Things Are Tough All Over 1982

As the vast desert stretches like an infinite canvas under the blazing sun, Cheech takes us on a nostalgic journey, narrating his and Chong’s wild escapades. The pair, finding it tough to survive through a chilling Chicago winter, become victims to the oppressive rule of their employers, Mr. Slyman and Prince Habib—two affluent Arabs who own the car wash where they work. After fumbling their responsibilities, Cheech and Chong unwittingly swap their dreams of success for a gig as entertainers at the Arabs’ upscale club. There, they strive to impress the Arabs’ French girlfriends with their hilariously off-key renditions of beloved rock anthems.

In a twist of fate, the Arabs, flush with dirty money, plan to transport their ill-gotten gains to their Las Vegas businesses. They concoct a ridiculous plan, hiding the cash inside a limousine and hiring Cheech and Chong to drive it, cleverly spinning a tale of a “rock tour” to keep them distracted. However, their journey takes a chaotic turn when they encounter a gas attendant in Chicago who seizes their car as collateral for unpaid debts. Left with no options, the duo embarks on a tumultuous cross-country journey, selling bits and pieces of their beloved vehicle to meet their expenses. As their car deteriorates, it transforms into an odd assortment of scraps.

Their oddball adventure leads them through the desert, where they pick up a hitchhiker—Donna, played by Cheech’s girlfriend—who comes with a group of Mexican travelers. Spotting a chance to earn some cash, Cheech and Chong offer to drive Donna and her entourage to the nearest gas station. In a twist of irony, they unwittingly part with a chair from the limousine, blissfully unaware of its concealed stash of cash. As dusk settles, Cheech’s narration cleverly intertwines their chaotic journey, preparing us for even more outrageous antics on the open road.

With the harsh sun beating down on them, Cheech and Chong trudge through the relentless desert landscape, having been abandoned by the Arabs at a dilapidated oil plant. Their only source of comfort comes from using peyote, which they consume in desperation to fight off dehydration and the looming threat of despair.

Meanwhile, back in Chicago, the Arabs face disastrous news upon learning that Cheech and Chong have arrived at the oil plant with little more than the shell of the limousine meant for delivery. Realizing their financial ruin awaits, the Arabs devise a plan to send their private plane to Nevada, hoping to confront the hapless duo with vengeance.

As fortune would have it, Cheech and Chong’s desert saga is about to get even stranger. They stumble upon a decrepit gas station, where they meet a wise-cracking sage sharing tales of their own adventures in the desert. This unexpected encounter sets off a series of comedic events that intertwine their fates with that of the Arabs.

Lost and confused, the Arabs venture through the throes of the unforgiving desert, with their vehicle breaking down in their quest for revenge. As they wander aimlessly, searching for Cheech and Chong, little do they know that the duo has fallen prey to a couple of alluring French women, who are capturing their every misstep on hidden cameras.

With nightfall approaching, Cheech and Chong find themselves once again stranded, this time at a deserted motel on the periphery of nowhere. Abandoned by their French companions, they ponder their next move as the encroaching darkness envelops them. Meanwhile, the Arabs’s relentless search continues, stumbling through the desert like lost souls, blissfully unaware of their fateful meeting with the stoners looming just ahead.

Amid their misadventures, Cheech and Chong serendipitously encounter the flamboyant comedian Rip Taylor. Bringing life and humor, he reduces Chong to tears before whisking them away to Las Vegas. Dressed in outlandish women’s clothing to mask their disheveled appearance, they unwittingly share a dining experience with a trio of Arabs who, like them, escaped the harsh desert conditions. Just as they settle in for dinner, Chong’s peyote-laden stupor begins to unravel his sanity, leading to comedic chaos.

As the Arabs start to notice the pair’s erratic actions, Cheech and Chong make a desperate retreat, only for their wigs to betray them—exposing their true identities. Angered, the Arabs give chase, herding the duo through the lively streets of Las Vegas. In a frantic scramble, they stumble upon a women-only porn theater where the Arabs have an unexpected epiphany. The footage of Cheech and Chong’s past entanglements with their own girlfriends rolls on screen, giving the Arabs a fresh surge of inspiration.

Taking advantage of the commotion, Cheech and Chong skillfully escape, shedding their ludicrous disguises as they flee the scene. The following day, as they hastily prepare to leave the city, they come face-to-face with the very Arabs from whom they had escaped, now accompanied by their French girlfriends. Initially filled with dread, Cheech and Chong seek a way out, only to discover that the Arabs harbor no intention of retribution; instead, they’ve envisioned casting the duo in a series of adult films, laundering their profits in the process.

As the absurd reality settles in, Cheech’s voiceover reflects, “hey, things are tough all over,” a witty nod to the sheer ridiculousness of their escapades.