National Security 2003

Glenn Lovell, San Jose Mercury News: It's meant to wear down and demoralize critics who are about to launch into a whole new year of worthless buddy comedies. Read more

John Monaghan, Detroit Free Press: Has an off-putting racial subtext that makes it difficult to simply sit back and enjoy. Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: Loud, crass, dumb and then even dumber. Read more

Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune: I wouldn't race out to see National Security, but it does give you exactly what you'd expect: yuks, explosions and brawling buddies rolling all over those overused L.A. freeways. Read more

A.O. Scott, New York Times: National Security lacks the wit to do anything new and instead recycles tired jokes and attitudes. Read more

Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A film that may not breach national security, but is an unfortunate breach of talent. Read more

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: I laughed even though Lawrence has been doing the paranoid brother shtick since his sketchy, self-titled-sitcom days. Read more

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: A film that's both laugh out loud funny and surprisingly subtle. Read more

Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle: Its acrimonious message lies in the way it depicts black oversensitivity and an atmosphere of political correctness as the only obstacles to harmony. Read more

Scott Brown, Entertainment Weekly: [Zahn] looks perpetually on the verge of an aneurysm, relieved only by periodic slo-mo shootouts that set a new standard in post-Michael Bay preposterousness. Read more

Ray Conlogue, Globe and Mail: 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 more

Matt Weitz, Dallas Morning News: The less you engage your brain, the more you'll enjoy National Security. Read more

Chuck Wilson, L.A. Weekly: It's not really clear what's being stolen or why, but reason isn't as important to the screen writing team of Jay Scherick and David Ronn as getting to the next car chase. Read more

Gene Seymour, Newsday: If it does anything at all, National Security should demonstrate the diminishing returns of Lawrence trying to outswagger, outsass and outshoot Eddie Murphy. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Movies like National Security are indicative of how little creativity exists in most high-profile Hollywood offerings, and how little faith filmmakers have in the intelligence of multiplex audiences. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: Combines a sour story with a repellent lead character, deadly comic schtick and tin-eared direction to produce 90 minutes of sheer, plodding mirthlessness. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Daphne Gordon, Toronto Star: The film is clearly an anti-racist warning, but Earl's silly, closed-minded anger is a major distraction from the comedy though most of the movie. Read more

Time Out: Read more

Mike Clark, USA Today: An action farce that's on the stale side of banter-heavy cop high jinks. Read more

Joe Leydon, Variety: Despite some tasty contributions from Lawrence and Zahn, too much of National Security has the bland flavor of microwaved leftovers. Read more

Michael Miller, Village Voice: As the two cop manques overcome their dearth of common sense to save the day, the film achieves a comic playfulness. Read more