Unemployed at 28, cartoonist Gordon "Gord" Brody embarks on a quest to fulfill his dream of landing a contract for an animated television series. Leaving the comfort of his parents' home in Portland, Oregon, he drives to Los Angeles in a car gifted by his family and starts working at a cheese sandwich factory. Eager to gain recognition, Gord showcases his artwork to Dave Davidson, the CEO of a major animation studio. Although Davidson compliments Gord’s talent, he criticizes the outlandish concepts like the vigilante “X-Ray Cat.” Feeling defeated, Gord resigns from his job and returns home.
Upon his return, Gord's father, Jim Brody, continually belittles him, insisting he abandon his animation dreams in favor of finding a stable job. A disastrous moment arises when Gord persuades his friend Darren to skate on the wooden half-pipe he constructed, leading to Darren’s leg injury. During a hospital visit, Gord pretends to be a doctor, delivers a baby, and encounters a charming nurse named Betty, who is wheelchair-bound and has grand aspirations of creating a rocket-powered wheelchair. Desperate to impress his father, Gord falsely tells Jim he secured a job and dines out with Betty, but Jim's unexpected appearance exposes his lie, prompting disdain for both Gord and Betty.
After being arrested post-brawl at the restaurant, Gord is released by Betty, who encourages him to keep creating art. However, yet another confrontation ensues between Gord and Jim, resulting in Jim destroying Gord’s half-pipe. Seeking resolution, the family attends therapy, where Gord fabricates a story about Jim's inappropriate behavior towards his younger brother Freddy, leading to Freddy’s placement in an institution for sexually abused children and the dissolution of Jim and Julie's marriage. In a drunken confession, Jim reveals his deep disappointment in Gord, which profoundly impacts Gord's motivation, leading him to take a mundane job at a local sandwich shop instead of pursuing animation.
A pivotal moment arrives when Gord sees a news segment featuring Betty's groundbreaking rocket-powered wheelchair, reigniting his ambition to become a cartoonist. He returns to Hollywood, armed with a new concept inspired by his tumultuous relationship with Jim—a series titled Zebras in America. Jim, following Gord after confronting Darren for information, creates chaos in the studio as Gord pitches his show. Misinterpreting Jim's outburst as part of Gord's presentation, Davidson enthusiastically approves the project and hands Gord a million-dollar check. Eager to thank Betty for her inspiration, Gord spends a portion of his newfound wealth on a lavish gift, while the remainder is used to transport the Brody house to Pakistan, with Jim unconscious within it—an outrageous rebuttal to Jim's past criticisms.
As Gord and Jim navigate their volatile relationship, things take a dark turn when they are kidnapped, a harrowing situation that also garners media attention due to Gord's new show's success. After an agonizing 18 months in captivity, the duo makes a triumphant return to America, greeted by a throng of supporters, including Betty, who has followed their tumultuous journey.
