The film begins with Danica (Tika Sumpter) joyfully starting her day by dancing to a Janet Jackson track while she takes a quick call from her online boyfriend, Charlie (Mehcad Brooks), whom she’s been involved with for over a year without ever having met face-to-face. After this cheerful morning, she heads to her job at an advertising agency, where she and her best friend Kalli (Amber Riley) are key players in an important project.
As the day unfolds, Danica receives an unexpected call from her mother Lola (Whoopi Goldberg), who reveals that Danica's reckless sister Tanya (Tiffany Haddish) is being released from prison after a five-year sentence. This news isn’t exactly a cause for celebration, given Tanya's wild reputation, but Danica unwittingly offers to pick her up and let her stay at her apartment.
Arriving at the prison, Danica and Kalli find Tanya in the back of a car engaging in an inappropriate encounter with a visitor. As they finally make their way home, Danica’s phone rings, revealing Charlie on the line just as Tanya makes a grand entrance in a wedding dress meant for a past fiancé. Overwhelmed, Danica snaps at Tanya to change, leading to a complicated explanation with Charlie. During this, Kalli attempts to assist Tanya in shedding the dress while reminding her that Danica's last relationship fell apart right before what should’ve been a wedding. Tanya, ever suspicious, suggests Danica might be a victim of catfishing.
The following day, while enjoying coffee at Frank's (Omari Hardwick) café—who has a crush on Danica—she attempts to secure a job for Tanya. Frank agrees but quickly realizes Tanya is not taking the job application seriously. At work, Danica’s pitch draws criticism from their boss Lauren (Missi Pyle), who pushes her to improve while Tanya wreaks havoc in the workplace, demanding special treatment until they encounter Danica's ex, Bailey ([Adrian Conrad]). Tanya’s temper flares, but Frank and Danica manage to intervene before things escalate.
After work, Tanya assists Frank in setting up for an AA meeting, where Danica unexpectedly discovers Frank's troubled past as a recovering addict. Things intensify when Tanya reaches out to the hosts of “Catfish,” Nev Schulman and Max Joseph, to investigate Charlie. Upon their arrival at Danica’s apartment, they uncover a photo of someone who is definitely not Charlie and the tension rises as Danica contemplates what this means for her budding relationship.
However, in a cruel twist, Danica misses her chance to present her pitch at work and finds herself suspended indefinitely. As Tanya gets pushed out, Danica’s mother Lola intervenes, encouraging her to reconcile with her sister, who is eager to find out who is behind Charlie’s façade. Together, along with Kalli, they track down the catfisher Lawrence (played by Chris Rock) in a trailer park. Their confrontation leads to comical chaos when Tanya retaliates by lighting Lawrence's hairstyle on fire, forcing him to leap into a pool.
Later, Frank and Danica share an intimate evening filled with deep conversations that culminate in a physical relationship. But Danica remains hesitant about embracing a future with him due to his checkered history, which reaches Frank's ears by accident. This misunderstanding results in tension between them, especially when her real-life encounter with Charlie reveals his identity is, in fact, authentic.
Encountering a cocky Charlie on their date leaves Danica feeling repulsed, as his arrogant behaviors overshadow any charm he might possess. After a disappointing night, she finds herself alone contemplating her actions and feelings towards Frank and Charlie. Tanya attempts to confront Danica over her treatment of Frank, alleging she slept with him, which she later admits was a lie. Their ensuing conflict leads to heartbreak, with Danica realizing her misconceptions regarding her romantic choices.
In a moment of reflection, Danica’s relationship with her mother sheds light on her father’s mysterious past, prompting her to seek out Frank for reconciliation. Despite the emotional storm, a downpour of rain serves as a backdrop for their dramatic reunion. When Frank sees Danica waiting in the rain and runs out to embrace her, forgiveness flows.
As the credits approach, the antics take a surprising turn with Tanya showing up uninvited at Bailey's wedding, causing delightful havoc as she takes down both him and his new fiancée Amanda (Candace West) for their wrongdoings against Danica.
