Samantha MacKenzie (Katie Holmes) is a fun-loving 18-year-old who can't wait to escape the overbearing clutches of her parents by starting college. But she finds herself impeded more than she would like due to her father's (Michael Keaton) obtrusive day job as the President of the US. To make matters worse, President MacKenzie is currently undergoing a taxing bid for reelection, meaning that his daughter is subject to extra-tight security measures. Nevertheless, Samantha heads off to Redmond University in California, her head filled with dreams of independence and the chance to meet boys. But to Samantha's dismay, campus life doesn't live up to her high expectations. First, there are pesky secret service agents around every corner, installed at her father's behest. Second, the reverence afforded to Samantha by her fellow students proves to be a constant source of annoyance. Third, her roommate Mia Thompson (Amerie Rogers) is an insufferable attention-seeker who is less than happy at being usurped by the infamous Samantha. Salvation comes in the shape of James Lansome (Marc Blucas), a charming older student whose attempts to woo Samantha allow her to fulfill at least one of her pre-college fantasies. But, as director Forrest Whitaker (HOPE FLOATS) gently rolls this congenial comedy to a close, Samantha realizes that there is a lot more to James than meets the eye.