Matthew Broderick stars as young Clark Kellogg, whose move to New York City to begin film school gets off to an inauspicious start when a small-time crook, Victor (Bruno Kirby), steals all his belongings. Faced with an unsympathetic professor who doesn’t care why Clark can’t afford to buy his textbook, the would-be film student appears to have run out of luck when instead he runs into Victor, who offers to make amends for ripping him off by setting him up with a job. Thus Clark is introduced to Carmine “Jimmy the Toucan” Sabatini (Marlon Brando), an “importer” with questionable business interests but an unquestionably attractive daughter (Penelope Ann Miller). When Sabatini makes him an offer he can’t refuse, Clark finds himself caught up in an unexpected caper involving endangered species and fine dining.