National Security: Critic Reviews

58%

MovieWeb: 0 reviews

11%

RottenTomatoes: 103 reviews

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Scott Brown Entertainment Weekly (Top Critic)

42

[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.
Full Review » 9 years ago
A.O. Scott New York Times (Top Critic)

40

National Security lacks the wit to do anything new and instead recycles tired jokes and attitudes.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Guardian [UK] (Top Critic)

Full Review » 9 years ago
Mike Clark USA Today (Top Critic)

63

An action farce that's on the stale side of banter-heavy cop high jinks.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Desson Thomson Washington Post (Top Critic)

A retread of all those buddies-in- the-cop-car pictures of the 1980s; not even slightly dusted off.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Ann Hornaday Washington Post (Top Critic)

A by-the-numbers sop to adolescent testosterone overload.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Wesley Morris Boston Globe (Top Critic)

75

I laughed even though Lawrence has been doing the paranoid brother shtick since his sketchy, self-titled-sitcom days.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Michael Miller Village Voice (Top Critic)

As the two cop manques overcome their dearth of common sense to save the day, the film achieves a comic playfulness.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Eric Harrison Houston Chronicle (Top Critic)

42

Its acrimonious message lies in the way it depicts black oversensitivity and an atmosphere of political correctness as the only obstacles to harmony.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Matt Weitz Dallas Morning News (Top Critic)

42

The less you engage your brain, the more you'll enjoy National Security.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Michael Wilmington Chicago Tribune (Top Critic)

50

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.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Colin Covert Minneapolis Star Tribune (Top Critic)

Full Review » 8 years ago
Tom Long Detroit News (Top Critic)

17

Loud, crass, dumb and then even dumber.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Bill Muller Arizona Republic (Top Critic)

40

Someone has to save us from Lawrence's onslaught of cinematic dross.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Joe Leydon Variety (Top Critic)

50

Despite some tasty contributions from Lawrence and Zahn, too much of National Security has the bland flavor of microwaved leftovers.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Jonathan Foreman New York Post (Top Critic)

25

Lazy and uninspired.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Daphne Gordon Toronto Star (Top Critic)

20

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.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Ray Conlogue Globe and Mail (Top Critic)

75

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.
Full Review » 9 years ago
James Berardinelli ReelViews (Top Critic)

50

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.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Frank Scheck Hollywood Reporter (Top Critic)

Squanders the goodwill generated by some genuine laughs early in its running time with an inevitable descent into generic plotting, tired physical gags and lots and lots of things blowing up.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Peter Travers Rolling Stone (Top Critic)

25

It's too bad Martin already made What's the Worst That Could Happen? The title really fits this one.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Kevin Thomas Los Angeles Times (Top Critic)

80

A film that's both laugh out loud funny and surprisingly subtle.
Full Review » 9 years ago
Nell Minow Common Sense Media

20

Indistinguishable dumb action comedy.
Full Review » 1 year ago
Mark Halverson Sacramento News & Review

20

Full Review » 4 years ago
Time Out

Full Review » 6 years ago