Jake Wilkinson (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), a wheeling, dealing, self-centered college student, has one thing on his mind: get home for Christmas dinner or forfeit the vintage Porsche his father promised him. Just days before his deadline, Jake awakens in the California desert - stranded and penniless, wearing a Santa suit and a white beard glued to his face!

Desperate to claim his gift, he flies, crawls, cons, races, bullies and even sleighs his way east. But his non-stop mission turns into a non-stop comedy of errors as a multitude of colourful and offbeat strangers look to 'Santa' for help and kindness. The closer Jake gets to home, the closer he gets to the true meaning of Christmas and the importance of family...