Gordon Kinski, an eighth-grade English teacher in Brooklyn, plans to propose to his girlfriend Sophie Tremblay, a talented chef. Sophie is invited to Quebec City for a trial as head chef at a prestigious restaurant owned by her ex-girlfriend, Ruby Collins. Gordon joins Sophie on the trip, since he has just finished his school year for the summer, and they decide to cancel their upstate New York getaway.
Before leaving, Gordon stops by his father Peter Kinski to collect their heirloom—the Titanic engagement ring—for the Canada proposal. Peter, who fears flying, hands him a pill to steady his nerves, but the moment stirs an unexpected distraction: the recently creatively blocked romance novelist becomes fixated on a new idea, and Gordon ends up needing to locate his deceased mother’s ring. On the plane, the pill Gordon takes is supposed to be Valium, but it provokes a strong reaction, and as they disembark, a phone call reveals it was likely a quaalude.
When they meet Sophie’s family, skepticism greets Gordon. Her relatives gather outside her parents’ house to welcome them, and Gordon, a bit awkward, hauls the suitcases to the room where they’ll stay. Sophie's younger brother, Junior Tremblay, shows curiosity about becoming a police officer and eagerly works on his English with Gordon. At dinner, Gordon’s remarks about hockey and other quirks rub the relatives the wrong way, while Ruby Collins arrives and dominates the conversation, and Gordon keeps putting his foot in his mouth. He also ends up revealing his agreement to help Junior with English for the police exam, a point of contention for his father, who would rather Gordon take over the sheep farm.
Tensions mount as Gordon learns to navigate Sophie's family dynamics and the cultural distance between them. Sophie, meanwhile, discovers that the farm is in trouble on the way to her cooking competition with her father, and time is running out to secure a contract before they might have to sell it. The revelation adds pressure to both of them as they juggle love, ambition, and family obligations.
Back at the house, Gordon quietly explores Sophie's room and uncovers a photo album showing Sophie with Ruby, revealing that the two were lovers. He tries to talk to his father about the discovery, but Peter’s counsel is blunt: propose quickly, so Sophie doesn’t “change teams” again. The tension deepens as the truth sits between them, but the couple keeps moving forward.
Sophie endures a very demanding day in the competition, while Gordon tries to win over Junior by continuing his English lessons and by helping Sophie's father butcher a lamb to earn his goodwill. The late-night conversations grow more candid, and Sophie’s return is marked by an argument about the past relationship with Ruby, which they eventually address with honesty and patience.
In the end, a sequence of both comedic misadventures and heartfelt moments leads to reconciliation. A car accident and a family funeral become catalysts for clarity, bringing Gordon and Sophie back to one another. They move toward a future that blends love, family, and shared dreams, culminating in a proposal that is accepted with the blessing of everyone involved.
