A group of over-achieving East Asian American high school seniors enjoy a power trip when they dip into extracurricular criminal activities.
Ben is a perfectionist and overachiever whose tunnel vision leads to nothing less than graduating at the top of his class. As he struggles to achieve social success, he discovers his darker side. He and his friends: Virgil, Daric and Han lead a double life of mischief and petty crimes to alleviate the pressures of perfection. As their adopted identity grows, the gang tumbles into a downward spiral of excitement, excess and fun.—Anonymous
In Southern California, Ben Manibag is a somewhat stereotypical East Asian high school student in being naturally bright academically. He realizes that grades are only a small part of what will get him into the college of his choice, he thus putting in that little extra effort in whatever he does to become good if not truly exceptional in everything he attempts. One of those things which he places some effort into in becoming good at it is free-throwing, he in the process making the school's basketball team. The one thing that placing extra effort in in order to reach his goal that probably won't work is getting the girl of his dreams, his Biology class lab partner and cheerleader Stephanie Vandergosh. Ben doesn't much like Stephanie's boyfriend, Steve Choe, a student at another school, that dislike not so much jealousy but thinking that Stephanie can do better than Steve, who he believes is cheating on Stephanie behind her back. Ben primarily hangs out with the other really bright East Asian in his school, Virgil Hu, and by association Virgil's cousin Han Lue, who is the polar opposite of Virgil. Ben catches the attention of one of the school's alpha males, Daric Loo, among his achievements being the editor of the school's newspaper and head of the school's academic decathlon team. Daric gets Ben and by association Virgil and Han into some lucrative scams with him, but it's one incident in particular that may have potentially negative consequences but that doesn't end up as Ben had initially thought that turns Ben's perspective as the four form an unofficial but well-known and powerful gang. The question becomes whether Ben will be able to reconcile this new life with those other goals in his life.—Huggo
Ben Manibag (Parry Shen) and his friend Virgil Hu (Jason Tobin) are lying in the sun discussing college admissions, but hearing a cell-phone ringing, begin digging in the dirt and soon uncover a human hand.Ben and Virgil are the stereotypical highly intelligent overachieving Asian Americans whose only goal is to gain acceptance into the highly prestigious Ivy League universities. In fact, Ben learns a new SAT vocabulary word every night through rote memorization and recitation. Ben reveals that he in fact uses his perfectionism in order to act out in other ways, such as toilet papering houses with Virgil and other petty crimes. Part of these activities include the purchase and return of computer equipment with Virgil, and Virgil's cousin Han Lue (Sung Kang) to earn easy money.
Ben is involved in many of the school clubs, all of which are being used to pad his college application. He makes the basketball team, though he soon discovers that he is merely a token minority player who never gets to actually play. At the same time, Ben develops a crush on his new lab partner, Stephanie Vandergosh (Anna Cheung), a girl of Asian descent who was adopted by a white family.
After meeting Daric Loo (Roger Fan), the senior valedictorian and the president of nearly every student club, Ben becomes part of school-wide cheat-sheet operation. Ben pays Jesus, another student, to break into the faculty office and steal the tests, then proceeds to sell off the cheat sheets to students. Ben also brings in Virgil and Han into the operation, and the four of them make a small fortune. Meanwhile, Ben has fallen in love with Stephanie. He discovers that her boyfriend, Steve Choe (John Cho), who is rich and arrogant, does not appreciate her. Steve discovers Ben's crush and offers to let him take her to the Winter Formal.As a member of the Academic Decathlon team with Daric, Virgil and Han, the practices at Daric's house devolve into drinking parties. Later, the group, now intoxicated, arrive at a party, where they are accosted by a football player who mocks them for their perfect image. A fight results in Daric pulling out a gun, stopping the fight. At school the next day, news of the fight spreads around school and the four's notoriety increases.
