When a brooding artist botches his final suicide attempt, he wakes up inside a coffin at his own funeral, and touched by the sentimental confessions of his dysfunctional Jewish family, he changes his mind.         

SYNOPSIS:

Indi artist, Ishmael Goldberg (18), graduates high school and informs his orthodox Jewish father that he’s not going to college like his older brother, but asks for his inheritance to start an art gallery. His dad grudgingly agrees if only to teach Ishmael a hard lesson.

Being the dutiful son, his brother graduates college and works for his dad at the family bakery in charge of finances while his sister prepares for her highly anticipated wedding. But while siblings flourish, Ishmael’s gallery is a flop and his childhood love moves away. He sells the gallery then attempts to end his life—again and again and again. If only God would cooperate.

Grandma Ruth, a joyful African-American woman from the Baptist bible-belt, has always favored Ishmael. Her living room bible study and kitchen gospel singing is tolerated by Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg due to the wealth left to her by her deceased husband, Mr. Goldberg’s father. Ishmael’s Uncle Sal is battling dementia but has windows of clarity and profound wisdom.

Things explode one night when Ishmael’s sister announces she’s not going to marry; Mrs. Goldberg has been selling sex toys instead of Tupperware; and his brother has emptied the business bank account due to his gambling addiction and thugs are after him. Suddenly, Ishmael bales out the family with the check from the gallery sale. He also agrees to college, then to work for his dad. Family equilibrium is restored until Ishmael descends to his lowest emotional point after his first day of class.

Ishmael finally takes what he believes is a lethal dose of Uncle Sal’s Demerol and ends up where the story begins—from his closed coffin at his own funeral. But when he awakes realizing his efforts were in vain, he patiently listens to all of the sincere, generous confessions of love from those he thought never appreciated him. Even his childhood sweetheart returns to mourn their missed opportunity. Suddenly, Uncle Sal remembers that he switched his pain meds with Sleep-Eeez, and begins pounding on the coffin lid. And to everyone’s shock, Ishmael flies out of the casket!

In the end, Grandma Ruth goes to be with Jesus, but her money has reenergized the family estate. Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg have rekindled their marriage. Uncle Sal has been given his wish to live with his wife in assisted living. Ishmael’s brother is in Gamblers Anonymous, and his sister has gifted her wedding to Ishmael and his gentile girlfriend. They marry with the family’s blessing then happily move into the apartment above his beloved art gallery that was secretly bought and willed back to Ishmael by Grandma Ruth.