National Security (2003)

11% of critics liked it
(88 reviews)
53% of users liked it
(66,656 ratings)

Adversaries become wary allies in this free-wheeling action comedy. Hank Rafferty (Steve Zahn) is a Los Angeles Police Department officer who finds himself out of a job after he becomes involved in a violent altercation with police academy flunk-out Earl Montgomery (Martin Lawrence), escalating into… More Adversaries become wary allies in this free-wheeling action comedy. Hank Rafferty (Steve Zahn) is a Los Angeles Police Department officer who finds himself out of a job after he becomes involved in a violent altercation with police academy flunk-out Earl Montgomery (Martin Lawrence), escalating into a media event which brings the LAPD a wealth of bad publicity. Unable to find work, Hank finally takes a job as a "rent-a-cop" with a private security firm -- and discovers to his annoyance that his new partner is Earl. While neither of them are thrilled to be working together on the lowest strata of the law enforcement community, the two find themselves dealing with bigger crime than they expected when they stumble across evidence of a elite smuggling network operated by criminal mastermind Nash (Eric Roberts). Hank and Earl want to put Nash out of business, and they try without success to persuade the police of the importance of the case. But before long they discover it's not just Nash's men who are after them, but two high-ranking LAPD officials, Lt. Washington (Bill Duke) and Detective McDuff (Colm Feore). National Security was directed by Dennis Dugan, who'd previously helmed antic comedies starring Adam Sandler and Chris Farley; this film also marked Martin Lawrence's entry into the elite of Hollywood's comedy stars, with Lawrence taking home a 20-million-dollar paycheck for his work on the picture. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Dennis Dugan
Written By: David Ronn, Jay Scherick
Genres: Action & Adventure, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 17, 2003 Wide
On DVD: May 27, 2003
Studio: Sony Pictures

Critic Reviews

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
It's too bad Martin already made What's the Worst That Could Happen? The title really fits this one.
Michael Miller, Village Voice
As the two cop manqués overcome their dearth of common sense to save the day, the film achieves a comic playfulness.
Joe Leydon, Variety
Despite some tasty contributions from Lawrence and Zahn, too much of National Security has the bland flavor of microwaved leftovers.
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic
Someone has to save us from Lawrence's onslaught of cinematic dross.
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
A lame blend of comedy and action in which both credibility and laughs are blown to smithereens.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
A retread of all those buddies-in- the-cop-car pictures of the 1980s; not even slightly dusted off.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Indistinguishable dumb action comedy.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
If anything (or anyone) comes close to making us buy this as a higher-ticket item, it's Zahn.
Daniel M. Kimmel, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
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...
Josh Bell, Las Vegas Weekly
A patently offensive, racist and repulsive waste of celluloid, an affront to blacks, whites and human beings in general.
Terri Clark, Apollo Guide
Put your hands up and back away from this rent-a-flop.
Nick Rogers, State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL)
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.
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
As disposable as they come, National Security is a modestly entertaining re-hash of cop-buddy films of the 80s.
Alan Morrison, Empire Magazine
This is a two-star movie dragged down a star because of its unrepentant racism.

Read all 14 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Richard C

C
KJ P

Complete crap, this movie wasn't even funny one bit!
Coxxie M

a hot black chick would never date Steve Zahn
Rachel F

Very funny.
Drew S

I'm still in complete awe that I actually saw this movie, especially considering I can't remember a single thing about it and it took me at least thirty seconds to remember that I actually DID see it.
Jason S

Not all that good.
Khris N

Its hilarious and a very unconventional buddy comedy - Steve Zahn is always undderated!
Steven V

This movie is painfully racist. The writers of this should be ashamed of themselves and the one who approved it for production prisoned. So much for all the efforts at decreasing racism with this film. This wasn't a great comedy but not unbearable.
Deb S

National Security is a fun action comedy about Hank (Steve Zahn) who is kicked off the LAPD force for beating up Earl (Martin Lawrence). The two then bump into each other as security guards. While Earl is planning to have a little fun with girlfriend Lola(Mari Morrow) Earl hears… More
National Security is a fun action comedy about Hank (Steve Zahn) who is kicked off the LAPD force for beating up Earl (Martin Lawrence). The two then bump into each other as security guards. While Earl is planning to have a little fun with girlfriend Lola(Mari Morrow) Earl hears gunfire and goes to see what's up, and finds that Hank's been assigned to the same factory. Despite being damned to the lowest rung of the law enforcement ladder, Earl and Hank uncover a sophisticated smuggling operation led by a crazed Nash (Eric Roberts) and his band of thugs. When Earl and Hank get their hands on some hot property, they go on the run from, first the bad guys, then the L.A.P.D.--led by Lt. Washington and Detective McDuff. It's now up to these two unlikely partners to save the day. That is, if they don't kill each other first as Lawrence proceeds to annoy his partner to the brink of insanity. They may not break new ground, but it's a fun ride. I thought the funniest part was when Steve Zahn's character was trying to kill the bee but instead it looked like he was beating up Martin Lawrence's character. Nice to see Eric Roberts here even if it was such a small role!
Yinalí R

Cool.

Read all 10 featured audience ratings

Cast

            Martin Lawrence as Earl Montgomery

            Steve Zahn as Hank Rafferty

            Colm Feore as Det. McDuff

            Bill Duke as Lt. Washington

            Eric Roberts as Nash

            Timothy Busfield as Charlie Reed

            Robinne Lee as Denise

            Matt McCoy as Robert Barton

            Brett Cullen as Heston

            Cleo King as Woman in Car

            Stephen Tobolowsky as Billy Narthax

            Joe Flaherty as Owen Fergus

            Amy Aquino as Councilwoman

            Mike Brady as Smith

            Carl Ciarfalio as Stanton

            Keith Cooke as Ang

            Maia Danziger as Jaguar Lady

            Hal Fishman as Himself

            Troy M. Gilbert as Cain

            Robert Harvey as Cop at Impound Yard

            Benjamin Hernandez as Detective

            Ken Lerner as Hank's Lawyer

            Dawnn Lewis as Woman at Impound Yard

            Mark Lonow as Detective at Interrogation

            Richardson Morse as Detective

            Anthony Schmidt as Eddie

            Mickey Gilbert (II) as Driving Instructor

            Jocko Marcellino as Sarcastic Cop

            Terry Logan as LAPD Cop

            Bruce Franklin Singer as Training Facility Officer

            Hiep Thi Le as McDuff's Secretary

            Mari Morrow as Lola

            Daniel Sudick as Training Facility Officer

            Jonathan Loughran as Sarcastic Cop

            Jeff Ross as Security Guard

            Noel Guglielmi as Latino Convict

            Jackie Flynn as Guard in Solitary

            Wayne Morse as Bailiff

            Margaret Travolta as Judge

            Bobby McLaughlin as Ashcroft

            Greg Serano as Carjacker

            Joe Bucaro III as Bratton

            John Henry Binder as Cop at Impound Yard

            Gerry Del Sol as Booking Clerk

            Jeffrey Ross as Security Guard

            Leslie Jones as Trucker Woman

            Tom Forrest as Obnoxious Guy

            Mike Grasso as Training Cop

            Andy Dugan as Student Driver

            Amanda Van Roberts as Rich Lady
See full cast