Michelle Darnell, portrayed by Melissa McCarthy, had a tough childhood as an orphan, being rejected by every family that tried to adopt her. Overcoming her tumultuous past, she rises to become the CEO of numerous companies, earning her place as the 47th richest woman in the world. Working alongside her is Claire Rawlings, played by Kristen Bell, her dedicated PA who handles various tasks, often at the mercy of Michelle's demanding nature regarding a much-deserved raise. Michelle also has a driver named Tito, played by Cedric Yarbrough.
The story takes a twist when Michelle faces off against her business rival, Renault, portrayed by Peter Dinklage, with whom she shares a complicated history. Renault's resentment stems from a time in the 90s when Michelle undermined him to secure a promotion. The situation escalates when Renault accuses her of insider trading after she blocks his acquisition plans by buying shares of his target company. This confrontation leads to Michelle's arrest by the SEC and the collapse of her empire.
After a five-month stint in prison, Michelle emerges with nowhere to turn. Claire, fed up with her new micromanaging boss Dana Dandridge, played by Cecily Strong, reluctantly allows Michelle to stay at her home after her daughter Rachel, portrayed by Ella Anderson, insists on helping the fallen titan. With a tarnished reputation and no allies left, as Renault has successfully undermined her support network, Michelle finds herself living with Claire and her family for over three weeks. Claire eventually proposes that Michelle help with household chores to contribute her share.
As Michelle tries to find her footing, she stumbles upon a local Dandelions cookies meeting and discovers that the company exploits schoolgirls for sales under the guise of supporting social causes. Inspired, Michelle proposes a new initiative called Michelle's Darlings, where young girls can earn funds for their college education by selling cookies. Initially, the venture starts off slowly, but it picks up momentum and begins to generate solid profits. Michelle persuades Claire to fully commit to the cookie project, which leads them to recruit girls away from the Dandelions to sell Claire's baked goods.
However, tensions flare between Michelle and Claire as they grow closer, prompting Michelle to step back from their lives. Utilizing capital from her mentor Ida Marquette, played by Kathy Bates, Michelle opens a commercial kitchen to scale up their production. Misinterpretations arise when Michelle discovers Claire in conversation with Renault, leading to a significant falling out. Accusing Claire of betrayal, she decides to sell the cookie business to Renault, leaving Claire and the girls devastated.
After some soul-searching, Michelle feels an overwhelming sense of regret and reconciles with Claire and Rachel. She plans to reclaim the signed contract with Renault, and as they stealthily infiltrate his office, a surprising encounter unfolds. In the midst of a confrontation, Michelle engages in an intense duel with Renault, eventually culminating in an unexpected kiss. Ultimately, Claire tears up the contract as they move forward, and eight months later, they celebrate their success in their new home, funded by the flourishing cookie business.
