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Plot Summary

Not Cool (2014) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2014 · 93 min · English

During the Thanksgiving holiday in Pittsburgh, a group of teenagers experiences the complexities of adolescence. They grapple with first loves, the intensity of close friendships, and the excitement of youthful rebellion. The film explores their journey of self-discovery as they navigate the challenges and triumphs of being young and restless.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Not Cool
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Not Cool (2014)

Where can you watch Not Cool? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in Not Cool: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of Not Cool (2014) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

The film opens with Tori (Cherami Leigh), a former high school student, at a party, reflecting on her disdain for high school before being unexpectedly vomited on by another reveler. The narrative shifts back a few hours to the airport, where she is set to reunite with her family, which includes her parents, Kasey Daley and John Yost, as well as her blind sister Lisa Schwartz. Upon her arrival, she jokingly asks a homeless man if he'd like to "switch lives," to which he sarcastically replies that he would prefer "to eat his own sh*t." Upon meeting her family, Tori's sister Marissa excitedly announces her engagement, setting the stage for family tensions.

Meanwhile, at the airport, another high school alumnus, Scott (Shane Dawson), is met by his girlfriend Heather (Jorie Kosel), who drags him into a men’s restroom stall. There, her demands escalate, leading to a dramatic breakup after she bursts into tears.

Joel (Drew Monson), another former classmate, makes his way back to high school to visit his long-time crush, Janie (Michelle Vientimilla), who just so happens to be Scott's sister. In an unfortunate slip, Joel reveals to Janie that her father, Bill Lang, is set to close his store, prompting a heated reaction from both siblings, who are less than pleased about their father's decision to move to Florida for a new romantic involvement.

Desiring to escape the gloom at home, Tori joins Joel at a party. While attempting to charm Janie, he accidentally spills her drink, which leads them to the restroom for a brief detour. During this moment, they uncover Janie's academic struggles; Joel generously offers his tutoring services, which she gratefully accepts. However, the party takes a turn for the worse for Tori when another partygoer vomits on her, forcing her to leave early. Fatefully, Tori inadvertently runs into Scott with her car, leading to a mix of tension and humor as he recognizes her as "Tori the Whorie." After some banter, Scott requests a ride to Heather's, whom he is desperately trying to win back. This encounter quickly turns physical when they share an unexpected kiss, highlighted by Tori's cheeky comment about her stash of condoms.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving, where families celebrate together. Scott chooses to leave his own family's gathering to seek out Tori. He interrogates her about their connection from the night before. After she brushes him off, Tori's mother invites Scott inside to join them in a competitive game of Dance Central. Scott proposes a wager: if he wins, Tori must kiss him. When Tori fires back with insults, Scott lets her take the victory, resulting in a farewell, seemingly for good.

The following day, chance brings Tori back into contact with Scott during a shopping outing, prompting an awkward yet comical encounter. When Tori accuses him of stalking her, Scott reveals his true intentions were captured via candid photos during Black Friday shopping, creating a more playful atmosphere. Tori expresses her insecurity about her relationship history, stating she didn’t sleep with the “cool guy,” but rather with a “formerly cool guy who’s actually a big dork.” As Scott struggles to recall any "cool" actions from his life since graduation, Tori invites him to step out of his comfort zone by completing her "F*ck it list," beginning with some outrageous dares.

Highlights from their mischievous adventures include attempts to engage in silly antics: Scott humorously putting a cucumber down his pants and Tori stuffing a watermelon under her shirt during a grocery run, leading to an unexpected comment from the cashier. Their antics culminate with Scott fainting after a piercing escapade initiated by Tori. Meanwhile, chaos ensues as Joel tries to impress Janie by renting a party bus, but his intentions quickly blur toward less honorable pursuits.

The emotional stakes rise as Tori shares a brownie with Scott, claiming it to be a pot brownie. In a moment of honesty, she confesses it was merely a regular treat, triggering a back-and-forth conversation about their previous mishaps. They both open up, and Scott takes Tori on a surprise trip to an empty football stadium, aiming for a romantic moment interrupted by Tori’s playful tackle.

Joel sets up a heartfelt dance with Janie following their dinner at a fancy restaurant; however, her clarity leads her to leave him, sensing his manipulative charm. In an important confrontation, Tori finds Scott at her sister’s engagement party wielding a razor and shaving his head to demonstrate his commitment to changing his ways. Their reconciliation leads to a sweet kiss, marking a new chapter as Tori assists him with his freshly shaved locks.

As the movie draws to a close, we see Tori reflecting on her memories with Scott while at the airport, paralleling Scott staring at a picture of them from Black Friday. The film concludes with Scott sending Tori a playful Snapchat message: > “See you Christmas.”

Last updated: October 25, 2024 at 11:40

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Plot questions answered

Not Cool Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about Not Cool (2014): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Scott break up with Heather at the airport?

Scott breaks up with Heather after she drags him into a men's restroom stall and her demands escalate, causing her to burst into tears. The exact nature of her demands isn't specified, but the interaction is intense enough to end their relationship right then, showing Scott is ready to move on from this relationship.

  • scott
  • heather
  • breakup
  • airport
  • relationship
Q2

Why does Tori hit Scott with her car?

