Famous director Don Tyler (Donald Sutherland) travels to China to film a historical epic. But he suffers a stroke, and as he slips into a coma, he mumbles his "last request" to the cameraman: He wants a full-blown, Chinese-style comedy funeral in the Forbidden City. When his crew discovers Tyler doesn't have the money to pay for this elaborate funeral, they concoct a scheme to use "product endorsements" by major companies to fund the event!