When 80-year-old Max Sabatini dies, he leaves his three prized orangutans in the care of his only son, Foster. To inherit his father's $5-million fortune, Foster must take care of the apes for the next five years.

When his father, who owned a circus, dies Foster inherits $5-million--and three orangutans. But there's a condition: if he gives away the orangutans, or if just one gets sick or dies during the next three years, the zoological society will get all the money. So not only must he deal with three apes and an annoyed girlfriend, but he must also deal with kooky new roommate Laszlo who came from the circus to help with the apes, a greedy zoological society's president, three bumbling henchmen, and a cranky landlord.—Tom Zoerner <[email protected]>