ZAK ALROY, 24, sees his political aspirations derailed when his boss, John Kerry, loses the 2004 election. Zak sinks into a depression, but emerges with the idea to attend law school, and use a legal career to launch a political career. Zak’s DAD insists that Zak is too irresponsible to succeed at law school, which persuades Zak to apply. He is eventually accepted at the University of Arizona. Zak’s campaign friend, IKE, warns him that to get a good job after law school, he must get straight A’s in the first year and make the Law Review. On the way to Arizona, Zak tells little brother SAMMY that he will win Dad’s respect by proving that he is responsible enough to succeed at law school.
In Arizona, Zak befriends classmates MIKE, 23, affable; ARIANNA, 23, an L.A. girlie-girl; HUNTER, 26, a mop-headed weirdo who enjoys golf and drunk-driving, and; GARY SCHNORER, 30, a brash, selfish, misogynistic, rich kid, who has everything Zak wants: girls, a political career and his father’s approval. Soon, GRACE, 24, the class gossip, starts a rumor that Zak and Arianna are dating.
In class, Zak handles the formidable PROFESSOR MILL, impressing Dad and Gary. At Gary’s urging, Zak becomes Vice President of the Young Democrats, where he meets JAMIE, a pretty undergrad. By winter break, Zak has grown close with Mike, Arianna, and Jamie, aced Professor Mill’s torts final, helped Gary win a City Council election, and promised to drive Hunter whenever he’s drunk. But, over winter break, Dad makes clear that Zak must keep working to earn his respect.
As spring semester begins, Zak is disappointed by his mediocre fall grades and jealous of Gary’s straight A’s. Despite Dad’s encouragement, Zak begins slipping into another depression: classes are annoying, the Young Democrats are do-nothings, Arianna rejects his advances and Jamie is lukewarm towards him. Mike and Arianna begin dating, marginalizing Zak and pushing him closer to Gary. Gary offers Zak a job on his upcoming congressional campaign, while Dad pushes Zak to transfer to a better law school. Grace’s rumors divide Zak, Mike and Arianna.
Beleaguered and exhausted, Zak misses the all important Law Review write-on contest, and Hunter kills someone in a drunk driving accident because Zak was unavailable to drive him. Zak calls Dad for support, but gets a rant about irresponsibility. Zak snaps. He spurns Mike and Arianna, gets Jamie drunk and sleeps with her, and plows through his spring finals with lonely, ruthless efficiency. He is ready to reject his father and accept Gary as his political mentor.
After exams, a visit from Sammy shakes Zak out of his angry stupor. Zak reconciles with Mike and Arianna, rejects Gary’s job offer, punishes Grace for her rumor-mongering, and reconciles with Jamie. Zak also decides to transfer law schools. As Zak leaves Arizona, Dad calls to offer his respect.
