James "Jimmy" Monroe and Paul Hodges, played by Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan respectively, are detectives with the NYPD who embark on a tumultuous journey. Their investigation begins when they stumble upon a drug deal in the downtown area. However, their attempts to apprehend the suspect, Juan Diaz (Cory Fernandez), result in chaos as he opens fire at civilians, forcing Jimmy and Paul to chase him through the streets. Their reckless pursuit leads to severe consequences, including the endangerment of innocent bystanders, and as a result, they find themselves suspended without pay for 30 days.
As tensions rise, Jimmy's personal life adds an extra layer of stress—his daughter Ava (Michelle Trachtenberg) is preparing for a wedding that comes with a hefty price tag of nearly $50,000. In a twist of fate, his ex-wife Pam (Francie Swift) offers help through her wealthy second husband, Roy (Jason Lee), who rudely mentions that Jimmy hasn't been paying alimony. Determined to earn the funds himself, Jimmy refuses Roy's offer and looks for alternative methods to fund the wedding.
Meanwhile, Paul grapples with his own issues, suspecting his wife Debbie (Rashida Jones) of infidelity and resorting to installing a hidden camera in their bedroom. During this time, Jimmy attempts to sell a 1952 baseball card to raise cash but ends up being robbed by Dave (Seann William Scott), who steals the valuable card. Spotting a distinct tattoo on Dave's hand, Jimmy soon tracks him down to a tattoo parlor where he learns of Dave's next heist.
In a concurrent plot, the menacing drug lord Poh Boy, who seeks to dominate the East Coast drug trade, resolves scores by eliminating those who betray him, using Paul’s stolen gun in the process. As Jimmy and Paul learn of a significant robbery happening that same night, they prepare to stake it out in hopes of recovering both the stolen card and weapon. However, their confrontation with Dave escalates, leading them to discover Poh Boy’s cruel plans and his unsuspecting connection to Juan, who is ultimately revealed to be Poh Boy's brother.
Their investigation intensifies as they navigate through car jacks and lead their search for the stolen Mercedes, which contains critical evidence. After a bold retrieval of the vehicle, they face a deadly encounter with Juan, culminating in his demise. The duo discovers a kidnapped woman named Gabriela (Ana De La Reguera) in the trunk, prompting them to seek her safety against Poh Boy’s hefty reward for her return.
As comedic misfortunes ensue, including the heart-wrenching revelation of Debbie's loyalty, the detectives intertwine their lives with the criminal underworld in an unpredictable series of events. A botched rescue at Poh Boy's hideout leads to the chaos of a shootout, where amidst feigned affections and betrayal, alliances are tested. Ultimately, in a mix of heroics and heartache, Jimmy and Paul find themselves reinstated on active duty, receiving commendations for their efforts, albeit tarnished by the destruction of Jimmy's prized baseball card.
In a light-hearted conclusion, as the wedding looms, the dynamics of confrontation and camaraderie are humorously accentuated, with Paul discreetly exacting his own form of justice against Roy when the moment arrives. Additionally, the film leaves viewers with a playful nod to Dave’s fate, suggesting that even in chaos, there’s room for laughter.
