Tough-as-nails cop Jake Stone (Jack Palance) has tracked a mobster named Osborn (Robert Davi) to a house in the suburbs. Determined to stake out the gangster's lair from the house next door, he moves in with the Robbersons: TV cop show addict Norman (Chevy Chase), who is determined to use all the best TV crime-fighting techniques to help Jake crack the big case, and supermom Helen (Dianne Wiest), who won't let Jake smoke or swear, two of his favorite activities. He also has to contend with a budding romance between his rookie partner (David Barry Gray) and the Robbersons' 18-year-old daughter, Cindy (Fay Masterson), the adulation of teenager Kevin (Jason James Richter) and the hijinks of 5-year-old Billy (Miko Hughes). The question becomes whether Jack can last long enough to catch the bad guys before the Robbersons drive him crazy.