After Valerie (Sheila Kelley), the unlucky daughter of powerful businessman Highsmith (Sam Wanamaker), disappears on the first day of her Mexican holiday, Detective Raymond Campanella (Danny Glover) is recruited to track her down. Unable to find her, Highsmith employs the services of the equally unlucky Eugene Proctor (Martin Short) to assist Campanella, hoping his bad luck will somehow help them in their investigation.

Stumbling from one mishap to another, the pair must overcome a number of unlikely obstacles as they do all they can to retrace Valerie's steps through the streets of Acapulco.