Tori accidentally runs into Scott with her car as she leaves the party. It's presented as an accident rather than intentional, though their encounter quickly turns from tense to flirtatious when Scott recognizes her as "Tori the Whorie" and they end up kissing.

  • tori
  • scott
  • car accident
  • party
  • kiss
Q3

What is the F*ck it list that Tori gives Scott?

The F*ck it list is a series of dares Tori creates to help Scott step out of his comfort zone. The dares include silly and embarrassing antics like putting a cucumber down his pants at a grocery store and Tori stuffing a watermelon under her shirt, which they perform together during a Black Friday shopping trip.

  • fuck it list
  • scott
  • tori
  • dares
  • black friday
Q4

Why does Joel tell Janie about her father's store closing?

Joel casually mentions to Janie that her father Bill Lang is closing his store, not realizing the sensitive nature of this information. This angers both Janie and Scott because they're upset about their father's decision to move to Florida for a new romantic involvement, making the store closing feel like another abandonment.

  • joel
  • janie
  • bill lang
  • store closing
  • florida
Q5

Why does Scott shave his head at the engagement party?

Scott shaves his head at Marissa's engagement party as a dramatic gesture to prove he wants to change his ways. When Tori discovers him with the razor, this act of commitment leads to their reconciliation and a sweet kiss, signaling he's serious about becoming a better person for her.

  • scott
  • shaved head
  • engagement party
  • change
  • reconciliation
Q6

Why does Janie leave Joel after the restaurant dinner?

Janie leaves Joel after he sets up a heartfelt dance for her because she senses his manipulative charm beneath the romantic gesture. She recognizes that his actions, including renting a party bus with questionable intentions, are calculated rather than genuine, causing her to walk away from him.

  • joel
  • janie
  • restaurant
  • dance
  • manipulation
Q7

Why does Tori give Scott a brownie she claims is a pot brownie?

Tori shares a brownie with Scott, telling him it's a pot brownie to lower his defenses and create a more relaxed atmosphere between them. When she later admits it was just a regular brownie, it leads to an honest conversation about their previous mishaps and deepens their connection.

  • tori
  • scott
  • brownie
  • pot
  • confession
Q8

Why does Scott take Tori to the football stadium?

Scott takes Tori to an empty football stadium as a surprise to create a romantic moment for them. The gesture works until Tori playfully tackles him, showing their chemistry is built on playful banter rather than traditional romance.

  • scott
  • tori
  • football stadium
  • romantic moment
  • surprise
Q9

Why does Tori disdain high school so much?

Tori opens the film reflecting on her disdain for high school, which establishes her cynical attitude going into the Thanksgiving break. Her negative perspective sets up her character arc as someone initially closed off but who opens up through her interactions with Scott.

  • tori
  • high school
  • disdain
  • attitude
Q10

What happens between Scott and Tori at the end of the movie?

After Scott shaves his head at the engagement party, Tori helps him with his freshly shaved locks and they share a sweet kiss, reconciling their relationship. The film ends with Scott sending Tori a playful SnapChat message saying "See you Christmas," hinting they'll continue seeing each other.

  • scott
  • tori
  • ending
  • kiss
  • snapchat
  • christmas

Movie threads

More Movies Like Not Cool, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Not Cool tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Chaotic Teen Holiday Adventures like Not Cool

Fast-paced comedies where holidays become a backdrop for adolescent rebellion and mishaps. Movies like Not Cool that capture the specific energy of teenage life exploding during a family holiday. These fast-paced, lighthearted comedies often feature romantic pursuits, friendship dramas, and harmless rebellion set against a festive backdrop like Thanksgiving or Christmas.

  • youthful
  • chaotic
  • playful
  • rebellious
  • holiday
  • awkward
  • Tone: light, playful
  • Pacing: fast, energetic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a group of teenagers over a short period—a holiday break—where family obligations clash with their desire for freedom. The story is woven from intertwining subplots involving first loves, friendship tests, and comedic schemes, all leading to a climactic party or event before a resolution that often reaffirms connections.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared setting of a holiday framework, a light and humorous tone focused on adolescent antics, and a fast-paced structure that juggles multiple character arcs amidst the festive chaos.

Crude Yet Heartfelt Coming-of-Age Comedies like Not Cool

Raunchy and awkward humor meets genuine teenage self-discovery and connection. If you liked the mix of gross-out gags and genuine teen emotion in Not Cool, this thread finds similar movies. These stories use crude humor not just for laughs but to highlight the awkwardness and sincerity of growing up, resulting in a lighthearted but relatable experience.

  • awkward
  • crude humor
  • youthful
  • playful
  • romantic
  • rebellious
  • Tone: light, humorous
  • Pacing: fast, brisk
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative journey is straightforward, centered on a protagonist or group navigating the social minefield of high school. The plot is driven by a series of humorous, often embarrassing, set pieces and dares that serve as catalysts for personal growth and the formation of new romantic or friendly bonds.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific tonal blend: high humor score from crude/situational comedy paired with a moderate romance or emotional score. They maintain a light emotional weight and a happy ending, ensuring the comedy never becomes mean-spirited but remains rooted in relatable adolescent angst.

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Movies Like Not Cool

Similar movies to Not Cool: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

Not Cool (2014) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Not Cool in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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