Unemployed pals Ivan (John Cusack) and Josh (Tim Robbins) decide to start Video Aces, a company that produces music videos. Their initial clients include Billy and Lester Diamond, members of the music group The Swanky Modes, whose careers have slowed since their heyday during the '70s. As the Video Aces crew attempts to revive The Swanky Modes' careers by staging and broadcasting a concert, they also have to deal with the unwanted attention of a conservative politician (Clu Gulager).