Men at Work

Barrels of toxic waste are being dumped into a lake in Las Playas. The earlier dumped barrels have corroded and are leaking their dangerous contents into the water, creating a dire environmental threat.

Jack Berger, a city councilman, is caught in a corrupt scheme orchestrated by businessman Maxwell Potterdam III. Despite being bribed to ignore the toxic dumping, Jack realizes the barrels are leaking, creating a conflict of interest.

Confronted by Maxwell about the leaking barrels, Jack threatens to expose the illegal operation. In a tense exchange, he records their conversation, aiming to use it against Maxwell, who dismissively indicates his plans to relocate the operation.

Carl Taylor and James St. James, two garbage collectors with dreams of opening a surf shop, are put on probation after their disruptive antics during work. They are assigned to work with Louis, their supervisor's brother-in-law, as a form of oversight.

In the evening, Carl and James use a telescope to spy on their neighborhood. They witness a man mistreating Susan Wilkins and Carl retaliates by shooting him in the rear with a pellet gun as a form of twisted justice.

While on their garbage route, Carl, James, and Louis stumble upon a barrel. Panic ensues when they realize it contains the body of the man Carl shot earlier, who turns out to be Jack Berger, the councilman.

Louis, a no-nonsense Vietnam vet, quickly asserts control over the situation. He explains the death of Jack was due to strangulation, which calms the panicking duo and shifts their focus on hiding the body.

In a misguided attempt to cover up the discovery of Jack's body, Louis kidnaps a pizza delivery man who inadvertently becomes part of their chaotic cover-up plan. This further complicates their already desperate situation.

While on the run, Carl and Susan are pulled over by Officer Mike and his partner. Louis, with aggression, takes control of the encounter, using the pizza guy as a hostage and handcuffing the officers together.

The hit men, Biff and Mario, kidnap Carl and Susan, believing she possesses evidence against Maxwell. They take the pair straight to Maxwell, further entangling them in the web of corruption and danger.

Maxwell retrieves the tape from Susan, which could expose his illegal activities. Carl and Susan are then tossed into waste disposal cans, destined to be disposed of at a toxic dumping site.

During transport, Carl's barrel falls off the truck, allowing him to escape. Seizing the moment, he and James manage to grab onto the truck carrying Susan as they devise a plan to rescue her.

After a daring rescue, Carl, Susan, and their friends confront Maxwell and his henchmen. With a mixture of wit and bravado, they turn the tables by terrorizing Maxwell with pranks, utilizing Jack's body.

The climax unfolds as Carl and the gang throw Maxwell into the toxic lake, providing a form of poetic justice for his corrupt actions. Their chaotic adventure culminates in a resolution against the environmental crimes.