Against the backdrop of Reno, talkback radio, casinos, money, religion, crime, and other perversions, Melvin Smarty is a comedic romp about young love and what it takes to achieve happiness - which given the context of the above, is quite a lot.

Theodore 'Teddy' Hoffman is a highly-regarded defense attorney in a prestigious Los Angeles law firm. Having successfully defended the wealthy but suspicious Richard Cross in a much-publicised murder trial, he is now involved in the defense of Neil Avedon, a famous young actor who has been suffering from severe drug and alcohol problems - and has been charged with the murder for which Cross was acquitted.