Without a Clue skewers the Holmes mythos by revealing the Great Detective (Michael Caine) as nothing more than a bumbling, drunken actor. The true brains behind the operation is none other than Dr. Watson (Ben Kingsley). Inevitably, Holmes' actor, Reginald Kincaid, tries Watson's patience one too many times; he is summarily fired. Watson tries to make it on his own as the Crime Doctor, but finds his creation is too much of an icon in the public's mind. When the nefarious Professor Moriarty makes his presence known in an especially difficult case that could undermine the financial stability of the British Empire, Watson finds himself returning to Kincaid for a final performance.