Choosing a college and striking out on one's own is an exciting time that requires a big adjustment by both child and parent, but few parents will have as much difficulty relinquishing control over their daughter's life as Chicago police chief James Porter. A loving, but overprotective father, James wants his daughter Melanie to attend nearby Northwestern College. When she's waitlisted and called for an interview at Georgetown in Washington, D.C., James gets more than a little nervous. Squashing her plans for a road trip to D.C. with her girlfriends, James insists on a father-daughter road trip which he envisions being full of reminiscing, heart-to-heart conversations, and a healthy dose of persuasive promotion of Northwestern. Melanie's little brother and pet pig stow away in the back of the truck. The Porters manage to keep running into a super sweet dad and his college-bound daughter, who have a close relationship, are full of clean-cut enthusiasm, and for some reason, willing to befriend the Porters.