His characters are always underachievers who revel in their lack of accomplishments, who fashion lives for themselves on the very fringes of society and rebel against Yuppie materialism.
Sonny works just one day a week.
The rest of his income comes from investments started with money he got from the settlement of a frivolous lawsuit. He has beat the system. Needless to say the plan doesn't work. His girlfriend decides to leave him anyway. He figures if he doesn't put any pressure on the kid, he will grow up better.