Max Fiedler (Chevy Chase) is an air traffic controller at New York's
Kennedy International. Airport whose life is slowly going down the drain.
His girlfriend, Darcy, has just left him because of his jealousy and negativity.
Now, everywhere he goes he seems to run into her with Barry, her
narcissistic old friend, which drives Max crazy. One night while he's driving
home from a party that turned out being at a gay nightclub in Lower Manhattan,
a tanker truck spills nuclear waste onto his car and through his open sunroof,
covering him with glowing green goo. The next day, he notices that he has
developed telekinetic powers. With this newfound discovery, Max decides to
put his powers to use by striking back at his tormentors - primarily by ruining
Barry's attempts to woo Darcy. With newfound optimism & confidence, he slowly
begins to win back the love of Darcy.
Things come to a head, however, when Max is asked to spend the weekend at
the summer beach house of Brian (Brian Doyle-Murray), a paraplegic friend, who
is now living with Max's ex-wife Lorraine. Brian invited others as well, including
self-confidence author and womanizer Mark Winslow (Dabney Coleman), who
immediately has designs on Darcy. Winslow constantly demeans and derides Max,
while trying to seduce Darcy (although his egomanical bragging and unabashed
nudity just seem to alienate her). With his new confidence waning, Max finally cracks,
using his powers to humiliate Winslow while also freaking out the other guests.
Finally, he sees himself becoming a monster, and by a fortuitous stroke of lightning
his powers are transferred to Dorita (Nell Carter), the voodoo-practicing maid.
Now understanding his odd behavior, Darcy forgives him and Max finally realizes
that she truly does love him.