BenSinger(MatthewBroderick)isafailedchildren'sfolksinger,acareerproofreader,acompulsivemarijuanasmoker,andaless-than-extraordinaryweekenddad.He'salsothemostnegativemanalive.Flounderinginallaspectsofhislife,Ben'sonlycomfortcomesfromregularchessgamesandfriendlydebatesongametheorywithhisSenegaleseroommateIbou.WhenIbouissuddenlystruckill,andaninsensitivemunicipalemployeeexacerbatestheemergencysituation,Ben'spessimisticworldviewseemsunequivocallyconfirmed.Hisonlyrecourseistopourhisenergiesintoafrivolouslawsuitagainstthecityfordepravedindifference.ButBensoonfindsthatcynicismmaybeallamatterofperspective.