Cruchot, the former chief of the St. Tropez police station, is now living a comfortable life with his wealthy wife in her castle. However, he is bored with his new lifestyle and often gets into arguments with the butler, who doesn't allow him to do any work.
One day, one of Cruchot's former colleagues, Fougasse, is involved in an accident that causes him to suffer from amnesia. Cruchot and his old teammates decide to take matters into their own hands and band together to help Fougasse regain his memory.
In their old police uniforms, the retired officers take to the streets and start causing chaos in St. Tropez once again. They start by hijacking a helicopter and flying over the town, causing mayhem and attracting the attention of the current police force.
Throughout the course of the movie, the retired officers take Fougasse to all their old haunts and recount their various adventures and mishaps. They visit the beach where they once cracked down on nudity and the nightclub where they once tried to arrest a group of musicians for playing jazz music.
As they relive their past, the officers begin to wonder whether they've done enough with their lives and whether they should revisit their careers in law enforcement. Eventually, they manage to help Fougasse regain his memory and return him to his normal life.
Overall, The Gendarme Takes Off is a lighthearted comedy that explores themes of nostalgia, friendship, and the passage of time.