Dad Wanted

In a charming small town where community ties run deep, 17-year-old Lily Thompson faces a life-altering milestone: her high school graduation. As college acceptance letters flood in, her excitement quickly diminishes when she realizes that one person will be missing from the celebration—her estranged father, Eric. Having walked out of her life when she was just a child, Eric left behind a void that Lily has grappled with for years. Tired of feeling incomplete, Lily embarks on a mission to find the father she barely knows and bring him back for one unforgettable moment.

“Dad Wanted” unfolds as a heartwarming dramedy that dives into the complexities of familial relationships. Lily is smart, resilient, and fiercely independent, traits she inherited from her single mother, Sarah, who has struggled to raise her alone while trying to shield her from the pain of abandonment. Faced with the prospect of college and adulthood, Lily’s determination to reconnect with her father leads her on an unexpected journey filled with laughter, tears, and self-discovery.

Alongside her best friend, Mia, Lily navigates a series of hilarious and touching encounters throughout their small town, confronting not only the ghost of her father’s absence but also her own insecurities and fears. Each misstep along the way—a disastrous diner reunion, a heartfelt conversation with an old family friend, and a surprising outburst from her mother—serves to deepen her understanding of love, forgiveness, and what it truly means to be a family.

As the countdown to graduation begins, tension rises when Lily finally gets a hold of Eric, whose life is far more complicated than she ever imagined. A tug-of-war ensues between hope and disappointment, pushing both father and daughter to confront the past and redefine their relationship. With the support of her mother and friends, Lily learns that the journey to understanding her father may lead her to appreciate the family she has in unexpected ways.

“Dad Wanted” is a poignant and funny exploration of reconnection, identity, and the infinite ways love can manifest, reminding viewers that sometimes the family we need is not always the one we expect.