Twelve-year-old Ricky Stratton is determined to finally meet the father he's never known and to make their "reunion" a permanent visit, but Edward Stratton III, his surprised "new" father, has a very different opinion.

Young Ricky is convinced by arch-nemesis and neighbor Derek that his father, Edward, doesn't love him when Edward's punishment fails to fit Ricky's "crime."

Undaunted by his father's admonitions, Ricky sets out to meet his austere grandfather and then attempts to reconcile his father and the stubborn patriarch, who haven't spoken "since the Bicentennial."

Young Ricky's gotten a black eye his first day in public school and Edward's got the "perfect" solution to prevent it from ever happening again - he hires menacing Mr. T. as Ricky's personal bodyguard.

Young Ricky is infatuated -- and speechless -- when a beautiful, new classmate approaches him, until Edward gives him some "fatherly" advice that turns a bashful Ricky into a smooth-talking Romeo.

Ricky is caught in the middle of a potentially bitter custody battle when his mother shows up prepared for legal action to take him away from his newfound father, Edward.