When the Gunderson boys – Brandon, Gary and Robby – hire Ron Snuffkin to pretend to be their father after their real father goes to prison, they find out that there’s more to their “fake” dad than meets the eye. Ron has to enroll them in school, convince Robby’s teacher to keep him in her class, sweet-talk the principal, locate mint-condition toy soldiers at his grandmother’s house and avoid a thug who wants his money.

Ron befriends a police officer in hopes of getting a free pass from the cops, all while brokering a shady scheme involving south-of-the-border prescriptions. Meanwhile, the boys decide to make a movie, but find their project being taken over by Robby’s play date.

When Robby’s teacher becomes suspicious of Ron’s behavior, he invites her over for a family dinner. Meanwhile, Ron and the boys set out to create 15 years of photo history.

When the Gunderson boys get chicken pox, Ron cares for them until he develops symptoms of his own. Meanwhile, Brandon falls for a girl who is only into him because he’s sick.

When Ron chaperones Gary on an out-of-town debate tournament, Gary learns the hard way what his teammates really think of him. Meanwhile, Angela volunteers to watch Brandon and Robby back at the house, ultimately leading to Brandon being homeless on the streets and Robby locking her in the shed.