Major Benson Winifred Payne is being discharged from the Marines. Payne is a killin’ machine, but the wars of the world are no longer fought on the battlefield. A career Marine, he has no idea what to do as a civilian, so his commander finds him a job – commanding officer of a local school’s JROTC program, a bunch of ragtag losers with no hope.

Max Keeble, the victim of his 7th grade class, plots revenge when he learns he’s moving; it backfires when he doesn’t move after all.

Eddie Ogden is his pa’s pride and joy as well as the Groundhogs team’s only asset as baseball talent. Then Eddie discovers a taste and talent for cuisine. Although his brothers Andy and Alex, and Pa as well as classmates enjoy his dishes, they only mock cooking, so he arranges and ‘accidental’ registration for him and two friends in Home Economics. Only Eddie -secretly again- and nerdy shrew Bridget Simons enter a national cooking competition for school-kids. Ma finds out and to his surprise proves supportive, as well as the teacher, who once won the competition herself.

Penny and her family are lured on an all expenses paid vacation where a mad scientist captures them, refusing to let them go because Oscar won’t reveal his on of his secret Proud Snacks formulas.

Big Earl, the owner of a Christmas tree lot in Compton, California runs into some trouble when his son Derrick crosses the line to prove to his father that he is a success.