance but their own personal lives.

Last updated: May 12, 2025 at 07:04

Was this helpful?

Plot questions answered

Awful Nice Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Awful Nice (2014): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Jim track down Dave in South Dakota after their father's death?

Jim finds Dave living in a wigwam on an Indian reservation in South Dakota because their father, known as 'The Colonel,' has passed away. As the responsible brother, Jim feels obligated to locate his estranged younger brother so they can attend the funeral together and deal with their inheritance.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes establish Jim as the practical, duty-bound brother who maintains stable relationships, making his search for Dave feel consistent with his character.

  • Jim
  • Dave
  • brothers
  • father death
  • South Dakota
  • estranged
Q2

What do the brothers inherit after their father's funeral?

After attending their father's funeral in Kansas City, Jim and Dave learn they have inherited a rundown cabin located near Branson, Missouri. The property requires their attention, prompting the brothers to make a road trip to assess whether to renovate, demolish, or sell the land.

  • inheritance
  • cabin
  • Branson
  • Missouri
  • brothers
  • The Colonel
Q3

Why does Dave become fascinated with the sports card collection?

While exploring the dilapidated cabin, the brothers discover a treasure trove of memorabilia, including an extensive sports card collection. Dave is particularly captivated by an Alonzo Mourning rookie card, suggesting he has a genuine passion for sports memorabilia despite his otherwise unstable lifestyle.

  • Dave
  • sports cards
  • Alonzo Mourning
  • memorabilia
  • collection
Q4

Who is Jon Charbineau and what is his connection to the brothers?

Jon Charbineau is the eccentric business partner of the brothers' late father, known as 'The Colonel.' He appears with a distinctive look reminiscent of 1970s television action heroes. The brothers meet him to discuss their inheritance and receive cash and discount coupons for Branson attractions, which they use to explore the local tourist culture.

  • Jon Charbineau
  • business partner
  • The Colonel
  • Branson
  • eccentric
Q5

Why does Dave attempt to sneak into the hotel buffet in a bathrobe?

After moving from the rundown cabin to a motel, Dave's carefree nature leads him to attempt sneaking into an upscale hotel buffet while wearing only a bathrobe. This comedic stunt attracts the attention of law enforcement, resulting in an encounter with Sheriff Wegman and Deputy Bruce, who humorously employ a 'good cop, bad cop' routine.

  • Dave
  • hotel buffet
  • bathrobe
  • Sheriff Wegman
  • Deputy Bruce
  • comedic
Q6

What is the connection between Jim and Lauren?

During their time in Branson, Jim reconnects with Lauren, a woman from his past. She is described as having a past connection to Jim, and their reunion evokes feelings of nostalgia, prompting Jim to reflect on his own life choices and what he wants from the future.

  • Jim
  • Lauren
  • past relationship
  • reunion
  • nostalgia
Q7

What is the mystery surrounding Petra the waitress?

The brothers encounter Petra, an alluring waitress at a local diner in Branson. Her friendliness is noted, but the summary indicates there may be more to her story, as the brothers question her true profession, suggesting she may be hiding something or working in an unexpected field.

  • Petra
  • waitress
  • mystery
  • Branson
  • diner
  • secret
Q8

Why do the brothers decide to fix up the cabin instead of selling it?

Despite initially debating whether to demolish the cabin and split the profits from the land, the brothers ultimately choose to stay and renovate the property. This decision represents a turning point in their relationship as they learn to cooperate and work through their differences, reflecting the film's theme of reconciliation.

Foreshadowing: The brothers' initial disagreements about the cabin highlight their contrasting attitudes toward responsibility, setting up the resolution where they choose to work together.

  • cabin renovation
  • brothers
  • cooperation
  • reconciliation
  • Branson
Q9

What happens when the brothers stay at the motel in Branson?

Frustrated with the cabin's poor condition, the brothers check into a motel but become victims of a well-executed prank by the motel owner. Their humorous misadventures at the motel add to the film's comedic tone and showcase the various challenges they face during their journey.

  • motel
  • prank
  • Branson
  • comedic
  • misadventures
Q10

How do Jim and Dave repair their strained relationship?

Throughout their road trip to Branson and their attempts to handle the cabin, the brothers are forced to confront their past and navigate their contrasting personalities, Jim being the responsible one with a stable family life, and Dave the carefree spirit. By working together on the cabin and sharing experiences, they gradually repair their relationship, culminating in a happy ending where they succeed in restoring both the house and their bond.

Foreshadowing: The tension between the brothers at the funeral and during early parts of the journey establishes the emotional arc that their cooperation later resolves.

  • Jim
  • Dave
  • reconciliation
  • brothers
  • relationship
  • cooperation
  • ending

Movie threads

More Movies Like Awful Nice, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Awful Nice tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Brotherly road trip comedies like Awful Nice

Estranged brothers hit the road, forced to reconnect through comedic misadventures. If you liked the brotherly dynamic and comedic journey in Awful Nice, you'll enjoy these movies. They feature estranged siblings on road trips or shared projects, blending slapstick humor with heartfelt moments of reconciliation. Find more feel-good comedies about brothers reconnecting.

  • brotherly
  • road trip
  • comedic
  • bittersweet
  • feel-good
  • slapstick
  • Tone: light, comedic, heartfelt
  • Pacing: steady, episodic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows estranged brothers who are forced to collaborate on a shared goal, often involving travel or a physical task. The story unfolds through a series of comedic set-pieces and encounters with quirky characters, which slowly break down their defenses and force them to confront their past, culminating in a renewed brotherly bond.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a core focus on the brother-brother relationship arc, a lighthearted and often goofy tone, a steady pacing driven by episodic adventures, and the satisfying emotional payoff of familial reconciliation.

Inheritance comedies with heart like Awful Nice

Characters inherit a quirky property, leading to chaos and personal growth. Looking for movies similar to Awful Nice about inheriting a problematic property? These films combine the chaos of dealing with a dilapidated inheritance with character-driven humor and heart. Discover comedies where a family heirloom leads to hilarious situations and meaningful personal journeys.

  • inheritance
  • comedic
  • quirky
  • bittersweet
  • family
  • renovation
  • Tone: light-hearted, goofy, nostalgic
  • Pacing: steady
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot is triggered by receiving an inheritance that is more burden than blessing. The characters must navigate the physical and logistical chaos of the property while also dealing with the emotional baggage it represents, such as family history or past regrets. The narrative blends physical comedy with a character arc centered on growth and reconnection.

Why they belong together: These films are linked by the shared narrative device of a problematic inheritance, a light or hopeful tone that finds humor in chaos, a focus on personal or familial reconciliation, and a balance of goofy antics with sincere emotional moments.

If you liked this

Movies Like Awful Nice

Similar movies to Awful Nice: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Awful Nice (2014) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Awful Nice in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app