Troy Gable (Colin Hanks) has dropped out of Law School because he hates it and is now in desperate need for a job and point to his life. He hasn't told his dad Mr. Gable (Tom Hanks) of his failure and he has no intention of doing so, but he does need money as soon as possible to survive. Luckily he gets a position as the personal assistant to he "Great Buck Howard" (John Malkovich), an old school magician marveled many crowds over the years. Recently though Howard's audiences have been declining, but with Gable's help and the smarts of Howard's publicist (Emily Blunt) the Great Buck Howard will once again be on top of the magician world.