Vince Rizzo (Andy Garcia), a lifelong resident of the tiny Bronx enclave of City Island, is a family man who makes his living as a corrections officer, but secretly longs to become an actor. Ashamed to admit his aspirations to his family, Vince would rather let his fiery wife Joyce (Julianna Margulies) believe his weekly poker games are a cover for an affair than admit he's taking acting classes.
When Vince is asked to reveal his biggest secret in class, he sets off a chain of events that turns his mundane suburban life upside down. Inspired by the exercise, he decides to bring his long-lost ex-con son Tony (Steven Strait) home to meet his family, and it soon becomes clear that everyone - including his college student daughter (Dominik García-Lorido), teenaged son Vinnie, Jr. (Ezra Miller), charismatic acting partner (Emily Mortimer) and drama coach (Alan Arkin) - has something to hide.
A perfect storm of deception and half truths makes Vince and his family members realize that the truth may not set them free, but it is easier to keep track of than all their well-intentioned lies.