In this metaphysical comedy in which souls can be extracted and traded as commodities, Paul Giamatti stars as himself, agonizing over interpretation of Uncle Vanya. Paralyzed with anxiety, he stumbles upon a high-tech company promising to alleviate suffering by deep-freezing souls. He intends to reinstate his soul once he survives the performance but complications ensue when a soul-trafficking mule uses it for a talentless, soap-opera actress. Rendered soulless, he is let with no choice but to follow the trail back to St. Petersburg.