FeaturePG-132003·89m·6.0

National Security

They only look like cops.

ActionComedyCrime

Earl Montgomery, a bombastic police academy reject, and Hank Rafferty, a disgraced, mild-mannered cop, can't seem to escape each other. They met on opposite sides of the law during a routine traffic stop that escalated out of control; now as lowly security guards they're thrown together to bust a smuggling operation.

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Cast

Martin Lawrence

Earl Montgomery

Steve Zahn

Hank Rafferty

Colm Feore

Detective Frank McDuff

Bill Duke

Lieutenant Washington

Eric Roberts

Nash

Timothy Busfield

Charlie Reed

Robinne Lee

Denise

Brett Cullen

Heston

Ken Lerner

Hank's Lawyer

Matt McCoy

Robert Barton

Joe Flaherty

Owen Fergus

Mari Morrow

Lola

Cleo King

Woman in Car

Gerry Del Sol

Booking Clerk

Stephen Tobolowsky

Billy Narthax

Keith Cooke

Ang

Mike Brady

Smith

Troy Gilbert

Cain

Anthony G. Schmidt

Eddie

Joe Bucaro III

Bratton

Details

Status
Released
Original language
English
Languages
English
Budget
Revenue
$50.1M
Age rating
PG-13
Quality
4K UHD · HDR10 · Dolby Vision
Production
Columbia PicturesThe FirmIntermedia FilmsOutlaw Productions

Crew

Director

Dennis Dugan

Writers

David Ronn, Jay Scherick

Randy Edelman

Original Music Composer

Oliver Wood

Director of Photography

Debra Neil-Fisher

Editor

Larry Fulton

Production Design

April Ferry

Costume Design

Gallery

Reviews

r96sk

1/12/2025

6.0

<em>'National Security'</em> isn't terribly adrift from being a standard Martin Lawrence flick, which would be a compliment as he is an actor I've mildly enjoyed in said sorta roles down the years. This one just doesn't work, which is a shame as I also like co-star Steve Zahn in other films too. Zahn feels miscast, Lawrence is the one that stops this from truly falling through the floor. There are good jokes in there, albeit via the overly relied upon race humour, and it features some solid practical effects/stunts. I just never really got into it, nor did I sense that the leads were a satisfactory match for each other.