It's Christmas, and Hilary and her son, Joey are going to visit her parents in the suburbs. Not only are they up for the problems between Joey and Hilary's boyfriend and his son, but they also face problems faced by other members of this Australian extended family.
Larceny, adultery, sabotage and treachery - yes, just your typical Christmas with the Dredge family. Twelve-year-old Joey Dredge is in troubleagain. Expelled for jumping off the school roof, he's haunted by his fathers death and hates his mothers new boyfriend and his bullying son. Compounding his misery is the knowledge he has to spend Christmas with them at the family beach house. Things look grim until the unexpected arrival of great-grandfather Albert, fresh from a stint in prison. Forced to share the back shed with this swearing, farting and devious octogenarian, Joeys life changes. Between barbequing the family dog, performing a self-burial and causing his intended step-father to consume a startling amount of hash, Joey learns a few life lessons from Albert, who despite his many vices may give Joey the strength to accept the past and embrace the future.