National Security
Columbia Pictures | Release Date: January 17, 2003 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
31
METASCORE
Generally unfavorable reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews
Positive:
5
Mixed:
7
Negative:
13
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)Ray Conlogue
Entertaining and well done. Without losing its comic rhythm for a moment, it is also a withering spoof of black victimism and the corrupting effect of racial solidarity on the American legal system. Read full review
75
Boston GlobeWesley Morris
The film is profane. But who knew police brutality could play as a laughing matter? Read full review
70
Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas
A funny, raucous action comedy, effectively teams Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn in a film that's both laugh out loud funny and surprisingly subtle. Read full review
67
Seattle Post-IntelligencerWilliam Arnold
It's only a notch above the routine, and it obeys all the conventions of its tired formula, but it also tones the anarchy with a serious edge and it works a surprisingly effective vein of race-relations satire. Read full review
63
USA TodayMike Clark
The picture is all Lawrence and Zahn, whose dynamics get something going, though not enough (please!) to spark a buddy sequel. Read full review
50
Chicago TribuneMichael Wilmington
Lawrence and Zahn generate enough comic tension and mayhem to jump-start this mass of action-comedy cliches into a fairly amusing show. Read full review
50
Village VoiceMichael Miller
As the two cop manqués overcome their dearth of common sense to save the day, the film achieves a comic playfulness. Read full review
50
Entertainment WeeklyScott Brown
The funny thing about Lawrence is he's often paired with a partner (e.g., ''Blue Streak,'' ''Bad Boys,'' etc.), yet has no aptitude for sharing the screen. Read full review
50
VarietyJoe Leydon
Comes off as a retro reprise of those slam-bang, buddy-buddy action-comedies that proliferated throughout the '80s in the wake of "48 HRS." Read full review
50
ReelViewsJames Berardinelli
Lawrence is often more irritating than funny, and it doesn't help that the direction is pedestrian and the screenplay dismal. Read full review
50
L.A. WeeklyChuck Wilson
The career of the lovably tense Zahn may benefit more from this movie than that of Lawrence, who’s funny, here and there, but who appears to be working at half speed. Read full review
40
TV Guide MagazineAngel Cohn
The cliched plot and unconvincing action sequences -- don't blend well with the comic scenes and make the film look painfully cheap. Read full review
38
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
It's too bad the film never makes good on its early promise, but clearly, the rolling fireballs and flying bullets are the priority. Read full review
30
Washington PostDesson Thomson
Martin Lawrence is all there is to National Security. And that's about two or three points out of a possible 10 Read full review
30
The A.V. ClubScott Tobias
Lawrence clamors for the spotlight. If he ever found a way to make desperation look like charisma, he'd be the funniest man in America. Read full review
30
Wall Street JournalJoe Morgenstern
Has many more downs than ups, but this ragged action comedy, with Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn as mismatched buddies, rings some outrageously funny changes on a deadly serious genre of amateur video that began with Rodney King.
25
Rolling StonePeter Travers
It's too bad Martin already made “What's the Worst That Could Happen?” The title really fits this one. Read full review
25
Baltimore SunMichael Sragow
Fails to meld suspense and farce or to bring even the wildest pursuits and smash-ups any visual sense of comedy. Read full review
25
New York PostJonathan Foreman
Everything about National Security is so lazy and uninspired, it's hard to believe that director Dennis Dugan also made "Happy Gilmore," arguably Adam Sandler's funniest movie. Read full review
20
Film ThreatKevin Carr
The jokes are so tired and irritating in the film, I found myself anticipating the funny gags from the trailers because those were the only ones that were remotely humorous. In fact, I only laughed three times in the whole picture. Read full review
20
Chicago ReaderBill Stamets
The plot is astoundingly senseless. Read full review
20
Austin ChronicleMarjorie Baumgarten
In the final analysis though, the only real thing being smuggled in National Security is unwitting patrons' admission fees. Read full review
20
Washington PostAnn Hornaday
To call Lawrence a poor man's Richard Pryor libels not just Pryor but also the 33 million Americans currently living under the poverty line. Read full review
10
The New York TimesDana Stevens
Lacks the wit to do anything new and instead recycles tired jokes and attitudes. Read full review
0
San Francisco ChronicleMick LaSalle
A sour story with a repellent lead character, deadly comic schtick and tin-eared direction to produce 90 minutes of sheer, plodding mirthlessness. Read full review
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