Role Models

A high school presentation for Minotaur goes disastrously wrong, ending with the truck towed, a failed rescue attempt, and a collision with a statue. The incident draws the wary eyes of a security guard and leads to arrests. Beth steps in as their lawyer and arranges a deal: 150 hours of community service over 30 days instead of jail.

The judge's deal sends them to Sturdy Wings, a big brother–big sister program run by Gayle Sweeny. They start a 30-day, 150-hour service to mentor troubled youths rather than serve jail time. The program becomes their new normal and a bridge to meaning beyond the energy-drink campaign.

Wheeler is paired with Ronnie Shields while Danny forms a bond with Augie Farks. The first weeks focus on navigating the quirks of their charges and building trust. The pairings immediately shape the dynamics and set the stage for deeper connections.

Wheeler discovers Ronnie's anger masks a fear of abandonment by his father. Danny starts to understand Augie's obsession with LAIRE, seeing it as more than a game. Both mentors begin to listen beyond behavior to what each youth truly needs.

Wheeler shares his passion for the band Kiss, using it to help Ronnie channel his energy and stabilize his obsession with bodies. The moment builds trust and shows how small shared interests can bridge painful histories. Their bond deepens as Ronnie opens up about his fears.

Danny begins to understand Augie's dedication to LAIRE as something meaningful beyond fantasy. He sees the potential to guide Augie through imagination toward resilience. This shift marks a turning point in Danny's own engagement with life beyond the program.

Moved by Augie's passion, Danny joins his LAIRE faction and participates in the world. Beth makes it clear he and Wheeler will remain apart, underscoring their complicated personal stakes. The tension between professional care and romantic history comes to a head.

Augie attempts a risky move by sneaking up on Argotron, the king of LAIRE. Argotron lies about killing Augie, prompting Danny to intervene and defend him, which earns them a ban from LAIRE for good. The consequences threaten the boys' sense of belonging and the mentorship.

A tense dinner with Augie's mother and her boyfriend exposes the cracks in Danny and Augie's family life. Danny's bitter comment—'I’d be psyched if he was my kid'—reveals the pain beneath his jokes and pushes the family further apart. The moment underscores the cost of their experiences with LAIRE.

Ronnie's parents escalate their concerns about stability, and Gayle ejects Danny and Wheeler from Sturdy Wings. The looming threat of jail returns while Beth agrees to defend them, signaling a fraught courtroom fight ahead. The mentors must confront the consequences of the failing program on the youths they helped.

Beth defends them in court, warning that failure to win could result in prison. The tension heightens as the judge weighs the young mentors against the needs of the kids they care for. The sentencing becomes a crucible for the characters' futures.

Wheeler earns a chance to spend more time with Ronnie after his release, while Danny convinces Argotron to let Augie participate in a climactic battle. This pivot signals a glimmer of freedom and a way to salvage the fragile bonds formed during the program. It also tests the boundaries of LAIRE's rules.

The LAIRE factions respond to the new dynamic as Danny and Wheeler create a new LAIRE country with Ronnie and Augie, arriving in Kiss-themed Minotaur gear. Argotron reveals his true intent to destabilize the game by opposing Augie’s presence. The tension shifts toward a new, symbolic political landscape within LAIRE.

Augie defeats Argotron, but a hidden player Esplen defeats Augie and is crowned queen, designating Augie as king-consort. The power balance in LAIRE pivots in unpredictable ways, redefining loyalty among the factions. The kids' resilience, however, seems to carry the day amid the shifting alliances.

Gayle steps in, recognizing the care and resilience the mentors showed. The judge's concerns soften, and the film closes on hope as Danny serenades Beth with Kiss's 'Beth,' signaling reconciliation and a renewed future for the families. The youths' progress and the renewed bonds among the families provide a hopeful ending.