Frank 'Rhino' Rhinoslavsky (FRANCESCO QUINN) is a dumb part-time cab driver in New York who wants to break into the film business. He doesn't have anything to offer, and just thinks that he can start at the top, as a writer. Opportunity knocks on Frank's door when he goes to the Cannes Film Festival.

Rhino meets Sy Lerner (SEYMOR CASSEL), a bigger loser in the movie business. He has made a fool out of industry executives and cost them plenty of money. Lerner makes a bet with Frank that he can take any shmoe off the street and turn them into the biggest success around. Rhino is going to create this success by letting others do the work and names Frank writer of a new movie. Only the movie doesn't exist and Frank isn't a writer. And, even knowing Lerner's reputation, people buy into the garbage. Now everyone wants a piece of that action.