Tough, popular New Orleans Detective Nick Blades makes an arrest on his way to court - without knowing yet, what the perp's done. He meets his favorite actress there who's the unpopular, uptight assistant DA Theo's mom. Theo is obsessed with rules and wants Detective Nick out of the police force for his disregard of rules and dress codes. Theo doesn't win the case, his wife and kids leave him, he gets tased by two cops and his '56 Studebaker is stolen - not his best birthday. Theo and Nick end up together looking for Theo's car, one of several cars on a "shopping" list.