A successful salesman is unceremoniously “let go” from a great job and soon finds himself in desperate need of work. After a humiliating job search, his wife conspires to land him a job working for her ex-boyfriend, a professional driver training instructor out for revenge.
Jim is a high-pressure cut-throat toilet salesman with terrible driving habits including often driving in road rage. Yes, Jim is good at what he does at work and earns a good living, but nothing lasts forever.
Jim is fired from his role and thrown into a humiliating job search. For Jim, the lack of respect from teenage children Jimbo and Prissy also weighs heavy on his soul. Something’s got to change.
Marisa arranges for Jim to be hired as a driver training instructor by her old high school flame John. Jim dislikes the idea but sees no alternative.
However, Marisa urges him to try it out believing it may boost his self-esteem and his relationship with their teenage children.
Jim eventually accepts the job at the driving Academy where he is reunited with rival John and John’s ruthless and resentful assistant manager, Ted.
Jim undertakes a rigorous and brutal training program at the hands of John and his underling Ted. Meanwhile, driving academy owner Macy is actually looking to cut his workforce; not expand it! He announces a review of all instructors’ expertise. All employees realize that someone will probably get fired and the mood at the academy is tense. Behind the scenes we find out that a group of model perfect ROTC students are enrolled for John and Ted to train. Meanwhile Jim realizes that a group of misfit students have been enrolled for HIM to train and he’s been set up to fail.
The training of the misfit students presents major challenges to Jim and the most likely outcome is that Jim will become a scapegoat and easy pickings for big boss Macy.
The review is conducted by Macy while assessing the driving test results of the ROTC students verses the misfit students.
Due to Jim’s dedication, patience, and metamorphosis, all of Jim’s “misfits” pass with flying colors.
Jim’s lone adult student (Ken) is a Vietnam Veteran trainee. Ken had lost his license due to some “unfortunate” behaviors. He passes the driving test but dies of a heart attack immediately after. A funeral is arranged for Ken and Jim is nominated by the others to deliver the eulogy because the Vietnam Vet has no family left. Each of the bosses, the nine other students, and Jim’s family attend the funeral.
Jim becomes a far better driver himself in the process and a better human being, learning there is more to life than chasing the dream. Jim doesn’t lose his new job and gains the respect of the students and his wife and kids.
Macy, John and Ted also develop respect for Jim.
