Bill Duke, Brett Cullen, Colm Feore

Although it's enjoyable as a brainless diversion, National Security is one of those forgettable entertainments that denies its own considerable potential. It's a police action comedy in the m...( read more  read more... )old of Beverly Hills Cop, tailored to the buddy-flick formula and laced with racial tensions of the post-Rodney King era. It's set in Los Angeles, where dedicated cop Hank (Steve Zahn) does jail time for allegedly beating Earl (Martin Lawrence), whose only real assailant was an overzealous bumblebee. As fate and lazy screenwriting would have it, the two adversaries reunite as security guards, teaming up to crack a team of violent smugglers led by bleached-blonde Eric Roberts (further proof that this movie's got nothing new to offer). Routine stunts distract from the comedy's mostly untapped resource: Lawrence pointedly riffs on racial profiling, and his prolific ad-libs play well against Zahn's by-the-book straight man. If their partnership had been allowed to develop more believably, National Security might have been more than a blip on the box-office radar. --Jeff Shannon

Flixster Users

58% liked it

62,684 ratings

Critics

12% liked it

85 critics

PG-13, 88 min.

Directed by: Dennis Dugan

Release Date: January 17, 2003

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DVD Release Date: May 27, 2003

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Stats: 1,674 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,674)


  • June 28, 2008
    Earl's attitude was too disrespectful to make this movie fun for me. The continuous racial comments really got old after awhile, too.
  • March 7, 2008
    bad
  • December 15, 2007
    no one was oppressed, or impressed
  • September 6, 2007
    I am SOOO glad i never paid money to see this, neither in the theatre nor on rent. While portions of the movie were funny and laughable, the overall movie itself was mindless and relatively uneventful. I'm glad i saw it, but i don't consider this movie a buyer whatsoever.
  • August 20, 2007
    Good movie. Will keep most of us entertained.
  • November 15, 2009
    i was a bit skeptical about this to star with but it was really good, it was a laugh to watch teh two characters at each other before coming great parterns.
  • September 6, 2009
    yet another movie where the black man makes a fool out of a white guy.

    Steve Zahn can act circles around martin.
  • August 27, 2009
    National Security was a great movie, I found it to be hillarious. Martin Lawrence did a great job in this movie, I liked all the cop jokes and shooting scenes, it made for a great film.
  • July 2, 2009
    a hot black chick would never date Steve Zahn
  • June 6, 2009
    Seen It
    Review Coming Soon

Critic Reviews


January 31, 2003
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

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

January 17, 2003
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

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

January 16, 2003
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

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

View more National Security reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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National Security Trivia


  • In the movie "National Lampoon's Vacation" what is the name of the actor/comedian (R.I.P.) that plays the security guard Chevy Chase takes hostage in Wally World???  Answer »
  • in the movie "national security" what did Earls say when hank asked him if he can hot wire a car   Answer »
  • Who starred in 'National Security'?  Answer »
  • Name the Bad Boy who worked for National Security and had more than one Houseparty.  Answer »

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