The film begins with a mother putting on music for her child as she sets her car on railroad tracks and leaves the child in the car to die. The Ryans are a family of four with a strained relationship. Brent, the father, does not approve of his daughter Carly's new boyfriend Damon; Carly considers her mother Kendall out of touch, fights with her younger brother Josh (who often teases her and causes trouble), and is currently upset about canceling plans with her boyfriend because her grandparents are visiting.