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MOVIE REVIEW
National Security
(2003) Starring:
Martin Lawrence, Steve Zahn
Director:
Dennis Dugan
Rating: PG-13
Studio:
Columbia
Review
Posted: 1.18.03
Spoilers:
None
By
Sara Michelle Fetters
"Paint-By-Numbers
National Security Uninspired and Familiar"
The idea
of putting Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn together in the same
film sounds like a good idea in theory. Lawrence and his
obnoxious, in-you-face style of humor is proof a little can go a
long way whilst Zahn and his sublime goofiness is a gift best
left to moderation. Together there would be the real possibility
that these two could bring out the best qualities in one another
while counteracting their common penchant for being overbearing.
Sadly,
this is not the case in National Security, an inane
buddy-comedy sprinkled with few moments of interest. If
anything, the movie plays up both Lawrence’s and Zahn’s faults
and only showcases intermittently the duo’s strengths. That’s
too bad for despite the formulaic familiarity of the concept,
National Security could have been diverting fun.
Lawrence
is Earl Montgomery, a police officer-in-training whose skills
are a tad sub-par. But before Montgomery can change people’s
minds on that score, he’s bounced from the force for being
caught on tape "beating" fellow off-duty officer Hank (Zahn).
Never mind that he was actually trying to shoo away a bee from
the severely allergic policeman, all the tape shows is a frantic
Earl going psycho ballistic on a cowering white civilian
claiming to be a victim of racial assault.
Six months
later the now ex-con and ex-cop join the ranks of National
Security Inc., only to discover that Hank also works for the
outfit part time as a night watchman. Soon, these two mismatched
security officers must team up to crack a group of renegade bad
cops and murderous smugglers. Putting aside their differences
under a hail of bullets and explosions, Earl and Hank learn to
be partners and most of all friends. In fact, I can just feel my
eyes moistening at the thought of it.
Not. This
is lowest common dominator filmmaking in every sense of the
word, which shouldn’t come as any surprise to anyone familiar
with the oeuvre of director Dennis Dugan. The man behind such
"films" – and I use the word almost contemptibly – as Problem
Child, Happy Gilmore, Beverly Hills Ninja,
Big Daddy and Saving Silverman, Dugan couldn’t direct
his way out of a grocery cart. His movies read like the marquee
at a Cineplex in Hades and it is only by sheer luck he’s not
made another film to add to the listing.
That’s
because National Security does feature a few amusing
scenes of note, most notably Lawrence’s aforementioned bout with
a bumblebee. Frantic, silly and inspired, this is the single
best scene in the entire film and the comic uses his knack for
physical comedy to perfection. Also fun to watch is Eric Roberts
as the heavy and Joe Flaherty (of SCTV fame) as National
Security’s bumbling chief. They're both having far more fun in
their respective roles than the movie deserves and for some darn
reason their enjoyment is contagious. If anything, National
Security could use more of their energy.
Still,
this isn’t a very good film. Derivative in more ways than are
countable, National Security is a paint-by-numbers affair
for almost all involved. After bouncing back last year with the
moderately enjoyable concert film Martin Lawrence Live:
Runteldat, Lawrence looked to be on the verge of pulling his
fading career back together. With sequels to both Bad Boys
and Blue Streak on the horizon that still may be the
case. But if National Security is any sort of clue than
he’s still got a long way to go to get there.
Rating: 2 out of 4
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