The plot's central twist is that the key to defeating the hyper-advanced AI and its robot army isn't a complex virus or military might, but the Mitchell family's own lovable, imperfect pug, Monchi. The family discovers that Monchi's unique, unclassifiable appearance causes the robots' visual sensors to short-circuit as they cannot determine if he is a dog, a pig, or a loaf of bread. This revelation transforms the family's 'dysfunctional' pet into the most powerful weapon on Earth.
The emotional climax occurs after a major falling out between Katie and Rick, instigated by PAL revealing a private video where Katie confesses her frustrations with her dad to her online friends. This leads to Rick and Linda's capture. However, while separated, both characters have a change of heart. Rick watches one of Katie's films that mirrors their relationship, and Katie finds old home videos Rick made of her, realizing he gave up his own dream of living in a cabin to raise her. Reunited and reinvigorated, the family infiltrates PAL's headquarters. The final plan involves uploading one of Katie's goofy home movies of Monchi to every screen in the lair, causing a mass robot malfunction. In the final confrontation, Katie physically uploads the video and then defeats PAL by simply dropping her (as she is a smartphone) into a glass of water. The ending sees the family celebrated as heroes, and more importantly, with a healed and understanding relationship, as they drop Katie off at college.