It takes a lot to offend me. I'd like to think I've been fairly hardened through the nineteen years I've lived. I can laugh at politically incorrect stuff. I find South Park quite humorous and satirical, rather than offensive and disgusting. It takes a lot to offend me. But this movie did. Dennis Dugan, continuing on the stroll he began with Saving Silverman which contained the biggest, most concentrated amount of misogyny in a single area, brings us one of the most racist films of newer time. Only, it's not what you'd immediately think; it's not racist against black people. Nope, it's against white people instead. As if that makes it any better. Hate and fascism is bad, regardless of where it's directed, which group or person is targeted by and for it. As pointed out on the message boards for this film, every bad guy in this film is white, and Lawrence's character plays the race card every other second in this movie. Now, let me make it absolutely clear; I don't hate anyone. I don't believe in hate. I have equal respect for everyone. I would have been just as offended had this movie targeted black people instead of white(the film would also have been shot down far quicker and more broadly),or if Saving Silverman had been hateful towards men, for that matter. The plot is pitiful. There was a scene in a courthouse that downright sickened me. The crowd was cheering as a victim of false allegations was attacked verbally and sentenced to jail-time... as if they were watching a sports event. The acting is OK. The humor was offending; most of it is Lawrence victimizing himself and berating white people. Both Zahn and Lawrence have been funny... what happened? There's not much else. I barely watched this film, because whenever I looked at the screen and paid attention to what was said, I was hit with an offending remark or action and felt a strong inclination to turn away, to concentrate my attention elsewhere. One to avoid. I don't really recommend this film to anyone... except for perhaps black extremists. Even most black people will most likely find this movie embarrassing and painfully stupid. And Dugan: so much hate... so much anger... have you considered seeking professional help? It can't be healthy. 2/10
National Security
2003
Action / Comedy / Crime / Thriller
National Security
2003
Action / Comedy / Crime / Thriller
Plot summary
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.
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I take offense
National Security
Having seen the black star in films like Blue Streak and Big Momma's House I was definitely up for seeing him in another law and crime based and easy to digest comedy, so I watched this one, from director Dennis Dugan (Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy, Grown Ups). Basically Earl Montgomery (Martin Lawrence) is a brash loud-mouthed police academy cadet who gets into trouble, and Hank Rafferty (Steve Zahn) is a typical LAPD patrol police officer who has recently suffered the death of his partner Charlie (Timothy Busfield). These two character cross paths when Earl has been kicked out of the academy and is caught by Hank trying to steal a car, and a bee comes along, Earl is allergic, and Hank trying to swat it is filmed by someone on a camcorder, and the incident is mistaken for a racist beating. Six months go by, Hank served this time in prison, and the only job he can find after is becoming a security guard, much lower on the police enforcement ladder, and he comes across Earl again, who is also a security guard now, when the warehouse he guards is broken into. They may not like each other very much because of the incident and their bad luck since, but they join forces because they are both looking for the same man, Nash (Eric Roberts),Hank recognises his tattoo as he shot his partner, and Earl owes Hank for saving his life. After a cellphone is left behind by one of the criminals the two security guards have a lead to help them catch the villain, and they follow all the clues to trace and capture Nash and his gang. Earl and Hank often come into contact with Lieutenant Washington (Predator's Bill Duke) and some other higher authority figures who tell them that they are not the right rank to be carrying out the investigation they are, but they carry on despite the ranking issues and the danger. Slowly as they search for the guilty party and try to bring them to justice, the two originally hateful men become unlikely friends, there is however the obvious part when there is tension between them and an argument. In the end Earl and Hank come together, defeat Nash and his gang, and they are happy to get their rightful jobs, Hank having got his revenge is a cop again, and Earl convincing the authorities he has good tactics and can become an official cop. Also starring Colm Feore as Detective Frank McDuff, Timothy Busfield as Charlie Reed, Robinne Lee as Denise, Matt McCoy as Robert Barton, Brett Cullen as Heston and Stephen Tobolowsky as Billy Narthax. Lawrence does his usual talking himself in and trying to talk himself out of trouble character, Zahn is likable as his easily angered unlikely friend, together they make a fun opposites duo, I personally thought it wasn't too bad, it has some amusing moments, not hilarious admittedly, and there was plenty of explosions and gun play, an easy buddy movie and action comedy. Okay!
Stupid characters in bad buddy duo with ugly racist Martin Lawrence
Hank Rafferty (Steve Zahn) and Charlie Reed (Timothy Busfield) are LAPD officers who responded to an alarm. Charlie is killed right in front of helpless Hank. He is forbidden to investigate the robbery. Earl Montgomery (Martin Lawrence) is a smart-mouthed recruit who gets kicked out. He locked himself out of his car and Hank confronts him. A bumble bee cause a media sensation of another police beating. Hank is fired and prosecuted. After time in the state pen, all Hank could get is lowly security guard job. When a similar break-in happens, Hank investigates and finds the same bad guys led by Nash (Eric Roberts). Earl works as the security guard in the building and the unlikely duo goes after the bad guys.
This is not a particularly good way to build a good buddy cop duo. Basically everybody is an idiot. The only hope is that everybody is a corrupt villain. Martin Lawrence is horribly horrendously unlikeable racist. None of his antics are funny. It's the same old character that he does except more annoying. This is just bad.