Shriver is a depressed often inebriated loner (Church), is mistaken for a renowned but reclusive author with whom he shares a name. He suddenly finds himself the subject of adulation and the center of attention at a writers conference celebrating the 20th anniversary of the book written by the real author. Shriver steps into the role, sparks a romance with the English professor (Collette) who runs the conference, and is about to pull it all off when the real Shriver appears.