The world's most ingenious, but socially inept, private investigator tackles his toughest assignment yet--falling in love--in this comic murder mystery. With his unparalleled intuition, Daryl Zero (Bill Pullman) can solve most of his high-profile cases without leaving the house. In fact, Daryl can't leave the house. Masterfully cunning, but emotionally damaged, Zero must conduct all his business through Steve Arlo (Ben Stiller), a loyal assistant and legal advisor. But when lumber tycoon Gregory Stark (Ryan O'Neal) hires Zero to crack a bizarre case, the dysfunctional detective confronts his most intimate fears as he finds himself falling in love with the beautiful and mysterious prime suspect. Now faced with the biggest challenge of his storied career, will the master sleuth solve his most difficult assignment without falling prey to the ZERO EFFECT?