Lane Meyer, a high school student, is a talented skier who dreams of winning the annual K12 skiing race, but his obsession with his girlfriend Beth has made him lose his edge. When Beth dumps him for the popular and arrogant captain of the ski team, Roy, Lane is devastated and becomes a recluse in his bedroom.
His family, consisting of his overbearing mother and father, his younger brother who has a penchant for fixing things that aren't broken, and his oddball best friend Charles De Mar, try to lift his spirits, but with little success. Even his attempts at suicide fail miserably, as he is constantly interrupted by his eccentric neighbor, a paperboy who seems to have a vendetta against him.
When he meets Monique Junot, a beautiful French exchange student who is staying with their neighbors, Lane finds a renewed sense of purpose. He begins to teach her how to speak English and they form a close bond. However, Lane's attempts to win her affection are complicated by the fact that he is still pining for Beth, and Roy's constant taunting makes it difficult for him to focus on anything else.
As the K12 skiing race approaches, Lane realizes that he must face his fears and compete against Roy if he wants to regain his confidence and win Monique's heart. In a hilarious and action-packed climax, Lane and Roy face off in a thrilling ski race down a treacherous slope that includes dangerous jumps and obstacles.
In the end, Lane overcomes his self-doubt and emerges victorious, proving to himself and everyone else that he is "better off dead" than to live a life without risk and passion. With Monique by his side, Lane finally finds the happiness and love he's been searching for all along.