Musician Robert "Fish" Fishman (Rainn Wilson) is fired from Vesuvius, a fictional 1980's hair band, before they become famous. The movie follows him as he gets a second chance at fame when he joins the garage band of his nephew Matt (played by Gad). His love interest (Christina Applegate) is the mother of the band's guitarist, Curtis (Teddy Geiger). Pete Best, a former member of The Beatles who suffered a similar fate, has a cameo role in the film as himself.

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