埃琳?布罗克维奇(朱莉娅?罗伯茨 Julia Roberts 饰)是倒霉鬼中的典型。她结过两次婚,但每次婚姻都没有给她带来幸福,反而令她成了一个拖着三个孩子的单身母亲。倒霉的她在遭到一场交通事故后,连志在必得的赔偿官司到最后都输掉了。 为她辩护的律师埃德(阿尔伯特?芬尼 Albert Finney 饰)半是同情埃琳半是因为帮她打输了官司心感内疚,收留了埃琳在他的律师楼里打杂。埃琳的生活算是有了一点保障。在调查一单污水申诉案时,埃琳偶然发现了污水中含剧毒物质,而供水公司确对此敷衍了事。弱女子埃琳决定用她柔弱的肩膀担负起为受污染的数百名居民讨回公道的重担!
After years of questionable choices, Christy is now sober and has her life mostly back on track, although she's continually tested by her mother, Bonnie. Together, mother and daughter work to overcome their mistakes and build a better future for their family. Both are in positions they never thought they'd be in: Christy is well on her way to becoming a lawyer, while Bonnie is in a healthy romantic relationship and has just gotten married. Through it all, they rely on their support system from AA, including the wise Marjorie, the wealthy and sometimes misguided Jill, the overly emotional Wendy, and Bonnie's foster sister, Tammy, who was recently released from prison. Collectively, they help each other stay sober in the face of whatever life throws at them.