Big Girls Don’t Cry… They Get Even

Laura Chartoff grows up in a large, dysfunctional blended family after her parents' divorce. Her father David has multiple wives and children, while her mother Melinda navigates new marriages and step-siblings. Laura often feels shut out as loyalties shift between adults and kids.

Keith is wealthy and controlling, and Laura's interactions with Josh create tension. Keith's scolding puts Laura in trouble and deepens her sense of exclusion. Frustrated and hurt, she makes the decision to run away.

Laura leaves home and goes to the lakeside cabin to find temporary safety and companionship with Josh. For a while she relaxes and seems happy in a simpler, more understanding company. The change of scenery gives her a moment of relief before reality returns.

Josh tries to contact one of Laura's family members without her knowledge. Laura suspects betrayal as word spreads that he might be sharing information with them. The trust between them begins to fray.

Keith realizes Laura may be with Josh as the adults anticipate her next move. He mutters 'brats of a feather' to signal his suspicion about the alliance between Laura and Josh. The tension heightens as the family prepares to intervene.

The search for Laura brings the entire blended family under one roof. Barbara arrives with Jessie, and Laura's father arrives with Stephanie, creating a chaotic but revealing reunion. The group coexists in the same space as they try to locate Laura.

During the search, Laura encounters teen robbers and other oddballs, expanding her view of family and community. She learns more about the quirks and loyalties of her relatives by witnessing their interactions under stress. These encounters contribute to personal realizations among the ensemble.

Police arrive with uncertain news, complicating the emotional stakes. They present Laura's jacket to her parents, a clue that forces the family to confront the possibility that Laura could be hurt. The revelation deepens everyone's need to understand and protect her.

The jacket bears the blood of a robber Laura punched, a detail that changes how her family perceives the danger she faces. It shifts the mood from a simple missing person plot to a potential threat of violence. The knowledge prompts a renewed concern for Laura's safety.

Laura confronts Josh about the supposed betrayal, only to learn he did not intend to betray her; he admits he called Barbara to reveal Laura's feelings for her. He helps her realize she cannot escape family while they all share the same roof. The moment marks a turning point in accepting the family as part of her life.

Laura returns to the cabin and confronts the tension head-on, choosing to embrace the 'weirdness' of her extended family. The search becomes a catalyst for personal growth as each member reflects on their own roles. The family begins to sort out their lives a little more.

As Laura comes back, the family members start to understand themselves and one another better. The shared ordeal reveals deeper bonds and a more connected, albeit imperfect, family dynamic. The film ends with a sense that Laura has found a place within her frayed but loving family.