A lot of people have lousy Christmases, even when they live in the town of Santa Claus, Indiana. Cameron used to be a successful author, but this year with his ex-wife moving away (and taking their daughter), a sleazy reporter dogging him, and a nagging, foul-mouthed goldfish hallucination he is rather depressed. Cameron's friend Dogwater is desperate to prove that Earth will be visited by "Santa aliens" on Christmas Eve. And Santa Claus himself is questioning his existence. Cameron and Dogwater get caught up in a plan to save Santa and determine the future of Christmas.