在这部情同手足剧情片中,理察李文森（Richard Levinson）与威廉林克（William Link）是好莱坞知名的编剧搭档，他们曾造就过「神探可伦坡」等电视影集，为了纪念因肺癌去逝的好友理察李文森，威廉写下了这部黑色喜剧。华特（詹姆斯伍德，「将军的女儿」、「赌国风云」）与亚提（约翰李斯高）是一对相交一辈子的好友，也是事业上的好搭档，两人联手在好莱坞编写剧本。
但他们完美的合作关系却在刹那间破灭，因为华特发现自己得了肺癌...华特从来没有抽过烟，亚提却是个老烟枪，没想到得肺癌的竟是华特！华特不但没有责怪老友，反而决定利用他剩下的生命，做一些有意义的事，首先，他教导狱中的受刑人写剧本，并开始与前妻、儿子重拾感情，当然，劝好友华特戒烟更是他的当务之急。这出黑色喜剧动人而不滥情，忠实呈现出两人情比手足深的友谊，导演格兰乔登曾以「甜酸苦辣母姐会」等片获得好评
When Walter's diagnosed with lung cancer, despite his squeaky clean lifestyle, he has to tell his screenwriter partner, because that partner is a chain-smoker. As Walter fights cancer he also tries to put his affairs in order by teaching writing to prison inmates, talking to his son and ex-wife, and getting his partner to quit smoking.
