Tracy Orbison (Hubbel Palmer) works a dead-end job as a grocery store clerk in a drab slice of strip-mall America but believes he’s found a way out when the acting bug bites. He falls under the spell of Z-list actor Truman Hope (William Baldwin), only to become disillusioned after glimpsing Hope’s true character. A friendship with bagboy Kendis Cooley (Vincent Caso) leads to Tracy’s next project: reforming a gang of surly, teenaged deadbeats. But again, Tracy’s efforts fall short of his fantasies. Tracy’s home life offers little solace, with Agnes, his God-fearing, self-loathing mother (Academy Award nominee Kathleen Quinlan), ruling the roost and sister Peggy (Mary Lynn Rajskub) looking for someone to love. Through it all, Tracy struggles to pass his driver’s license exam, lose “about ten pounds” and win fame beyond his working-class job.