Television news reporter James Russell (Charlie Sheen) exposes small-time criminal Franklin Hatchett (Chris Tucker) for a story, which gets Hatchett arrested. While in transit to prison, Hatchett gets cuffed to jewel thief Raymond Villard (Gérard Ismaël). In an escape attempt, Villard's cronies blow up the prisoner-transport vehicle and kill two cops. Hatchett then seeks Russell's help to prove his innocence in this action-filled comedy.