Ryan (Troy Gentile), Wade (Nate Hartley) and Emmit (David Dorfman) attend their first day at high school and they're pumped -- until they meet up with Filkins (Alex Frost), a school bully who comes off like a little Hannibal Lecter. Before they become completely engulfed in Filkins' reign of terror, they seek out some protection by placing an ad in Soldier of Fortune magazine. Their best response — and the cheapest — comes from Drillbit Taylor (Owen Wilson), a down-on-his luck soldier of fortune who lives a homeless — he likes to say "home-free" — existence on the beach. He enrolls them in some physical and mental training.