Doug's (Rhys Darby) life falls apart after long-term girlfriend Susan (Faye Smythe) leaves him.
An injured Shelduck (native to New Zealand) - literally crash lands into Doug's life, igniting a much-needed spark and adventure, as he is compelled to nurse it back to health.
Doug is lead to animal specialist and busy single mother Holly (Sally Hawkins) and realizes that true love might be within reach.
Doug's work-mates Kanga (Dave Fane), Brent (Wesley Dowdell), and Gurneesh (Alvin Maharaj) tease him mercilessly about his new life 'bonding' with a duck.
Doug and Holly's relationship soon develops, but her son Taylor (Beck Taylor) doesn't like Doug potentially replacing his lost father.
As the story progresses, Doug finds his life has become richer and more rewarding, yet more complicated at the same time.
He has to take the duck with him everywhere, his good mate Craig (Craig Hall) is going broke, and he befriends an eccentric vet, Dr. Buster (Bryan Brown), who opens his eyes to new ideas.
While Doug doesn't want to go back to Susan, Holly gets wind of this evening tryst and dumps Doug, believing him to be a two-timer.
Through Pierre, the name he has given the duck, Doug discovers his own true place in the world and the belief in himself that will allow true love to blossom with Holly -- as she shows him how to care for Pierre -- and sees the errors of his own approach to life.