A former advertising executive, after losing his job, finds himself enrolled as an instructor in a program for troubled youth at a military camp. In a hostile and tense environment, his mission is to help a group of cadets who seem disinterested in their future and completely disconnected from the traditional education system.
The protagonist, played by the charismatic Danny DeVito, faces a significant challenge: earning the trust of his students, who are a diverse group of adolescents with various personal issues and a history of academic failure. As he tries to implement his own teaching style, he realizes that the key to motivating them is not only military discipline but also connecting with them on a deeper level. With wit and an unconventional approach, he begins to introduce themes from Shakespeare, challenging them to think about life, ambition, and failure, which provokes both resistance and a resurgence of curiosity among the cadets.
With its blend of humor and life lessons, the plot unfolds through moments of frustration and revelation, where both the instructor and the students learn from each other. What starts as an attempt to adapt to a strange environment becomes a journey of self-discovery and redemption, teaching that knowledge is not only academic but also emotional.