The Bhatnagars (Anjul Nigam, Poorna Jagannathan) move from India to America in 1979 with their son, Smith, and daughter Asha (Shoba Narayan), hoping to live the American Dream. When they make friends with their neighbors, the Bruners (Jason Lee, Hilarie Burton), Smith (Roni Akurati), 10, falls head-over-heels for Amy Brunner (Brighton Sharbino).

Smith finds out he already has a wife — an Indian girl whom he is pledged to marry when he comes of age. However, Smith and Amy become best friends. Smith has an American Dream of his own, and tries to become a "good ol' boy," in order to fit in with Amy's family and the rest of the town they live in.