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National Security

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National Security (2003)

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Reviews Counted:26

Fresh:6

Rotten:20

Average Rating:4/10

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: Comedies

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
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    Reviews for National Security

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    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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    Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
    05/19/04
    Colin Covert
    Colin Covert
    Minneapolis Star Tribune
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    It's too bad Martin already made What's the Worst That Could Happen? The title really fits this one.

    Full Review Source: Rolling Stone | comment Comment
    01/31/03
    Peter Travers
    Peter Travers
    Rolling Stone
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    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
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Despite some tasty contributions from Lawrence and Zahn, too much of National Security has the bland flavor of microwaved leftovers.

    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    01/20/03
    Joe Leydon
    Joe Leydon
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    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

    A lame blend of comedy and action in which both credibility and laughs are blown to smithereens.

    Full Review Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News | comment Comment
    01/18/03
    Robert Denerstein
    Robert Denerstein
    Denver Rocky Mountain News
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    A retread of all those buddies-in- the-cop-car pictures of the 1980s; not even slightly dusted off.

    Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
    01/17/03
    Desson Thomson
    Desson Thomson
    Washington Post
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    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
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    The film is clearly an anti-racist warning, but Earl's silly, closed-minded anger is a major distraction from the comedy though most of the movie.

    Full Review Source: Toronto Star | comment Comment
    01/17/03
    Daphne Gordon
    Daphne Gordon
    Toronto Star
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Combines a sour story with a repellent lead character, deadly comic schtick and tin-eared direction to produce 90 minutes of sheer, plodding mirthlessness.

    Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
    01/17/03
    Mick LaSalle
    Mick LaSalle
    San Francisco Chronicle
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    If it does anything at all, National Security should demonstrate the diminishing returns of Lawrence trying to outswagger, outsass and outshoot Eddie Murphy.

    Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
    01/17/03
    Gene Seymour
    Gene Seymour
    Newsday
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Lazy and uninspired.

    Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
    01/17/03
    Jonathan Foreman
    Jonathan Foreman
    New York Post
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Its acrimonious message lies in the way it depicts black oversensitivity and an atmosphere of political correctness as the only obstacles to harmony.

    Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
    01/17/03
    Eric Harrison
    Eric Harrison
    Houston Chronicle
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Squanders the goodwill generated by some genuine laughs early in its running time with an inevitable descent into generic plotting, tired physical gags and lots and lots of things blowing up.

    Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
    01/17/03
    Frank Scheck
    Frank Scheck
    Hollywood Reporter
    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

    Loud, crass, dumb and then even dumber.

    Full Review Source: Detroit News | comment Comment
    01/17/03
    Tom Long
    Tom Long
    Detroit News
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Has an off-putting racial subtext that makes it difficult to simply sit back and enjoy.

    Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | comment Comment
    01/17/03
    John Monaghan
    John Monaghan
    Detroit Free Press
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    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

    An action farce that's on the stale side of banter-heavy cop high jinks.

    Full Review Source: USA Today | comment Comment
    01/16/03
    Mike Clark
    Mike Clark
    USA Today
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    It's meant to wear down and demoralize critics who are about to launch into a whole new year of worthless buddy comedies.

    Full Review Source: San Jose Mercury News | comment Comment
    01/16/03
    Glenn Lovell
    Glenn Lovell
    San Jose Mercury News
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
     
     
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