National Security
Directed by Dennis Dugan
- action
- comedy
- crime
The story
Earl Montgomery, a bombastic police academy reject, and Hank Rafferty, a disgraced, mild-mannered cop, can't seem to escape each other. They met on opposite sides of the law during a routine traffic stop that escalated out of control; now as lowly security guards they're thrown together to bust a smuggling operation.
What it’s like
Bright, flat studio light and wide, evenly lit suburban and industrial settings give National Security the look of a broad, sunny studio comedy, with saturated primary colours in the uniforms and cars and handheld-leaning coverage that stays close to its two leads during their fights and fumbles. The sound is mostly bouncy pop-rock and comic stingers over clattering stunt work and loud, overplayed dialogue, and the physical gags land with big cartoonish thuds rather than any real menace. Its vibe is loud, lightweight and easygoing, a buddy-cop romp for a lazy weekend afternoon or an undemanding evening with friends. Pacing is brisk and scene-to-scene, built around squabbling partners who start out antagonistic and slowly grudgingly warm to each other, with a bruised but good-natured arc for both. Violence is slapstick and frequent, with punches, chases, crashes and a few gunshots, but almost nothing graphic, no gore, and only mild crude language and innuendo. It suits viewers who want goofy action comedy with heart and no real darkness, fans of Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn's easy chemistry, and anyone after a light, silly crowd-pleaser.
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