Scott Melrod (Tobey Maguire), a teenager with overbearing parents, fantasizes his way out of embarrassing situation. In the opener, Scott has trouble impressing his dream date, but she decides to give him another chance.
Scott gets a handsome new hairdo when his classmate Nikki tries to change his image, but things get ugly when Scott's mom appears at the salon.
Scott's problems with math class force him to shuffle his schedule and add unwanted electives, among them; his sister's corny choir class.
After Scott sticks up for a girl in his math class, he must face the girl's paranoid suspicions about his live life, as well as the teacher's wrath.
When Scott must substitute for Larry as school mascot, he hires someone to wear the costume. At first, the replacement is a success, but then the animal in him cuts loose.
Scott poems a poem that resembles a heavy-metal song and it gets an A in English class, but causes his parents some concern.