JJ (John), portrayed by Dave Bautista, is a seasoned ex-US Special Forces operative who has transitioned into a CIA agent. His current assignment involves closely monitoring the family of Victor Marquez in Chicago, particularly focusing on his wife, Kate, and her 9-year-old daughter, Sophie. The stakes are exceptionally high as they are entangled in a nefarious plot involving a miniaturized nuclear bomb that Victor plans to sell to Hassan, a dangerous terrorist from the Middle East. The mission is further complicated due to JJ’s earlier blunder during a plutonium deal in Pripyat, a mishap that left CIA officials scrutinizing him. Nevertheless, his boss, Ken Jeong, offers him yet another chance, pairing him with the enthusiastic tech operator, Bobbi, played by Kristen Schaal, who greatly admires JJ’s expertise.
The duo embarks on a covert operation in Wicker Park where they masquerade as neighbors to Kate and Sophie, who have just moved from France after the tragic murder of Victor’s brother, David. Setting up surveillance, JJ and Bobbi's inexperience soon leads to complications when Sophie stumbles upon one of their hidden cameras. With a childish but savvy determination, Sophie manages to trace the camera’s signal, confronting JJ and Bobbi in a way that exposes their identities. In a shocking twist, she blackmails JJ into mentoring her in the arts of espionage, while simultaneously facilitating introductions to her community, including their neighbors, Carlos and Todd.
As JJ gets deeper into this uncustomary role, he surprisingly bonds with Sophie, who yearns to blend into her new American surroundings. His burgeoning relationship with Kate, however, is thwarted by the demands of his professional responsibilities. Things go awry when Bobbi's clumsiness inadvertently alerts Victor to their ruse. Anticipating danger, Victor stages his own demise and heads to Chicago to reclaim what he thinks is hidden with Kate.
In this intricately woven tale, Carlos and Todd, who call into question their real intentions, suddenly invade Kate's home, motivated by the same interests in the construction plans. After a disastrous attempt by Bobbi to intervene, Victor escapes with the plans and takes Sophie hostage, leaving JJ and Kate with no choice but to align their efforts in a frantic attempt to save her and avert disaster.
The climax of the narrative intensifies as JJ and Kate track Victor to an inconspicuous airfield in Naperville, Illinois. The tension mounts when JJ skillfully neutralizes Victor’s getaway plane, leading to a gripping fistfight between the adversaries. Meanwhile, Sophie unwittingly engages the plane's ignition sequence, putting her in peril as the aircraft teeters on the brink of disaster.
In a moment of courage, Sophie tries to escape, but finds herself ensnared as Victor, now armed with the crucial plans, demands their capitulation. Just as he prepares to deliver a lethal shot, Kate turns the tide, using calculated precision to tackle Victor onto the precarious wire fencing of the makeshift runway. This fortuitous moment gives JJ the opening he needs to roll the plane over the edge into the abyss, ultimately sealing Victor's fate.
In the dramatic aftermath, JJ is recognized for his unwavering commitment to the mission and is reinstated by David Kim within the CIA. Opting for a fresh start, he decides to settle in Chicago, embracing a new life alongside Kate and Sophie as they forge a family bound by shared experiences and challenges.
