Free-spirit Liz (Shannyn Sossamon) is dreading bringing her boyfriend, Santi (Asif Ali), home for Christmas to meet her conservative family, led by her politician dad, Greg (Tom Arnold), who is running for governor. To ease some of Lizs dread, Santi suggests she prank her family by bringing marijuana-infused salad dressing to the familys Christmas Eve dinner. Thrilled by the idea of tricking her family, Liz spikes the salad dressing. All is fun and games until Liz realizes her her mom, Stephanie (Jennifer Tilly), has poured the entire bottle of dressing onto the saladall before Hunter (Robert Carradine), a tough local journalist, arrives to interview Greg about his campaign! Horrified, Liz and Santi try to prevent the family from eating the salad so they wont ruin Gregs interview, but to no avail. As Liz struggles to gain control of the situation, her grandmother (Cloris Leachman) reveals things about the family Liz never knew before, helping her realize the family isnt so uptight after all. When Lizs family comes down from their high holiday, they put their differences aside and enjoy Christmas all together for the first time.