On the day she has her first sex ed class, 10-year-old Maya grills her divorcing dad Will Hayes about her conception. That night, he fills her in, changing the names of the women who were in his life then to keep her guessing which is her mom: Emily, his college girlfriend when he came to New York from Wisconsin for Clinton's '92 campaign; April, edgy, a little cynical, who misses her father; and, Summer, a writer attracted to older, established men. In demanding the story, Maya's motivation is clear: to get her dad to fall in love again with her mom. Will this parent trap work? In the telling, might Will discover his true Penelope? Definitely. Maybe.

Abigail Breslin's character makes reference to her American Girls doll collection stating that they would be "worth a fortune". Breslin is the third actress to play one of the American Girls, Kit Kittredge, in her own movie (Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (2008)). Both films were released in 2008. (Other movies made from American Girls stories are based on the characters Felicity and Samantha)

Will Hayes:
I had two serious girlfriends... and then some other smattering of other women.

[Notices Maya looking strangely at him]


Will Hayes:
What?


Maya Hayes:
What's the boy word for 'slut'?


Will Hayes:
They still haven't come up with one yet. But I'm sure they're working on it.

Crew or equipment visible: As Emily turns to walk away at the zoo, the transmitter for her wireless microphone is visible under the back of her sweater.