Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) is unable to keep a stable job, and has failed at many business ventures. He also has failed in his dream job to be an inventor because The Clapper light switch has "stolen his thunder" for his similar invention "The Snapper." His ex-wife Erica Daley (Kim Raver) believes that he is a bad example to their ten year-old son Nick Daley (Jake Cherry), and Larry fears that Nick respects his future stepfather, bond trader Don (Paul Rudd), more than him particularly because Nick tells him that he wants to leave the sport he and Larry followed when living together; hockey, to become a bond trader like Don.