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.

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Taglines:

They only look like cops.

---

Genres:

Action | Comedy | Crime | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence, language and some sensuality

Details

Official Sites:

Columbia Tristar [France] Sony [United States]

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

Earl's automatic pistol, "Earl Jr.", is a Glock 17 converted to fire fully-automatic. Glock 18C's, as it was meant to portray, have a rate-of-fire selector switch on the slide.

---

Goofs

When they climb into the trailer and find the van, the doors are open and in the next scene the doors are closed. Trailer doors can only be opened and closed from the outside.

---

Quotes

Hank Rafferty: [a tall lady is holding Earl up with one hand] Okay, put him down.
[she looks questioningly at him]
Hank Rafferty: In a minute or, two. Don't hurry.

---

Connections

References Quincy M.E. (1976)

User Reviews

Funny movie...

I thought this was pretty good stuff. If a movie makes you feel uptight then perhaps you should pick another genre besides comedy. It wasn't packaged as serious social commentary. What did you expect?

After putting in 60+ stressfull work hours over this last week, it was kind of nice to put my brain in neutral for a while. Laughter is good for the soul. I didn't want a movie that required a great of thought. Comedies tend to be like that.

So just relax a bit people.

(Larry,Mo,Curly,Joe and Shemp were wasted by critics of the day, and yet their work stands a generation later as classics. Go figure.)

-Rick