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National Security

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National Security (2003)

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Reviews Counted:85

Fresh:10

Rotten:75

Average Rating:3.3/10

Consensus: The action in National Security is mindless, while the humor says nothing insightful about racial issues.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for violence, language and some sensuality

Runtime: 1 hr 33 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Theatrical Release:Jan 17, 2003 Wide

Box Office: $35,764,982

Synopsis: In the hilarious, action-packed comedy National Security, Martin Lawrence (Earl Montgomery) stars as a cocky L.A. P.D. cadet who would probably be a great cop if he weren’t such a show-off. Earl’s... In the hilarious, action-packed comedy National Security, Martin Lawrence (Earl Montgomery) stars as a cocky L.A. P.D. cadet who would probably be a great cop if he weren’t such a show-off. Earl’s rebellious attitude gets him thrown out of the police academy and he has to settle for a job as a lowly security guard with "National Security."

After a run-in with an uptight police officer, Hank Rafferty (Steve Zahn), Earl accuses him of harassment. Hank loses his badge, is thrown into jail, and eventually winds up working for National Security as well.

Earl’s overzealous behavior leads to a sophisticated smuggling operation led by Nash (Eric Roberts) and a possible police cover-up.

Now everyone wants Earl and Hank dead – though they just may kill each other first.

Columbia Pictures presents An Outlaw/Intermedia/Firm Films Production, National Security starring Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn. Colm Feore, Bill Duke, Eric Roberts, Timothy Busfield and Robinne Lee co-star. The director is Dennis Dugan. The screenplay is written by Jay Scherick & David Ronn. Bobby Newmyer, Jeff Silver and Michael Green are the producers. Moritz Borman, Guy East, Nigel Sinclair and Martin Lawrence are the executive producers. Oliver Wood is the director of photography. Larry Fulton is the production designer. Debra Neil-Fisher, A.C.E, is the editor. April Ferry is the costume designer. The music is by Randy Edelman. The music supervision is by Michelle Kuznetsky and Mary Ramos.

National Security is rated PG-13 for violence, language and some sensuality. [More]

Starring: Martin Lawrence, Steve Zahn, Eric Roberts, Bill Duke

Starring: Martin Lawrence, Steve Zahn, Eric Roberts, Bill Duke, Colm Feore, Timothy Busfield

Director: Dennis Dugan

Director: Dennis Dugan
Screenwriter: David Ronn, Jay Scherick
Producer: Michael Green, Jeffrey Silver, Bobby Newmeyer
Composer: Randy Edelman
Studio: Columbia Pictures

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Release:

Nov 18, 2008

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • When Martin Lawrence (Bad Boys) and Steve Zahn (Daddy Day Care) team up as security guards, no one's safe! LAPD reject and major troublemaker, Earl (Lawrence), got L.A. cop Hank (Zahn) kicked off theforce for brutality. Now, these two guys, who can't stand each other, are stuck working together aslowly security guards. And they're playing cops to bring down a smuggling ring if they can stay alive and stay one step ahead of the real cops. Co-starring Eric Roberts (The Specialist), NATIONAL SECURITY will take you on a wild ride with the most unlikely heroes ever to wear a badge!
  • Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for National Security

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    1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating)
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    National Security stays clear of those touchy poignant moments that have ruined so many buddy flicks.

    Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
    01/17/03
    Guylaine Cadorette
    Guylaine Cadorette
    Hollywood.com

    A film that's both laugh out loud funny and surprisingly subtle.

    Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
    01/16/03
    Kevin Thomas
    Kevin Thomas
    Los Angeles Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    A paint-by-number action comedy that yields far more laughs than it should.

    Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
    01/17/03
    Louis B. Hobson
    Louis B. Hobson
    Jam! Movies

    The less you engage your brain, the more you'll enjoy National Security.

    Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
    01/16/03
    Matt Weitz
    Matt Weitz
    Dallas Morning News

    As the two cop manqués overcome their dearth of common sense to save the day, the film achieves a comic playfulness.

    Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
    01/21/03
    Michael Miller
    Michael Miller
    Village Voice

    I wouldn't race out to see National Security, but it does give you exactly what you'd expect: yuks, explosions and brawling buddies rolling all over those overused L.A. freeways.

    Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
    01/16/03
    Michael Wilmington
    Michael Wilmington
    Chicago Tribune
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Without losing its comic rhythm for a moment, it is also a withering spoof of black victimism and the corrupting effect of racial solidarity on the American legal system.

    Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
    01/17/03
    Ray Conlogue
    Ray Conlogue
    Globe and Mail
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    As disposable as they come, National Security is a modestly entertaining re-hash of cop-buddy films of the 80s.

    Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
    05/10/03
    Urban Cinefile Critics
    Urban Cinefile Critics
    Urban Cinefile

    I laughed even though Lawrence has been doing the paranoid brother shtick since his sketchy, self-titled-sitcom days.

    Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
    01/17/03
    Wesley Morris
    Wesley Morris
    Boston Globe
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    It's only a notch above the routine, and it obeys all the conventions of its tired formula, but it also tones the anarchy with a serious edge and it works a surprisingly effective vein of race-relations satire.

    Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
    01/16/03
    William Arnold
    William Arnold
    Seattle Post-Intelligencer

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Sunday Times (Australia) | comment Comment
    06/19/03
    Sunday Times (Australia)

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
    12/06/05
    Film Threat

    This cop comedy is charged with an inane script, an unrealistic setup and brutally unfunny gags.

    Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
    01/17/03
    E! Online

    A film that may not breach national security, but is an unfortunate breach of talent.

    Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
    01/16/03
    Atlanta Journal-Constitution

    National Security lacks the wit to do anything new and instead recycles tired jokes and attitudes.

    Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
    01/16/03
    A.O. Scott
    A.O. Scott
    New York Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    This is a two-star movie dragged down a star because of its unrepentant racism.

    Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment 1 Comment
    04/21/03
    Alan Morrison
    Alan Morrison
    Empire Magazine

    The cliched plot and unconvincing action sequences ... don't blend well with the comic scenes and make the film look painfully cheap.

    Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
    01/17/03
    Angel Cohn
    Angel Cohn
    TV Guide's Movie Guide

    A by-the-numbers sop to adolescent testosterone overload.

    Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
    01/17/03
    Ann Hornaday
    Ann Hornaday
    Washington Post

    Someone has to save us from Lawrence's onslaught of cinematic dross.

    Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
    01/18/03
    Bill Muller
    Bill Muller
    Arizona Republic
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: Modamag.com | comment Comment
    01/24/03
    Brian Orndorf
    Brian Orndorf
    Modamag.com
     
     
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