Two mismatched security guards are thrown together to bust a smuggling operation.Two mismatched security guards are thrown together to bust a smuggling operation.Two mismatched security guards are thrown together to bust a smuggling operation.
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaSteve Zahn's haircut and physical appearance were designed to mimic those of actual police that he had seen and studied. The transformation was so effective that when Zahn and his brother went into a bar one night, people sitting near them moved away. Zahn's brother laughed and said "They think you're a cop!"
- GoofsDuring sentencing, Hank is sent to a "state penitentiary" to serve his 6-month sentence. A 6-month sentence would be served in a county jail. State penitentiaries are for sentences of one year or more.
- Quotes
[Earl is trying to reach for the keys in his car and Hank is walking up to him]
Hank: Need some help?
Earl: Are you asking me if I need some help or am I stealing this car?
Hank: Are you stealing this car?
Earl: Does it look like I'm stealing this damn car?
Hank: A little bit.
Earl: Why, 'cause I'm black? If you saw a white guy doing this you'd give him a reward.
Hank: Let me see your license.
Earl: I ain't showin' you a damn thing! This is my car and I didn't do anything wrong. You owe me an apology.
Hank: You're in dangerous grounds here, bub, I'd be careful what comes out of your mouth next!
Earl: Oh, you want to hear what comes out of my mouth next? You're... a... fucking... pig!
- Alternate versionsDVD has alternate ending.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Liquid Bridge: World Premiere (2003)
- SoundtracksEl Preso
Written by Alvaro Velasquez
Performed by Fruko y sus Tesos
Courtesy of Discos Fuentes
The movie centers around Earl Montgomery (Martin Lawrence), a security officer, and Hank Rafferty (Steve Zahn) an ex-police officer who turns security officer after what seems to be a phony Rodney King beating. Now, this is where the movie starts to go wrong. It takes the typical black/white man stereotype and turns it into a cop movie that dares to enter where no one has gone before- make consistent black jokes from a black guy. Don't get me wrong, I'm not using black in a derogatory way, but merely to point out that these "African-American" or so called black jokes are unfunny and dull.
Later, the two somehow stumble upon a plot to take a precious metal-alloy that will make a crooked cop and some other thiefs rich. By coincidence, this group is also responsible for Hank's partners death. Because of this, Hank goes to revenge his partner.
What makes this movie even worse is it's seemingly full of holes. For instance, it dramatizes the court scene to make it seem important, but then puts an almost all African-American jury in as if it is somehow funny. Even Hank isn't given a fair trial. Moments of this movie center around police brutality and equality, something this movie doesn't care to resolve at all.
I laughed no much in this movie... no wait that was another movie. In this movie I laughed only once. It seems that 95% of the jokes were race related and after the first 10 minutes of the movie, no fresh material was ever given. In fact, all the jokes were told by Lawrence, who seems to have sold himself out on this movie. His 20 million dollar contract seems laughable at best for such a poor movie.
This movie could have been replaced with stick figures and I would have been just as delighted.
2/10
- FClubPrez
- Jul 5, 2003
- How long is National Security?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Milliy xavfsizlik
- Filming locations
- Public Storage - 3810 Eagle Rock Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA(Burglary scene near beginning of film.)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $36,381,186
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $14,369,694
- Jan 19, 2003
- Gross worldwide
- $50,097,949
- Runtime1 hour 28 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
Contribute to this page
![Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn in National Security (2003)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BOTgzZDQzNTQtY2NmMC00YTM1LWEwYmEtZGIwNmJmOTdiOTZlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQxNzMzNDI@._V1_QL75_UX90_CR0,0,90,133_.jpg)