Jerri Blank, a fortysomething former user, boozer, loser is just being released from prison. She decides to pick up her life exactly where she left off decades earlier, so she returns to her hometown of Flatpoint and learns that not only did her mother die during her extended absence but that her father has recently fallen into a coma. Jerri gets involved with a popular jock named Brason and joins science teacher Chuck Noblet's Science Fair team, the Fig Neutrons, along with Tammi Littlenut and Megawatti Sacarnaputri. Noblet isn't pleased to learn that Flatpoint High School's Principal Blackman has hired a ringer, Dr. Roger Beekman, to head up a competing team to ensure that Flatpoint takes the top prize, no matter what happens. And through it all, Jerri has to put up with her resentful stepmother Sara and annoying half-brother Derrick, deal with her father's illness, try to get in good with the alpha girls, fight temptation around every corner, and attempt to do all the wrong things the right way.

The film shoot took place in New Jersey from June 28th to July 30th (Note:  filming actually wrapped at 7:00am on the 31st). Some missing scenes were later filmed on Friday, November 5th, 2004.