Bill and Jeanie shared a poignant 33 years together, but tragically, only 60 days passed from her diagnosis to her death. One night, overwhelmed with his grief, Bill, played by J.K. Simmons, steps into the room of his teenage son Wes, portrayed by Josh Wiggins, and declares he can't cope with the situation any longer.
Suddenly, Bill and Wes hit the road in a classic Blue '71 Mustang, towing a U-Haul trailer along the stunning Pacific Coast towards Los Angeles. Amid this upheaval, Bill has a new opportunity to teach math at St. Martin's, a prestigious private school for boys, where his wife Jeanie had previously been associated with Paul, the headmaster, played by Kevin Dunn. Despite their past, Paul has moved on and encourages Bill to find some help.
As they settle into their new home, Wes is confronted with the school's strict uniform policy and reluctantly picks cross country as his sport, despite having little interest in athletics. He soon befriends two classmates, Raffi and Gober, played by Tyrel Jackson Williams and Jae Head, respectively. Meanwhile, he becomes infatuated with Lacy, a girl from Cavalcade Academy, who struggles with social interactions. Their French teacher, Julie Delpy, takes notice of Wes's academic prowess, likely inherited from his late mother, and suggests he tutor Lacy—as she is currently struggling in class.
While helpful intentions swirl around Wes’s academic life, Bill grapples with his own demons. Paul intervenes, suggesting that Bill might benefit from therapy, as he seems trapped in his grief over Jeanie's passing. At home, nostalgia floods Wes, who watches videos of his mother, capturing the essence of their shared moments, from radiant days in the sun to her painful last goodbye. Amidst the backdrop of grief and healing, Bill immerses himself in gardening, reminiscing about Jeanie and her love for tomatoes.
As Wes's bond with Lacy deepens, he discovers disturbing truths about her—she bears the marks of a serious struggle. Tensions rise as peers, including the arrogant Mason, make insensitive remarks about Lacy, which triggers a confrontation that lands Wes and Mason in detention—a punishment that forces them to clean up litter on weekends.
Meanwhile, a budding romance begins to blossom between Bill and Ms. Roussel, filled with moments of tenderness and laughter as they navigate life's complexities together. However, as Wes continues to tutor Lacy, the cracked facade of her home life becomes increasingly evident, showing her parents entrenched in conflict.
Events come to a head when Lacy, in a moment of despair, seeks refuge away from her painful reality, leaving Wes feeling helpless. After a heart-wrenching fallout following a night fraught with bad decisions, Wes decides to withdraw his support.
Bill's journey of grief takes a haunting turn as he confronts his self-destructive tendencies. After a medical scare lands him in the hospital, he confronts the harsh realities of his mental health, contemplating extreme interventions like electroshock therapy. With each passing day, he finds himself fading until an explosive confrontation with Wes forces him to reckon with his will to live.
In a compelling intertwining of their narratives, Bill’s recovery progresses as Wes triumphs in his cross-country race. Both characters face unique battles but find hope intertwined with their futures as healing begins to mend their broken spirits. Bill returns to teaching, and a second chance at love with Ms. Roussel lingers on the horizon. Meanwhile, Lacy finds her own wings, passing her French class without Wes's aid. The film concludes with both families experiencing a rare moment of joy while enjoying ice cream together in the Mustang, the passenger seat still facing backwards, symbolizing their intertwined journeys of progress amidst the backdrop of love and loss.
