After his sensitive and witty son experiences amnesia, a macho dad goes to extreme lengths to remake him into the manly man of his dreams to secure the father’s idea of happiness and strengthen their bond. 

SYNOPSIS:

The Edwards are the perfect family; strong and stubborn Dad JIM (49) – a man’s man, pillar of the community - runs a successful chain of Home Improvement stores in Orange County, CA; charming, witty son CHRIS (21) recently graduated from UC Irvine and cool Mom TRACY (46) is about to leave on an NGO business trip to bring drinking water to Africa. So why is Dad irritated? Jim was raised with a strict definition of masculinity, i.e. men don’t cry, emote or ask for directions. He’s proud of his son but dislikes how his warehouse guys make fun of how Chris throws a football and he’s tired of attending engagement parties for his son’s terrific ex-girlfriends while Chris obsesses about his shoes and neat appearance. Dad only wants his son to be happy i.e. be exactly like him. Chris is a chip off the ol’ block, excels at customer service and knows the store inside/out, but Jim fears he won’t achieve he and Tracy’s hopes and dreams of taking over the business and having a family of his own if he doesn’t toughen up and be a “real man.”

For his part, Chris is happy and engaged in his life, even if that includes secret trips to The Man Hole gay bar where he crushes on cool and confident DJ IAN (23) who enjoys the attention but worries Chris might be a closet case. Still figuring himself out, Chris wants to be the “perfect son” but worries that discovering who he is may break his dad, his idol’s heart and he doesn’t want to let him down. When a disco ball accidentally falls on Chris’ head at the bar while Tracy is away, the doctors diagnose him with amnesia and instruct Jim to remind his son of his past for what they’re sure will be a speedy recovery.

Fixing up Chris’ room for his return home, Dad makes some tweaks; more sports equipment less fashionable clothing; Playboys instead Muscle & Fitness; a lone bottle of shampoo in lieu of the plethora of products in the shower; which quickly snowballs into Jim using the recovery as an opportunity to make Chris more manly and rugged. Jim coaches Chris along a whirlwind journey of Lazy-Z-Boy Recliners, football games, wooing women with his father’s antiquated pickup methods while reintroducing childhood best friend, hot jock VINCE (21) who could be metrosexual if he had taste and wild high school ex-girlfriend PARKER (21) who felt Chris was the “one that got away.” As Jim dodges calls from Tracy, he and his son grow close since Chris believes his father is the only link to his past.

Jim congratulates himself as Chris embraces Dad’s modifications but underneath, cracks form. Just like high school, Parker guides Chris through his awkward lovemaking although she figured he’d have gotten the hang of it by now. Chris doesn’t remember the rules of football but is convinced he played since tackling Vince is the only joy he’s felt post-accident. When Chris attempts to give the rather overdone Parker a style makeover, she breaks up with him driving him into the fake tanned arms of Vince who spurns his advances after Chris takes their horseplay a bit too far. When Tracy arrives home to find her son despondent and confused, the doctors warn that Chris may never regain his memory if he doesn’t remember something soon.

Shattered that he caused his boy harm, Jim vows to lead Chris back to his current life, once he uncovers the mystery of Chris’ lifestyle. As he discovers more about his son, all roads lead back to the Man Hole where DJ Ian may hold the keys to returning Chris to the caring, funny kid that Jim will now do anything to get back. Can this closed-minded Dad learn how to love unconditionally and accept his son for who he is to save his family before its too late?