Barry Gabrewski is a troubled and bullied asthmatic boy who lives with his widowed father, Jerry (Beau Bridges), in Houston, Texas.

Said foes are often personified by Barry's everyday nemeses, such as class bully Randy Cellini (John Buchanan); Coach Horn (Richard Moll), their loudmouthed and demanding PE instructor; and apathetic Principal Mapes (Gerrit Graham).

Noreen Chan (Julia Nickson-Soul), Barry's favorite teacher, often plays the damsel-in-distress in these daydreams, most of which parody assorted Chuck Norris films (notably Missing in Action, The Delta Force, and The Hitman).

Barry wants to learn martial arts, yet he is rejected by arrogant dojo-master Kelly Stone (Joe Piscopo) – who also happens to be Randy's sensei – for being too weak.

True to his word, Norris defeats Stone in Freestyle fighting, and Barry – aided by a vivid daydream – scores a victory in Men's Weapons.

It was the pet project of well-known Houston furniture outlet owner Jim "Mattress Mac" McIngvale, who (in partnership with Chuck Norris and his "Kick Drugs out of Schools" campaign) invested 8 million dollars in producing this movie.