The hapless Smuntz brothers are delighted to discover that the ramshackle house they've inherited from their father is actually a long-forgotten, neglected architectural treasure worth millions. But auctioning the dwelling proves complicated when the house's current resident, an intrepid field mouse, balks at their attempts to evict him. A fierce turf war breaks out, but the real winner is Christopher Walken, who walks off with the movie in a bit as a sadistic exterminator. A symphony of slapstick, conducted with both animatronic and live mice by debut director Verbinski, heretofore best known for creating the "Budweiser" frogs.