Sun Dogs 2018

Ned, having experienced mild brain damage during childbirth, lives with his mother, Rose Chipley, and his stepfather, Bob Garrity. Sharing a birthday with the tragic date of September 11, he desperately aspires to join the Marines, although he currently works as a janitor in a casino. Bob is unable to work due to an ongoing lawsuit against his trucking company for back injuries, leaving Rose frustrated yet steadfast in supporting Ned.

Within the context of his latest attempt to enlist, Staff Sergeant Jenkins introduces a newly formed unit known as the Sun Dogs, designed to monitor Al-Qaeda activities on U.S. soil. This prospect resonates deeply with Ned’s urge to be a hero, prompting him to distribute business cards that proclaim him a Marine special operative.

In a moment of encouragement, Ned persuades Rose to chase her dreams of becoming an EMT and relocating to New York City. Realizing that she has been using Ned as an excuse to avoid her aspirations, she finally decides to embark on this journey.

Amidst the backdrop of the casino, Ned encounters Tally Petersen, oblivious to her profession as a prostitute seeking clientele. Following her expulsion from the establishment, Ned divulges his purported mission to her. Mistaking him for a genuine Marine, Tally passionately engages in an investigation concerning her boss, [Sameer Udday], whom Ned suspects of being an Al-Qaeda operative.

As they conduct multiple surveillance operations on Udday, their relationship blossoms. Tally, an adept filmmaker, utilizes her skills to create and edit videos that they offer as “evidence” to Jenkins. They even infiltrate the casino to illegally acquire Udday’s emails. However, when Tally is spotted, she narrowly escapes arrest with Ned’s swift intervention, using a sleeper hold on the security guard. Unfortunately, Ned loses his job, leading to Bob bailing him out of jail.

Eager to include Tally in his family’s life, Ned invites her to Thanksgiving, but she hesitates, recalling a previous solicitation attempt with Bob. During a candid exchange, Tally shares her mother’s tragic suicide, expressing her feelings of invisibility and recounting a poignant moment where a simple greeting could have changed her fate. Recognizing Ned’s caring nature, she ultimately accepts the invitation.

At the Thanksgiving gathering, Bob’s disapproval is palpable as Rose, impressed by Tally’s filmmaking prowess, encourages her to apply to film school. In a surprising turn of events, Rose informs Bob of her accepted internship as an EMT in NYC, expressing her desire to find her purpose, while Bob continues to linger in his lawsuit.

As Tally investigates Udday’s emails, she uncovers alarming information suggesting dangerous intentions. Despite her initial doubts, she enthusiastically invites Ned to help track Udday. However, when Ned mistakenly calls 911 to report a suspected Al-Qaeda attack, she realizes too late that Udday and his associates are merely flying model airplanes. In a fit of frustration, Tally berates Ned, calling him a “retard,” just before the police arrive to apprehend him.

Once again bailed out of jail, Ned decides to resign from the Marines. Bob, worried for him, seeks out Jenkins, who candidly discusses the realities of Ned’s situation and gently encourages him to discover his own path.

While recovering emotionally, Ned receives postcards from both his mother and Tally, the latter of whom apologizes. Motivated by Ned’s journey, Tally submits her filmmaking work to a San Francisco film school and is awarded a scholarship.

Meanwhile, Bob purchases a metal detector, and the pair embarks on nighttime adventures searching for gold, avoiding public scrutiny. Ultimately, Bob chooses to withdraw his lawsuit and shares thoughtful advice with Ned, emphasizing the importance of setting achievable goals.

Reflecting on Tally’s theory about preventing suicides from the Golden Gate Bridge, Ned is inspired by her mother’s haunting note and by Tally’s reading of Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye. Penned on notecards, the phrase “HELLO, HOW ARE YOU TODAY?” becomes his mantra as he ventures to the Golden Gate Bridge, hoping to reach out to someone in need.