How Sweet It Is!

Teenager David Henderson begs to tag along with his girlfriend Gloria and the American student group touring France. His mother Jenny is initially against the idea, fearing the hassle and exposure. She eventually leverages Grif, her photographer husband, to document the journey for his company.

Jenny secures Grif's involvement as the photographer for the group’s travels, aligning with her plan to have the trip documented for his company. Grif's presence adds a professional pedigree to the voyage and keeps the group in the spotlight. The decision anchors the family to the Paris trip.

Jenny books passage for the group on an ocean liner through Gilbert, a dishonest travel agent, and arranges a Riviera hotel stay as part of the package. The arrangement promises glamour while masking the chaos to come. The voyage begins with anticipation and commercial hustle.

The ship is crowded with teenagers and two bunked rooms, limiting privacy and personal space. An emergency drill underscores the lack of privacy and the claustrophobic atmosphere. The voyage opens with a sense of unease amid the excitement.

Arriving in Paris, Jenny leaves the tour group and heads toward the supposed Riviera hotel. She reaches a luxurious mansion and discovers it is actually a private home owned by the wealthy lawyer Phillipe Maspere. Phillipe welcomes her, and she contemplates an extended stay.

Phillipe Maspere, a notorious womanizer, makes moves at a wild poolside party but is unsuccessful in seducing Jenny. His charm and audacity highlight the tension between temptation and moral boundaries. Jenny remains wary, navigating the unfamiliar luxury.

Back with the group, Grif befriends a chaperone and spots a news photo hinting at Jenny's predicament. He panics and decides to drive cross-country at night in a stolen school bus to reach her.

Grif arrives to find Jenny by the pool with Phillipe and punches him in a heated confrontation. Jenny bolts, riding on the back of the butler's tricycle as they race back toward the tour group's hotel. The tense reunion is interrupted as they are stopped by authorities.

Their attempt to escape is thwarted when Italian patrolmen stop the bus after it is reported stolen. Grif and Jenny are separated amidst the confusion and taken into custody by local authorities. The incident underscores the escalating danger of their pursuit.

Jenny is placed in a jail cell with prostitutes, a startling reversal for the formerly careful mother. The pimp quietly bails them out and ferries the group to a very fine hotel, mixing danger and luxury. The family's sense of safety continues to be precarious.

Jenny is shocked to see her son, David, at the brothel, a stark reminder of the voyage's moral hazards. This uncomfortable revelation forces the family to confront how far their travels have taken them. Despite the shock, they press forward toward reunion.

The Hendersons are finally reunited and return home together, weathered but intact after a chaotic expedition. The trip ends with relief and a hard-earned sense of family. They reflect on the journey's dangers and the pull of home.