Pat Solitano Sr. is a native Philadelphian in his mid-sixties who is happily married to Dolores Solitano. He has two sons; Jake (Shea Whigham) and Pat Jr. (Bradley Cooper). Pat Sr. loses his job, and in order to make a living he starts bookmaking of which he's known to be very superstitious about. He intends to have a legitimate business and start his own restaurant.