The story kicks off in Miami, aboard the luxurious vessel owned by crime lord Antonio Pope (Benjamin Bratt). His tech-savvy ally, A.J. (Ken Jeong), is busy going through data on his computer when Pope makes a chilling phone call to Port Commissioner Griffin (played by James Martin Kelly), accusing him of siphoning off funds. In a swift, ruthless act, Pope has Griffin eliminated in his own apartment, further escalating the tension as he instructs his henchmen to track down the thief.
The narrative shifts to Atlanta, where James (Ice Cube) is attempting to break into a drug ring alongside his partner Mayfield (Tyrese Gibson) to apprehend a dealer named Troy (Glen Powell). Meanwhile, fresh-faced rookie Ben (Kevin Hart), itching to prove himself, is left behind to monitor communications. As the plot unfolds, Ben's eagerness to jump into the action leads to a series of blunders: he tries to confront Troy, inadvertently dropping his badge and allowing the criminal to flee, much to James' chagrin.
After a chaotic chase, where Ben barely escapes being run over, James finally apprehends Troy, snagging a necklace that doubles as a flash drive. Despite his success, James chastises Ben for the trouble he's caused, especially after Mayfield gets shot during the skirmish. Lt. Brooks (Bruce McGill) later tasks James with heading to Miami to investigate Troy's connections. Eager to join, Ben finds little support, particularly after everything that just unfolded.
Back home, Ben is preoccupied with wedding plans for Angela (Tika Sumpter). Unfortunately, he clashes with the wedding planner Cori (Sherri Shepherd), resulting in some comical mishaps. After a steamy moment with Angela, who wants to help him step up his game, she persuades James to take Ben to Miami. Initially hesitant, James quickly sees the situation as an opportunity to prove Ben's incompetence.
Their Miami adventure begins as they meet Captain Hernandez (Carlos Gomez) and immediately sparks fly between Ben and Detective Maya Cruz (Olivia Munn) when he accidentally intrudes on her workstation. Ben’s first attempt at detective work takes a detour towards fun as A.J. leads him into an unexpected bachelor party at a club, where they hope to uncover crucial intel. However, hilarity ensues when they encounter Pope's hitman, leading to a wild shootout and more hijinks that set their progression back.
The stakes rise as A.J. helps them unravel the criminal web connecting Pope to the upcoming shipping operations while revealing that the apparent businessman hides a much darker agenda. As they delve deeper, the duo’s clumsiness almost derails their mission, notably when Ben mistakenly shoots the informant Alonso (Arturo del Puerto), who backs up A.J.'s claims about Pope.
As the climax builds, the team infiltrates one of Pope's grand parties at his mansion. Maya employs her charm and skills to distract Pope while James and Ben gather intel, only for chaos to erupt as Ben battles an alligator. The tension only escalates when they attempt to stop contraband-laden trucks at the port, only to find they are empty. Back at the bar, A.J. makes a crucial connection about a spy within their ranks, helping James piece together a larger plan.
When everything comes to a head at dawn, the team confronts Pope at the port during a thrilling shootout that nearly costs them their lives. In a heroic act, Ben takes a bullet for James while seeking to defeat Pope, showcasing a newfound bravery. With the criminal finally thwarted, and both men emerging as heroes, they celebrate their return home. As Ben prepares to marry Angela, James delivers a heartfelt toast that marks the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. But true to form, mischief follows as Ben’s wedding adventure ends with him hilariously being thrown overboard, caught in an unexpected comedic spectacle that concludes this wild escapade.
