Tyler and his younger brother Nick stumble upon a crashed alien spaceship in the woods near their home. They discover a strange device on board which accidentally transports Tyler into the ship's core, where he is exposed to a mysterious substance. As a result, Tyler gains superhuman strength, agility, and heightened intelligence. He also appears several years older than his actual age.
Tyler discovers that he can control the spaceship with his newly acquired powers. However, his newfound abilities come at a cost. His appearance scares away his longtime crush Amy, and his changes in behavior make him an outcast at school. Nick, meanwhile, sees an opportunity to use Tyler's powers to help his own romantic pursuits.
After Tyler's alien abilities are noticed by a group of aliens intent on taking over the Earth, he is abducted and taken aboard their spaceship. Tyler learns that the aliens plan to destroy Earth in order to take over the solar system. Nick, with the help of some friends, sets out to rescue Tyler and learns to believe in himself in the process.
Nick ultimately rescues Tyler and they manage to foil the aliens' plan to take over Earth. Tyler's superhuman abilities disappear after they've saved the planet, and he returns to his normal teenage self. The two brothers return to their daily lives, but with newfound confidence and wisdom.