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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.

Runtime: 1 hr 33 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

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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Reviews for National Security

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1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating; UK critics are listed first)
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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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Is it a thoroughly offensive attempt to disguise a reactionary view of African-Americans as manipulative, self-serving, serial complainers as 'comedy'? Definitely.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
02/18/03
Jamie Russell
Jamie Russell
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
03/22/03
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

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Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
02/27/03
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
N/R

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Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
03/25/03
Guardian [UK]
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: FilmFour.com | comment Comment
03/23/03
FilmFour.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: Daily Mail [UK] | comment Comment
12/15/03
Christopher Tookey
Christopher Tookey
Daily Mail [UK]
N/R

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Full Review Source: Daily Mirror [UK] | comment Comment
05/20/03
Jonathan Ross
Jonathan Ross
Daily Mirror [UK]
N/R

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Full Review Source: This is London | comment Comment
03/22/03
Neil Norman
Neil Norman
This is London

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

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

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

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
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by fresh rating; UK critics are listed first)
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