Reunited after their appearance in Next Friday, Ice Cube and Mike Epps are the best things about this otherwise flat buddy/heist/cop flick. The feature-length debut of music-video director Kevin Bray casts Mr. Cube (who co-wrote the script) as Bucum, a Miami bounty hunter who's tired of his hazardous, low-paying line of work and wants instead to become a private dick. In the course of his pursuit of small-time hood Reggie (Epps), the two stumble upon an intrigue-fraught diamond heist -- so naturally the former rivals team up to foil the plot and get theirs. Bucum wants the publicity to get his PI firm off the ground; Reggie needs to recover his winning $60 million lottery ticket from the bad guys' SUV.

Most of the ensuing jokes are dumb, and many should-be-suspenseful turns are entirely predictable, but as these movies go, things could be worse. Cube is winning as a put-upon guy just trying to get ahead, and Epps's loudmouth appeal transcends his tendency to overact. As for the violence, the huge shoot-'em-up crash-and-burn set pieces are poorly choreographed, and a few graphic murders don't jibe with an otherwise comedic tone. But blood and guts sell movies. If it's really all about the Benjamins, I guess some gratuitous gore should be expected. At the Entertainment, Flagship, Hoyts Providence 16, Opera House, and Showcase cinemas.