For years, Jack Flanagan has buried himself in the little town of Friendship, New York. Alcohol is a convenient way to banish the ghosts of the past, but it can't fill the void of loneliness. A serendipitous twist of fate has Jack dog-sitting Darla, an orphaned Golden Retriever, and he soon realizes the true nature of friendship. Jack and Darla form a close bond as they struggle to find inner peace over their individual losses. Yet the farmhouse where Jack is staying is anything but peaceful-it's Norman Rockwell on the outside and Salvador Dali within, as Jack continually fights the bottle's lure. His relationship with Kate, a spunky middle-aged waitress, forces Jack to confront his failed marriage, especially when Kate reveals secrets of her own.
But it is the impish Darla who brings laughter at the most dismal of times and touches the hearts of those around her. Through Darla, Jack rethinks his life and realizes that it's never too late to change.