Sun Dogs

Ned, who has mild brain damage from childbirth, lives with his mother, Rose, and stepfather, Bob. Despite his job as a janitor in a casino, he yearns to join the Marines, particularly resonating with the tragic date of September 11 that he shares with his birthday.

During his attempt to enlist, Staff Sergeant Jenkins introduces Ned to a new military unit named the Sun Dogs, aimed at monitoring Al-Qaeda activities on U.S. soil. This opportunity ignites Ned's desire to become a hero and motivates him to create business cards claiming he is a Marine special operative.

Encouraged by Ned, Rose decides to follow her aspirations of becoming an EMT and moving to New York City. After realizing she has been using Ned as an excuse to avoid her own dreams, she takes the bold step towards fulfilling her goals.

While working at the casino, Ned meets Tally Petersen, who is unaware that she is a prostitute. After revealing his supposed mission, she confuses him for a genuine Marine and they begin to team up to investigate her boss, Sameer Udday, whom Ned suspects could be connected to Al-Qaeda.

As Ned and Tally conduct surveillance on Udday, their bond deepens. Tally uses her filmmaking skills to document their findings, providing them as so-called 'evidence' to Staff Sergeant Jenkins while using clever tactics to infiltrate the casino for further information.

Tally is caught while trying to obtain Udday's emails, but thanks to Ned's quick actions, she avoids arrest. However, this event leads to Ned losing his job at the casino, necessitating Bob to bail him out of jail and further complicating his life.

Eager to integrate Tally into his family, Ned invites her to Thanksgiving dinner. Tally hesitates due to a prior uncomfortable encounter with Bob, but their deepening relationship prompts her to consider his invitation.

At Thanksgiving dinner, tensions rise as Bob disapproves of Tally, while Rose encourages her filmmaking ambitions. In a moment of self-discovery, Rose reveals her acceptance for an EMT internship in New York, exposing Bob's reluctance to move on from his lawsuit.

As Tally investigates Udday’s emails, she uncovers worrisome information about his intentions. Despite initial doubts, she invites Ned to assist her in tracking Udday, escalating the stakes in their amateur investigation.

Inadvertently triggered by panic, Ned calls 911 to report a supposed Al-Qaeda threat, only to find out too late that Udday's activities involve harmless model airplanes. Tally angrily confronts Ned, calling him a 'retard' as the police arrive to apprehend him.

After being bailed out of jail once again, Ned contemplates his path and ultimately decides to resign from the Marines. Feeling concerned, Bob seeks advice from Jenkins, who encourages Ned to discover his own direction in life.

During a period of emotional recovery, Ned receives heartfelt postcards from both his mother and Tally. Inspired by his journey, Tally submits her film work to a San Francisco film school and receives a scholarship, marking a new chapter in her life.

Bob buys a metal detector, and he and Ned embark on nighttime quests to find hidden treasures. These outings serve as a bonding experience while allowing them to escape societal expectations and assumptions.

Showing personal growth, Bob chooses to withdraw his lawsuit. He shares valuable advice with Ned, emphasizing the importance of setting realistic goals and pursuing dreams with determination.

Reflecting on Tally's theory about saving lives, Ned finds inspiration in Tally's mother's note and her reading of *The Catcher in the Rye*. He adopts the phrase 'HELLO, HOW ARE YOU TODAY?' as his mantra and plans a journey to the Golden Gate Bridge to reach out to someone in need.