Heaven Can Wait is the story of a man who, upon reaching the gates of Hell, must recount the sordid details of his life. The man isn't a saint, of course - but then few men are - the point is, is he really bad enough to end up in hell? From cradle to grave it seems like the main aim of this man, played by Don Ameche, is to have a bit of fun. Whether sneaking a mouse into his schoolteacher's bustle as a child or engaging in a series of flings with a showgirl, he's a man driven by impulses. His one saving grace, it seems, is his capacity to love. He's not always a great husband or father, but it's never in question whether or not he loves his wife and son. It's an interesting play on the biblical Judgement Day, where all people must be held accountable for their actions in life. This man is fairly commonplace in the real world - he seems to have gone through life being neither truly good nor truly bad. But despite this, he is an unusual character in the film universe, with its black and white morality. Although he considers himself to have lived a dissolute life, his crimes are more hedonism than actual sin, and he's sent to "the other place."