In Los Angeles, Emily Brown is a kleptomaniac and addicted in pills that misses her father and is having therapy sessions trying to resolve her compulsion. She has a record in the police for shoplifting, and her mother Teresa is a compulsive shopper. The security guard Nick of the Bernstein's department store sees Emily through a camera and becomes fascinated for her. When Nick gets in trouble dealing ecstasy, he presses Emily to help him in a robber of Bernstein.

Based on the book Jennie by Douglas Preston. The Jennie Project tells the story of a chimpanzee named Jennie who has the ability to use and understand sign language. When Dr. Hugo Archibald brings home the latest in a long line of creatures, Jennie quickly becomes an important part of the Archibald family and eventually brings the whole family closer together.