National Security (2003)

Two mismatched security guards are thrown together to bust a smuggling operation.

Director:

Dennis Dugan

Writers:

Jay Scherick, David Ronn

Stars:

Martin Lawrence, Steve Zahn, Colm Feore

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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
Matt McCoy	...	Robert Barton
Brett Cullen	...	Heston
Cleo King	...	Woman in Car
Gerry Del Sol	...	Booking Clerk
Ken Lerner	...	Hank's Lawyer
Mari Morrow	...	Lola
Stephen Tobolowsky	...	Billy Narthax
Joe Flaherty	...	Owen Fergus

Storyline

Earl and Hank have only one thing in common: they're both L.A.P.D. rejects. One just got kicked out, the other can't even get in. After confronting each other on opposite sides of the law during a traffic stop that escalates out of control, these two luckless individuals end up partnered as lowly security guards. Despite being damned to the lowest rung of the law enforcement ladder, Earl and Hank uncover a sophisticated smuggling operation led by Nash 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. What these two unlikely partners do to law enforcement is a crime, but they just might save the day. That is, if they don't kill each other first.

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Plot Keywords:

security guard | reconciliation | shootout | video camera | conspiracy theory | 

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Taglines:

This January, a buddy comedy without the buddies.

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence, language and some sensuality

Details

Official Sites:

Columbia Tristar [fr] Sony [us]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 January 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

Segurança Nacional

Filming Locations:

Blue Cloud Movie Ranch - 20000 Blue Cloud Road, Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$319,131 (Australia) (9 May 2003)

Gross:

$901,698 (South Africa) (30 May 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Outlaw Productions (I), Intermedia Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

More than 400,000 bottles of soft drinks and beer were used as background scenery, during the shootout in the warehouse.

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Goofs

When the truck and trailer jackknife on the bridge, in the camera angle from the front you can clearly see the "steering" wheels on the trailer that are activated to make the trailer go sideways.

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Quotes

Earl: Your partner got killed. You lost your job. You went to jail. Your girlfriend walked. You got a job as a security guard at a hundred and eighty-two dollars a week. You know what you are, Hank? You're a black man.

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Connections

References The Jerry Springer Show (1991)

User Reviews

One of Lawrence's BEST in a long time!!

This is probably his best or one of his best in a long....long time. This is much better than Blue Streak and Lawrence plays the act well. His partner in the biz, Steve Zahn plays the angry white man great. This is a hilarious film and everyone couldn't stop laughing in the sold-out theater I was watching it from. I went with a couple of friends and we were laughing and repeating quotes all the way home. One quote that sent the crowd roaring was when Lawrence is talking to Nash (Julia Robert's Brother Eric) when they are out of the van with the certain items (watch the movie to find out).