In 1950s New York, a young and ambitious employee of a large corporation finds himself in the right place at the right time to seize an opportunity that will change his life. Following the mysterious death of the president of Hudsucker Industries, the board of directors decides they need a new face to attract public attention and, thus, increase the company’s stock. They choose a naive and clumsy mailroom employee, Norville Barnes, to serve as a "patsy," a puppet they can manipulate to control the company's fate.
Barnes, played by the charming Tim Robbins, has no idea of the intrigues brewing around him. With the help of a savvy journalist, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, he tries to climb the corporate ladder while attempting to protect his naive arrogance. As Norville launches an idea that will change his life and the community—a revolutionary toy called the "hula hoop"—things become complicated due to a dark executive who plans to use him for his own ends.
Immersed in a dizzying sea of visual comedy and retro spirit, Norville's journey is a scathing critique of capitalism and the pursuit of the American dream. With a visual style reminiscent of classic films from the 30s and 40s, the story is a tribute to human ingenuity and the struggle for authenticity in a world dominated by greed.