Theories run rampant, including a possible link to the Chinese mafia. They gradually expand into more and more dangerous scams, such as the theft of computer parts from the school and eventually, drugs. They become users themselves, and Ben begins to develop a heavy cocaine habit. They also throw wild parties at Daric's house.
Ben accompanies Steve to a batting cage after selling him drugs. Steve expresses to Ben that he knows he should be happy with what he has, but he is not since he feels stifled by the expectations that others have of him. On his birthday, Ben wakes up with a nosebleed as a result of his cocaine use. This is enough to scare him into changing his life. He tells the group that he wants to quit. Daric agrees. Daric presents a gun to Ben, wishing him a happy birthday.
Virgil continues the operation on his own & brings in his own friend Jesus, but, without the influence of Daric or Ben, is soon discovered thanks to his own carelessness. Han is forced to take the blame for the cheat sheet operation and is suspended. Ben begins to rebuild his life, studying hard again. He also begins to spend more time with Stephanie, who reveals a wild side of her own when she gives him a CD [Music You Hump To] that she shoplifted.Ben gathers up the courage to ask Stephanie to the formal, to which she agrees. The four leave to Las Vegas for the Academic Decathlon championships. Daric hires a prostitute and the group proceeds to have sex with her, with Ben being the first. During his turn, Virgil pulls a gun on the prostitute and she storms off. Han berates him, but Virgil pulls the gun on him, resulting in Han angrily storming off. The team wins the competition.
Ben and Stephanie attend the winter formal together and continue to get to know each other. During the formal, the two share a dance. The situation is made clear to Ben when Steve is seen outside of the formal, waiting to take Stephanie home. Steve meets Ben at the basketball court and tells him that he has information on a possible score. Though Ben is reluctant to re-enter his previous activities, he gathers up the group once more and meets Steve at his home. The group is stunned when they are informed that Steve wants them to rob his parents' house. He refers to it as a wake-up call. Ben and Han are against the plan, but Daric convinces them to participate, saying that this would be the perfect opportunity to give Steve his wake-up call. They agree Steve's plan and practice constantly.
On New Year's Eve, the four meet Steve at Jesus' house. With Ben acting as lookout, Han, Daric and Virgil begin attacking Steve. The lights go out as Virgil's gun slips away from him. Steve lunges for the weapon and the struggle for the automatic results in it going off. Ben hears the shot and rushes into the garage. Ben beats Steve nearly to death, stopping only when Han yells to him. The four are stunned at what they just did and get Jesus to agree to allow them to bury the body in his backyard for $300. Steve begins to twitch. Daric soaks a rag in gasoline and, with a tearful Virgil holding him, suffocates Steve with it.Afterwards, the four go to a New Year's party, where they each split up. Ben and Stephanie kiss at midnight, to which Stephanie tells an apologetic Ben that it is okay. The time-line reverts to the events at the beginning of the movie, where Ben and Virgil hear the cell phone and being digging in the dirt, finding a human hand as well as the ringing cell phone. The ring tone came from Steve's phone, which shows that the missed call was from Stephanie.
Ben debates about whether or not to report Steve's murder to the police. The knowledge of his role in the murder is too much for Virgil, who attempts to commit suicide after calling over Han under the premise of watching some pornography. He survived the gunshot wound, but will most likely suffer brain damage. Daric arrives shortly after Ben, makes a flippant remark that angers Han and Ben escorts him out of the room. Daric expresses concern about the possibility of Han or Virgil revealing their secret. Ben simply resolves to do nothing and leaves Daric alone.
With the group now permanently separated, Ben is alone at school. He goes to the basketball court but is unable to attempt a shot. On his way home, Stephanie pulls over in her new car and picks him up. She asks him whether he has seen Steve lately, and expresses some concern that he has not called. They kiss, implying she and Ben will continue their relationship. As they drive off, Ben's voice over tells the audience that he has no idea what is going to happen or what the other guys will do but all he knows is that there is no turning back.
