After a school trip to a puppet theatre, Paul comes home to find a terrified dummy in his backpack, claiming he escaped from his cruel owner, and demanding Paul's help to become a real boy. Paul agrees, and ends up on an unforgettable adventure. "Pinocchio" meets "Stand By Me" in this magical caper that is by turns hilarious and bittersweet, where Paul discovers the complexities of being human by teaching them to a puppet, learning about friendship, danger, and the price of freedom.