National Security

Double negative doesn't always make a positive. Like in the case of Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn.

Surprisingly good

It's worth remembering that this was released just 12 years after the police bashing of Rodney King and little had changed between 1991 and 2003, and as we well know the 'race and police' situation remains the same in the U.S.A. in 2022. That's a longwinded way of saying that the comedy on show here is still (sadly) relevant and has bite. Few actors (Chris Farley is another) do 'barely contained range' quite as well as Steve Zahn.

Amiable enough lightweight buddy-cop movie breezes by on the enjoyable chemistry between its stars (seriously, am I starting to come round to Martin Lawrence?), though it seems permanently stuck on the runway in terms of its plotting and comedy – the police beating gag that starts the film proper promises a more darkly satiric tone that never materialises, and a platinum-dyed Roberts is such an insignificant threat that the finale has no punch whatsoever. Easy enough to watch, but not memorable.

Was someone even surprised that this was terrible?

Was this movie designed to produce racists? I can't think of one single decent thing about Martin Lawrence's character. Yet, Steve Zahn's have plenty. In fact, he was nothing but a pinnacle of decency. Why do we, like Steve Zahn, must put up with so much and still pretend there's nothing wrong? I can only think of one explanation: A movie that was deliberately constructed to make us hate. It's like the new Birth of a Nation, only in a perfect disguise.

Couple of laughs, but I don't like Zahn or Lawrence all that much.

National Security still manages to entertain you even though it feels somewhat rehashed and disposable at times because of its prescribed premise - put two mismatched partners together, watch them bicker and battle and grudgingly grow to love and respect each other. Throw in a life threatening event towards the end of the film that turns into a life saving one and you've got 48 Hours-lite.

Dumb funny. Kind of entertaining, in a 'Saving Silverman' kind of way.

Disappointing for starring two great talents.

Fairly lightweight mix of a good-cop bad-cop, goofy cop flick. Harmless enough and has some funny moments and a few good stunts, but stake out it isn't.

Typical silly buddy comedy.

Love Martin Lawrence.

Sometimes Criticker's Probable Score is way off, and sometimes it's right on. This one was right on. Just awful. I wanted to slap Martin Lawrence's face during the entire movie. There's a not-bad plot idea in there somewhere, but this ain't how you do it.

Some funny low-brow slapstick comedy throughout the movie. I'm not a big Martin Lawrence fan but I do remember laughing quite a bit, probably more due to Steve Zahn. Just as a note I enjoy "low-comedy" so this movie was decent for me. If you don't like slap-stick and the like, then stay away from this one.

It's pretty funny. Martin Lawrence is a bit too over-the-top and they don't give Zahn enough to do. It will adequately waste some time in the day.

Some few funny moments, but ultimately just a straight up bad film.

Generic cop comedy #12,745 starring white guy having to work with black guy who is his polar opposite. Hooray for originality!

yeah yeah 2 cops...personal issues...world's in danger formulaic as hell

What the problem is.

Lawrence and Zahn each get off a funny line or two, but for the most part this is packed with skits and bits that seem half-thought out ("Now can I have a chip?"). And the story takes itself too seriously, which becomes problematic in the "action-packed" climax; the direction given to Zahn seems to have been "I want you really excited about killing the crap out of the bad guy, Steve. I want you creaming your pants."

I needed National Security after watching this. Cancer it be. I was traumatized after seeing the first 5 seconds of it.

not so good

Buddy-comedy!? Not a genre for good reviews. Didn't expect good movie from a maker of Beverly Hills Ninja. Film offers action and explosions and after that more action and explosions. Thats basically all. Steve Zahn was pretty good but Lawrence in other hand was mostly over annoying.

I hate myself.

I actually saw this shit in theaters. Why? Maybe I was trying to make a friend or something. Anyway, I don't deserve to have friends for contributing to this movie's box office.

Unfunny tripe. Doesn't everyone know that Steve Zahn is funny only as a stoner-type who knows less than everyone else? Doesn't everyone know that Martin Lawrence has never been funny? And doesn't everyone know that if they want to watch an interracial buddy cop movie, they should rent 48 Hrs.?

funny

Nothing works in this one. I've never been a fan of Martin Lawrence but he's even more un-funny here than usual. Zahn seems like a nice guy and it's a pity that he's getting this kind of roles. The film tries to shake racial stereotypes but ends up enforcing them.

This movie is a good amusement, but it is not must being taken seriously.