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 eavesdrops on the boys planning to get a Father's Day present, thinking that they're are going to get him a present, he does what he can to reciprocate and goes all out to get them something special. Mr. Gunderson plans to call his sons from prison and this makes the boys nervous.

Ron convinces the Gundersons to host a party to help Robby make friends his age, but Ron’s secret motive is for Robby and his new friends to embrace arts and crafts and make souvenirs that he can sell for profit. Meanwhile, Brandon tries to help Gary talk to his crush.