As the countdown approaches their 30th birthday, two jaded friends find themselves at a crossroads in life. Elliot, portrayed by Patton Oswalt, is a screenwriter passionate about storytelling, while his companion John, played by Paul Rudd, is an actor who once had a bright future but now feels despondent after being ousted from acting school. Their aspirations of stardom have long dissipated, replaced by a grim reality filled with consistent rejections that leave them feeling hopeless.
The tension peaks following John's disastrous interview with celebrity Brett Anderson, brought to life by Reid Scott. This cringeworthy meeting leaves John deflated, prompting him and Elliot to forge a pact to achieve fame before the clock strikes midnight on their 30th birthday—a task they must accomplish within a mere 24 hours.
Their initial attempt at capturing the spotlight is an uproarious misadventure as they try to retrieve a lost check from a cantankerous homeless man, Archie, played by Mike Judge. This encounter ends poorly with a brutal beating, but their spirits refuse to be crushed. Driven by an unyielding determination, their second attempt to gain notoriety has them trying to save an elderly woman from a fierce blaze. Although they initially fail, fate delivers an unexpected twist when the same woman heroically rescues Elliot from danger.
With time slipping away and their hopes dwindling, John realizes that their pursuit is not just fame; it's a deeper craving for infamy. In this moment of clarity, he understands that their quest for recognition has been misguided, prompting him to rethink what success truly means. As they embody the characters “Deadly Jester” and “Fist of Satan,” they devise a reckless plan to breach the digital stronghold of Marvin Masterson, portrayed by Paul Scheer. However, their plan unravels when they encounter his ingenious deterring device—a "reverse-screw-driver" that threatens to wipe out all of John's prized possessions.
Disillusioned with their lack of direction, John spirals into a vengeful rampage throughout their neighborhood, and Elliot, despite initial reluctance, finds himself drawn into John's frenzy. Their notoriety grows, but when they unwittingly witness a robbery, they earn the dubious title of "Mystery Witnesses."
Their newfound fame captures the attention of TV personalities Sally and Linda, brought to life by Kate Micucci and Riki Lindhome, who are both mall employees and budding confidantes. However, their celebrity status soon turns precarious when Detective Donahue, portrayed by John Ennis, reveals that the arrested robber has connections to a Cleveland crime syndicate, forcing the duo into witness protection—a fate they wish to escape.
In a daring bid for autonomy, Elliot and John make a break from the police station and seek refuge in Sally and Linda's apartment, where they concoct an outrageous scheme to fake their own deaths with the help of Nerd King, played by Hannibal Buress. Together, they utilize a rare action figure as part of their elaborate ruse, which momentarily secures their freedom. However, they soon return to their friends' abode only to be met with a media frenzy that sends them spiraling back into the witness protection program.
Amid the chaos, they bid farewell to Sally and Linda, and eventually resurface in mundane disguises, working at a diner with fake mustaches. Despite the absurdity of their journey, they finally bask in the satisfaction of having achieved the fame they so genuinely sought, albeit through the most unconventional means imaginable.
