Walt Miti (Ben Stiller) is a film processing manager who has worked for Life magazine for 16 years. He is introverted and can't even talk to his favorite colleague Cheryl (Kristen Wiig). When facing life, he is like a bystander, often "empty" and dreaming of day-hero dreams. Until one day the company was acquired and the magazine needed to make the cover of the last issue, and the key to its success was to find a roll of film from wild photographer Sean Penn. Walter finally spoke up to Cheryl and encouraged by her and her mother (Shirley MacLaine) to embark on a real adventure. Ice fields, sea, Himalayas... Walter's daydreams are far less magnificent than reality.