The film is inspired by Barbara Ehrenreich's non-fiction book Nickel and Dimed which investigates many of the difficulties low-wage workers face.

[3] Unmarried lovers Melissa, a convenience store clerk, and Richie, confined to a wheelchair since a motorcycle accident, try to make ends meet on her low wages and his disability check which he supplements with occasional handyman work.

Their dire situation is illustrated early in the film when Richie is stranded in his car because he has run out of gas, yet he keeps spending money in bars.

Soon they face eviction for non-payment of rent from the seedy motel in which they live, and an unplanned pregnancy for which they can't afford the medical bills.

[5] Ronnie Scheib of Variety praised the film, saying "Incandescent performances by Naomi Watts and Matt Dillon and an unerring grasp of strip-mall-dominated Florida distinguish Sunlight Jr."[6] Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "Naomi Watts and Matt Dillon bring impressive emotional and physical heat to Sunlight Jr., director/screenwriter Laurie Collyer's beautifully observed character study of an unmarried couple living on the economic margins.