Man With a Plan – Semi-Indecent Proposal

By starrymag | March 17, 2019

By: Ujjyani Banerjee

 

 

It’s inspection day at the flip house. Lowell (Matt Cook) is happy with its developments. Don (Kevin Nealon) says he’ll book a couple’s vacation with the money – Bahamas for Marcy and Mexico for him. Lowell’s alarmed that he’s the one who got divorced. Andi (Liza Snyder) wishes to use the money to continue to flip houses until they own the whole city. Meanwhile, the inspector (Michael Villar) fails the home for sewer piping problem. Andi blames herself as she coaxed them to buy the house. While Adam (Matt LeBlanc) asks her not to blame herself, Don’s unabashedly feeling the opposite.

 

Adam concludes they need $20,000 for repair work but no bank would lend them money given they’ve reached their loan limit. It’s possible they’ll lose the business. Lowell squeals that losing this job would be disastrous for him as his ex-wife’s taken all their money after divorce. Adam decides on trying all banks in the city. The next day, just as they’re about to leave, Bev (Swoosie Kurtz) walks in pissed that Joe (Stacy Keach) sits all day after being active only for a few days post-surgery. She’s reached her limit of patience and needs to visit her sister to preserve her sanity. Andi asks if the homecare nurse is helping. According to Bev, all Funchy (Ron Funches) does is eat her Milanos and solve her crossword puzzles. She grabs their crossword for the train ride and leaves.

 

For the bank visits Adam is with Don and Andi is with Lowell. Every bank rejects them except one bank manager, James (Ian Gomez), who takes interest in Andi and Lowell’s uplifting vibe.  He takes their papers outside keeping them waiting.

 

At home, Funchy and Joe are playing video games. Joe’s leg is okay, but he doesn’t want Bev or anyone else to know. Upon hearing footsteps, he quickly asks Funchy to hide all traces of fun. In no time, they get seated on the sofa – their situation reeking of boredom. Joe also places one hand on his knee to fake the pain. Adam and Don walk in. Don goes into the bedroom to get himself a different tie as he dropped mayonnaise on his current one while Adam inquires Joe about the knee. He is told that it’s just as bad as before and that Funchy’s not helping. Funchy, in his defense, says that he’s there to kick ass and eat Milanos and they’re out of Milanos, so…

 

Adam gets a call from Andi who informs him about a potential “interested” bank and that they’re still waiting for the official nod but so far it looks positive. Adam is elated and asks her to be cool and not stress. She’s got this!

 

At the bank Andi and Lowell are wondering if the manager’s having second thoughts given he’s gone so long with their paper. Luckily, James walks in right in time and admits that though their numbers aren’t that impressive, he believes in trusting his gut every once in a while. He tries fixing a meeting to talk things further but as he’s got meetings lined up that day and a substitute the following day who doesn’t follow her gut, he decides on having a business dinner with Andi. He apologizes for leaving Lowell out as he thought she’s the boss. Lowell is fine with it. Andi is super excited as she’s never been on one but acts all cool in front of James.

 

Later into the evening when she’s getting prepped for the meeting Andi asks Lowell not to mention it to Adam as he gets all jealous and would twist things unnecessarily. Apparently, once he got so annoyed that Billy Joel said, “This one goes out to all the ladies” at his concert that he didn’t speak the entire day. Adam was sure the shoutout was aimed at her. Listening to all this Lowell is already stressed that he needs to lie to Adam, his superhero. He warns Andi that he’s bad under stress and might pass out if history were to be repeat itself. She says she believes in him and leaves for the dinner anyways.

 

Soon Don and Adam come back. Lowell is standing in attention. This time Don has dropped ice cream on his tie and Adam reminds him that it’s not a makeshift napkin. While they bicker, Adam finds Andi missing and asks Lowell where she’s at. He passes out. The brothers call in Marcy (Kali Rocha) to cold compress Lowell’s head. She’s pissed the guys couldn’t do it on their own, but Don says they were busy making fun of him.

 

Lowell ends up revealing Andi’s whereabouts and Adam’s left gaping. He rushes to interrupt the fake business meet and get his wife back. Marcy decides to follow, but Lowell blocks her way. She threatens to hurt him and in no time Lowell passes out again, just thinking about being punched. Marcy asks Don to take care of him and rushes to follow Adam. Don resumes making fun of Lowell.

 

At the restaurant Adam finds Joe and Funchy having dinner. Joe admits to have found a friend in Funchy and doesn’t want to lose him. If Bev knew he’s okay she’d ask Funchy to leave and he doesn’t want that. Hence, his wife mustn’t know.

 

Adam next spots Andi and James. After repeated requests from Marcy he still crashes their meeting and embarrassing Andi. Suddenly, James ends up confessing that it was indeed a date night as in no way was their loan gonna be sanctioned and he wanted to bag a date with her under this pretext. Super mad Andi drops wine all over his shirt on purpose and leaves the diner.

 

At home while everybody’s reflecting on the mingy day they just had an ecstatic Lowell walks in revealing how he demanded twenty grand from his ex-wife. He told her that if she didn’t her grandma would learn about her extra-marital affair. In other words, his account is freshly minted with $20,000. Adam is relieved and proud of his friend who just saved the company form sinking. Marcy is thrilled as well, though she quotes how it all came about from a guy blackmailing his ex. Lowell doesn’t accept he blackmailed, but Marcy stands her ground. Realizing she’s right, he passes out for the nth time.

 

Joe and Funchy are neck deep in games. Just as Bev walks in Joe quickly takes position on sofa but mistakenly lifts his wrong leg on the cushion. Bev points out the wrong propped leg and walks on leaving Joe looking shocked and bemused.