When struggling Hollywood screenwriter Steven Phillips (Albert Brooks) is fired from his studio for 'lacking edge', his friend and fellow scribe Jack (Jeff Bridges) offers to put him in touch with his own muse: Sarah Liddle (Sharon Stone), a direct descendent of the god Zeus. Steven reluctantly agrees, and Sarah moves in with him and his wife, Laura (Andie MacDowell), in order to provide inspiration. However, there are problems: the selfish Sarah demands constant attention and expensive gifts from her clients - who also number Martin Scorsese, James Cameron and Rob Reiner (as themselves) - and her presence in the home seems to be doing more for Laura than it is for Steven...