Man With a Plan – Stuck in the Middle with You

By: Ujjyani Banerjee

Adam (Matt LeBlanc) and Lowell (Matt Cook) are in the living room learning about a deadly Yellowstone super volcano from Don (Kevin Nealon). There’s a knock on the door. It’s Andi’s (Liza Snyder) mom, Alice (Nancy Lenehan). While Andi’s out purchasing towels, Adam welcomes Alice graciously whilst trying to process her unannounced visit. He gives Andi a heads-up before she enters the house. As it turns out, the mother-daughter duo have always been distant because Andi has never been able to open up to her mom. Worried that Alice would pick at their unkempt house as always, Andi nervously enters the kitchen. Alice and Andi greet each other. She wonders where dad is. After learning that Frank is back home on stay-cation with their pet yorkies, Andi apologizes for their messy kitchen counter and takes Alice to their “hopefully” tidier living room. She indirectly asks Adam to check if the cushions are fluffy, but he doesn’t understand. Andi laughs it off blaming his beer and this offends Adam. She later apologizes to him and blames her nervousness around Alice. Adam wants both of them to have a talk and sort their differences out, but Andi would like Adam to do it instead. She wants him to discuss the issue with Alice after dinner while she remains asleep so that the next morning feels slightly less stressful.

As planned, Adam approaches Alice to talk about Andi’s nervousness around her but it turns out that she has something more interesting to share. It seems that Adam’s in-laws have separated and Alice wants him to break the news to Andi! Alice is glad that this separation has given her a chance to rediscover herself. She suggests Adam to have the talk with Andi while she and the grandkids are out visiting the zoo the next day. However, Adam doesn’t wait that long and breaks it to Andi as soon as she wakes up. Andi feels sorry for her dad. Adam reassures her by mentioning how he called Frank the other night and found him surprisingly cheerful. Apparently, he’s opened up a topless car wash called, “Put ‘Em on the Glass.” Andi remembers how this had been his lifelong dream. Although, she wishes that Alice talked to her directly and not through Adam. She now wants Adam to tell Alice about this displeasure. Irritated, Adam wishes that his mother-in-law never visited them. Just then, Alice returns from her jog and is amused to see Andi up and well-informed. Seeing both mother and daughter behave oddly around each other, Adam asks them to go out for drinks and simply open up to one another as it will be therapeutic.

That evening, as Alice and Andi get dressed for their cocktail night, Adam discusses the separation issue with Don, Bev (Swoosie Kurtz) and Joe (Stacy Keach). While Joe feels optimistic for Frank, given how the “topless car wash” stands in his favor, Bev senses competition in the “best grandma” category. She gets to step up her game when Emme (Hala Finley) comes searching for food coincidentally at the same time. Bev suggests icecream for dinner and scoffs at Alice’s healthy vegetables alternative. Emme happily follows Bev to the kitchen. Alice comes to the living room all prettied up and sits besides Joe. They talk and giggle.  Adam is surprised to see Alice asking Joe to zip her dress up for her. Bev walks in on this activity and is not happy. Joe follows Bev home to give an explanation. Andi comes downstairs looking nervous, but Adam calms her down. He sends both the ladies away for their fun night hoping that Andi will get Alice to leave eventually. The kids come in worried about their Nana and Poppop, but Adam wants them not to worry. Don feels that the super volcano is a more worrisome situation.

Alice and Andi get home drunk and happily reconciled. Alice even got asked out by their Uber driver. Adam now hopes that she will continue her fresh start somewhere else, but Andi firmly states that she wants her mom to stay with them forever and Alice supports the notion. Shocked, Adam later tries to remind Andi of what they had planned initially but Andi can only think of sex at the moment. The next day Adam discusses his failed plan with Don and Lowell. While Don tries thinking in the lines of super volcanoes, Lowell asks Adam to decide on whose happiness means more to him, his own or Andi’s. Meanwhile, Andi and Alice are out shopping for lingerie. Andi soon realizes that they probably opened up more than needed as Alice is now discussing her sexual fantasies with her. Andi rushes to Adam’s office stating that she wants Alice out of their house ASAP. Adam, who was feeling ethically torn earlier, now loves that his wife is finally on his side! They decide on a plan.

That evening Andi gets Alice a margarita. Joe comes in wanting to take Alice out on a date. She is surprised, but soon blames her new “accentuating” bra as the reason. Just then Bev comes in and bubbles with anger upon spotting the two lovebirds. An innocent Alice tries clearing the air desperately as Adam tries to keep Bev from unleashing her wrath on Alice. Andi advises her mom to go upstairs, but Adam isn’t sure if it’s far enough. He realizes that Alice would need her physical needs satiated soon. Feeling responsible and embarrassed, Alice decides to leave and build her new life somewhere else, maybe Italy. She goes upstairs to pack and Adam applauds Bev for her very real performance. Bev stands there, clueless. Just then Lowell comes in. He was supposed to fill Bev in on the whole plan, but never got ahold of her. Bev now realizes that Joe was simply putting up an act and feels silly! Alice is leaving for Italy. Andi wishes her luck and is finally relieved that she and mom are now more open to each other than ever and this was what she always wanted. Relieved that everything has been resolved, Adam now wants to have sex. Andi; however, isn’t interested and switches on the TV. Adam now misses Alice!