Lovely & Amazing is a 2001 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Nicole Holofcener.

The story focuses on Jane Marks, her adult daughters Michelle and Elizabeth, and her pre-teen adopted African American daughter Annie, each of whom allows her personal insecurities to affect her life.

Jane, longing to look younger and thinner, decides to get liposuction, which results in a lengthy hospital stay after she develops complications following the procedure. The resulting health struggles force Jane to wonder what will happen, after her death, to Annie. Jane’s health struggles are further exacerbated by unhelpful nursing staff and a fleeting attraction to her doctor. The complications eventually take a toll on Jane, and she becomes unconscious, worrying her daughters.

Michelle passes her time making arts and crafts and attempts to sell them to small businesses. Michelle has a difficult relationship with her husband Bill, who is frustrated by her inability to earn money. She confides in her friend Donna, who, unbeknownst to Michelle, is having an affair with Bill. After a few failed starts, she takes a job at a one-hour photo lab, working alongside 17-year-old Jordan, with whom she later has sex. After attending Elizabeth’s movie premiere, Michelle meets Jordan at his house for another encounter, but Jordan’s mother calls the police, and Michelle is arrested for statutory rape.

Elizabeth is an aspiring actress coming off a brief appearance in a major motion picture. She is in a relationship with Paul, to whom she struggles to offer affection, which results in her taking in various stray dogs. After a revealing photo shoot, she begins to question her sex appeal, especially as she is up for an audition in another film alongside heartthrob Kevin McCabe. Despite the intense audition, where McCabe passionately makes out with Elizabeth, she doesn’t get the part, furthering her insecurities. Afterward, a chance encounter with McCabe results in the two meeting for dinner and they later have sex, where she asks him to point out her various physical flaws. Despite McCabe’s harsh honesty, Elizabeth leaves the date feeling more confident in herself.

Annie struggles to adjust to Jane being away from her for a time, as well as fitting in with her white adopted family. While she has a good relationship with Elizabeth, she and Michelle have a mildly challenging relationship. She also spends her time with her Black Big Sister volunteer Lorraine, who Jane hopes will put the young girl in touch with her heritage. Lorraine usually takes her to the public pool and helps Annie straighten her hair, despite Elizabeth’s objection and Jane’s disappointment. Eventually, Annie’s behavior becomes too much for Lorraine, who decides to stop spending time with her.

At night, a hungry Annie decides to walk to a nearby McDonald’s by herself. Michelle, after being released by the police, makes her way to the same McDonald’s and encounters Annie. They talk and finally begin to bond. The two pick up Michelle’s daughter and head back home to Elizabeth. The next morning, as Elizabeth fields a phone call from McCabe, she receives a call from the hospital, telling her that her mother can come home. The women drive to meet with a fully recovered Jane, who is last seen showing pictures of her daughters to the only nurse who helped her during her hospital stay.

The film debuted at the 2001 Telluride Film Festival. Prior to its initial limited release in New York City and Los Angeles, it was shown at the Los Angeles Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Tribeca Film Festival.