Mike Bronco (TONY DENMAN) knows a college degree is a sure ticket out of the trailer park. He is determined to rise above his humble Southern Illinois roots and broken home to become a family therapist. His best friend Lynard "Lennie" Lake (JACOB TIERNEY), has a simpler vision for the future. He is a firecracker enthusiast whose notion of the American dream is trucking school.
One fateful day, fun-loving Lennie convinces the serious-minded Mike to shoplift "Near Bear" to enjoy a carefree afternoon of kicking back. The seemingly harmless exploit snowballs into an exploding Vega (an ill-conceived distraction), injuring store owner Ken Kenworthy and enraging his agressive son, Rickey (PATRICK RENNA). The two land in court and Mike's dreams of an exodus to the middle class and Lenny's trucking career are threatened.
As this transpires, Mike's mother, Linda Bronco (SEAN YOUNG) finds she has plenty to worry about beyond paying the rent. She still grapples with how her youthful indiscretions cost her a career in nursing; her would-be PRO WRESTLER husband, Jim, abruptly leaves and she loses her job at a local nursing home. Although her life's burdens hit Linda hard, Hell will freeze over before she allows the worst to befall Mike and Lenny. Even with no money at their disposal, the Broncos and Lennie believe at first that it will take a competent, sober lawyer to keep Mike's record clean and college-ready.
Next, the boys devise an ironic solution: a few trailer burglaries to raise the money to hire lawyer Ron Lake (WILLIAM DEVANE), Lennie's oily, turquoise-laden, ex-con grandfather, to take their case. When Linda catches the boys in the middle of a burglary, she steadfastly resolves to help them out, provided their spoils will finance Mike's college tuition.
As the situation grows more desperate, the boy's worst fears are realized when Linda's twenty-something boyfriend to come along for the ride. The boyfriend, Brian Ross (JASON LONDON), is the town sheriff's son and a former high school football star and bully.
As if it were not bad enough that Brian resumed tormenting and menacing Mike and Lenny, his ceaseless passion for ex-flame Sandy Lake (JAIME PRESSLY) complicates their already-complex plan. Sandy, who just happens to be Ron's post-adolescent trophy wife (and Lennie's step-Grandmother to boot), has bad intentions in mind for the boys. She sees their predicament as an easy opportunity to launch her own manipulative agenda.
During their bizarre journey to redemption and the promise of a better life, the boys throw all caution and common sense to the wind. With Mike's mom in tow, they execute a series of outrageously-plotted trailer park burglaries. With bigger threats and growing confidence, the boys move on to bigger hits at the nursing home and a fast food restaurant. And then, things really spin out of control, with several repeat visits to court, explosions, guns, fire and, finally, a spectacular car / trailer chase with $250,000 in loot at stake.
Not surprisingly, they are also hurled into the paths of Sunrise, Illounois' most colorful characters:
-backwoods teen dreams, Suzy (DANIELLE HARRIS) and Suzi
-a damaged-but-lovable pair of townies, the crusty and outspoken Judge Pike (M. EMMET WALSH);
-Carlton Rasmeth, an inept alcoholic defense counselor (TIM KAZURINSKY)
-an ambitious right wing prosecutor Machado (RICHARD LIVINGSTON)
-and a host of good old boys and girls who have various plans for Mike and Lenny that have nothing to do with higher education
Despite the insanity, Mike and Lennie learn significant growing-up lessons in the most hilarious ways. While they tear through the highways, cornfields and courthouses of America's heartland, their bonds of friendship and trust grow stronger. Through zany trials and instances of mistaken identity, they endure many indignities, life-threatening situations, temptations and emberassments. But they survive, determined to emerge with dignity, self-respect and an unyielding sense of humor.
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