Finding Joy 2013

Pompous and self-absorbed, KYLE LIVINGSTON (played by Josh Cooke), who is in his mid-30s, finds himself in a rut, yearning for the glory of his first novel’s success. Things take a turn for the worse, forcing him to return home to his wildly eccentric family, feeling defeated. Upon his arrival, he discovers that his estranged father, ALAN (portrayed by Barry Bostwick), a handsome yet agoraphobic curmudgeon in his 60s, has transformed Kyle’s old bedroom into an appalling bathroom. This revelation only exacerbates Kyle’s frustration with his family, which includes his older brother, MARSHALL (played by Tyler Bunch), a goofy telemarketer harboring a secret, and his sister-in-law, PATSY (a role by Kiki Harris), a highly strung former cheerleader grappling with a meltdown. Additionally, there’s MEL (portrayed by Arielle Hoffman), their wise and sensitive daughter, often overlooked, and GLORIA (played by LAINIE KAZAN), Alan’s exuberant and nurturing live-in girlfriend.

However, life at home slowly begins to improve when Kyle encounters the spirited and vivacious JOY BAILEY (brought to life by LIANE BALABAN), a delightful, offbeat bohemian beauty living across the street. She sparks a flame in his spirit and encourages him to aid her in her quest to make the world a better place, which rekindles his passion for writing. Yet, this newly found joy is short-lived as Joy reveals her dire situation—she has been told she is facing imminent death and wishes for Kyle to pen her obituary.

As Kyle spends more time with Joy, he inadvertently falls in love with her and begins to question the validity of her claims about dying. Motivated by the support of his whimsical family, he sets out to convince Joy of her vitality and the many years she still has ahead—years she should spend alongside him. But will destiny intervene in their heartfelt journey?