Danny Muldoon (John Candy), a lates thirties Chicago cop is popular and well known in the neighbourhood. However, Danny still lives at home with his overbearing mom, Rose (Maureen O’Hara). He spends his time thinking and worrying about his mother and then one night he meets the quiet, shy daughter of a funeral director. He and Theresa Luna (Ally Sheedy) fall in love almost at first sight and have to overcome the obstacles in way of their happiness as Danny’s mother tries to intimidate Danny and makes it as hard as possible for the realtionship to be successful.