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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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81 - 99 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

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

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

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

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

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

Movies like National Security are indicative of how little creativity exists in most high-profile Hollywood offerings, and how little faith filmmakers have in the intelligence of multiplex audiences.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
01/16/03
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews

"National Security" is another in a string of indistinguishable dumb action comedies that would all run together in the mind of anyone unfortunate enough to watch them if they were not so instantly forgettable.

Full Review Source: Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies | comment Comment
01/16/03
Nell Minow
Nell Minow
Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies

The mildly amusing buddy/action comedy is more over-the-top Lawrence fare.

Full Review Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | comment Comment
01/16/03
Mack Bates
Mack Bates
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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

It's not really clear what's being stolen or why, but reason isn't as important to the screen writing team of Jay Scherick and David Ronn as getting to the next car chase.

Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
01/16/03
Chuck Wilson
Chuck Wilson
L.A. Weekly

[Zahn] looks perpetually on the verge of an aneurysm, relieved only by periodic slo-mo shootouts that set a new standard in post-Michael Bay preposterousness.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Weekly | comment Comment
01/16/03
Scott Brown
Scott Brown
Entertainment Weekly

Your enjoyment of National Security will be in direct proportion to how much you can tolerate Martin Lawrence's antics.

Full Review Source: Citysearch | comment Comment
01/16/03
Erich Scholz
Erich Scholz
Citysearch

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

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
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
01/16/03
Robin Clifford
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews

I'll give ten bucks to the first gypsy willing to curse anyone even suggesting a sequel.

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
01/16/03
Laura Clifford
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews

It’s simply lousy and racist.

Full Review Source: FilmsInReview.com | comment Comment
01/15/03
Victoria Alexander
Victoria Alexander
FilmsInReview.com

Rent-a-cop bullplop.

Full Review Source: SPLICEDWire | comment Comment
01/15/03
Rob Blackwelder
Rob Blackwelder
SPLICEDWire

A tasteless comedy that resorts to racism for most of its humor.

Full Review Source: Internet Reviews | comment Comment
01/15/03
Steve Rhodes
Steve Rhodes
Internet Reviews
 
 
81 - 99 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5
all

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