Shaun Brumder (Colin Hanks) is a bright, talented, but somewhat unfocused Southern California surf slacker until the day he discovers a novel by acclaimed author Martin Skinner. Inspired, he suddenly realizes his life's ambition: to leave behind mind-numbing Orange County and study creative writing with Skinner at Stanford University. But after being denied enrollment, Shaun's forced to seek help from his hopelessly dysfunctional parents (Catherine O'Hara & John Lithgow) and his stoner brother Lance (Jack Black), despite a series of hilarious circumstances that will make his dream of escaping his hometown nightmare a reality.