In this Christmas comedy, Academy Award-winning actor Christoph Waltz plays a pet shop owner who generally prefers animals to people. Recently divorced, he is still very attached to his ex-wife – who lives right across the hall from him.

Konstantin, the new temp worker at the pet store, wonders why he's even needed considering how little money the store is making. Meanwhile, owner Johannes uses the store's problems to try to bring his ex-wife Marion – who also happens to be his neighbor – back into his life.

Johannes asks his new employee, a psychology student, about love and relationships – but doesn't particularly like the answer he gets in return.

When Marion comes by to help Johannes with his taxes, he finds out she's met someone else – news he doesn't deal with particularly well.

To earn some money and help out his injured employee, Johannes visits several families pretending to be Saint Nicholas – and ends up making quite an impression.

Sascha reveals to Johannes, who is dressed as Saint Nicholas, that his parents are on the verge of separation. Later, Johannes spies on Marion and her new boyfriend at the Christmas market.

While Johannes spies on his ex-wife and her new boyfriend at the Christmas market, Sascha confronts him about the promises he made.

While Sascha's parents continue fighting, he lays out his Christmas list. At the shop, Johannes plots to get Marion back – but it seems as though she's happily moved on.

Johannes devises a plan to get Marion back – but when things goes awry, it turns out she's actually just as moved by his openness towards Sascha.

Marion spends a nice day at the sea with Johannes and Sascha, and is impressed at how well Johannes gets along with the boy. Then Sascha asks if they can bake cookies together.

Johannes, Sascha, and Marion are having a great time together at her apartment until her new boyfriend shows up unexpectedly – with plans to propose to her.

While Johannes tries to win Marion back, Sascha's parents continue fighting. He overhears his mother accusing his father of cheating – and his father denying it.

Marion and Johannes share a bottle of wine together, and Marion admits that she has feelings for him and sometimes wishes they had never split up. But their moment is interrupted when Sascha appears and has a terrible accident.

All is lost for Johannes: He's unable to convince Marion that he didn't walk out on her, and even Sascha won't speak to him anymore. Johannes takes it upon himself to find the boy's father.

Johannes and Konstantin try to find Sascha's father. Then Sascha's mother comes to visit Johannes to compare notes – and accidentally rings Marion's bell.

After Sascha's mother tells Johannes about the bench on the canal where she and Phillip first kissed, Johannes finds him sleeping there and in very bad shape. He brings Phillip home and tries to console him. Marion, meanwhile, overhears everything through the thin wall between the apartments.

Marion overhears Johannes speaking candidly with Sascha's father and realizes she has still has feelings for him. When her boyfriend Hans-Peter comes to the door, she has to tell him she's no longer interested.

Marion tries to talk to Johannes, but he's too preoccupied with reuniting Sascha's parents – and she's getting the wrong idea about his relationship with Sascha's mom. Sascha's father has gotten some rest and is ready to help out in the pet shop, which is good because there's a Christmas sale and the store is an absolute zoo!

Johannes, Konstantin, and Phillip work the Christmas sale together at Johannes's pet store, making sure that all of the animals leave with loving new owners. Finally, only the parrot remains, which then goes to a very special home...

With his parents reunited, Sascha makes one last wish – and Johannes and Marion are suddenly brought together, just in time for Christmas.