Brash Cliff Starkey (Paul Kaye) dreams of playing for England in the lawn-bowls championship against rival Australia, but the traditionalists in the community bowls club -- namely Ray Speight (James Cromwell) -- despise Cliff's showmanship. When slick American sports agent Rick Schwartz (Vince Vaughn) takes Cliff under his wing, his antics, attitude and natural ability turn him into a national icon in director Mel Smith's offbeat British comedy.