Stevenson Lowe (James Spader) is a book publisher with commitment issues in this romantic comedy. While Lowe's girlfriend (Polly Walker) wants to get married, he wants to buy a house -- without her! His new house, however, already has residents: the bickering ghosts of socialites Max Gale (Michael Caine) and Lily Marlowe (Maggie Smith). The couple offers Lowe all sorts of romantic advice, but why should he listen to them?