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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: Comedies

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 date; UK critics are listed first)
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Time Out
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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]

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
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
03/25/03
Guardian [UK]
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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: This is London | comment Comment
03/22/03
Neil Norman
Neil Norman
This is London

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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

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
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Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Mark Halverson
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review

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

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Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
05/19/04
Colin Covert
Colin Covert
Minneapolis Star Tribune

If... Martin Lawrence and Adam Sandler [were] in the same movie, it might... create an anti-comedy field so strong that both their careers would be sucked into the vortex...

Full Review Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette | comment Comment
01/04/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

A patently offensive, racist and repulsive waste of celluloid, an affront to blacks, whites and human beings in general.

Full Review Source: Las Vegas Weekly | comment Comment
09/06/03
Josh Bell
Josh Bell
Las Vegas Weekly

Put your hands up and back away from this rent-a-flop.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
08/29/03
Terri Clark
Terri Clark
Apollo Guide

If rampant misogyny and racism sound like a laugh riot, by all means see National Security, a 'comedy' so aggressively unpleasant that it’s worthy of squirms.

Full Review Source: State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL) | comment Comment
06/26/03
Nick Rogers
Nick Rogers
State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL)

Click to read the article

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

Dugan's predictable, thin-plotted lark reads as little more than a black guy-white guy Three's Company.

Full Review Source: Premiere Magazine | comment Comment
03/04/03
Jessica Letkemann
Jessica Letkemann
Premiere Magazine
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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