Dick Harper is a successful aerospace engineer in Los Angeles, where he and wife Jane have a lovely house, with a swimming pool and new lawn under way.

Dick ends up applying for unemployment and food stamps, while Jane's wealthy parents, rather than helping, advise them to use this experience positively as a life lesson.

In time, Dick and Jane weigh their guilty consciences against their needs, trying to get back their old lives and stay out of jail.

Knowing that the $200,000 might be confiscated by the authorities and lead to further unwanted investigations, Charlie tells the arriving police that no crime was committed and walks the couple safely out of the building.

It's situation comedy, when the movie's earlier moments seemed to be promising us a hard-boiled commentary..."[6] The film was remade in 2005 with the same title, starring Jim Carrey and Téa Leoni.