NATIONAL SECURITY
US, 2002, 96 minutes, Colour.
Martin Lawrence, Steve Zahn, Colm Feore, Bill Duke, Eric Roberts, Timothy Busfield, Robinne Lee.
Directed by Dennis Dugan.
Martin Lawrence films are an acquired taste. His sense of humour, his slapstick, his race-reverse jokes do not necessarily appeal to a lot of international audiences. However, he is very popular in the United States.
He began in a number of films oriented to black audiences as well as television but made his big breakthrough with Will Smith in Bad Boys, reprised in Bad Boys 2. During the latter half of the 1990s he had more success teaming with Tim Robbins in Nothing to Lose, Eddie Murphy in Life as well as starring in Blue Streak and Big Momma’s House. However, his films of the opening of the 21st century were up and down including the mediaeval spoof, Black Knight and with the comedy with Danny de Vito, What’s The Worst That Could Happen.
National Security fits into this pattern. It is a police story, investigation, a portrait of unlikely partners, investigations at the precinct. This time he is teamed with Steve Zahn, a very good comedian who has quite a wide range and appeared in such films as Happy Texas, Forces of Nature, Hamlet, Dr Dolittle (voice), Joyride and Riding in Cars with Boys.
Direction is by Dennis Dugan who has worked a lot in television and made a number of slapstick-style comedies including Problem Child and two with Adam Sandler, Happy Gilmore and Big Daddy.
1. A Martin Lawrence comedy? His screen persona? The little man? The black man? The constant jokes about being black - and the effect on the audience, on the characters, on Hank?
2. The Los Angeles settings, the car chases, the explosions, the streets, the countryside, the finale on the cliffside? The musical score, the final rap?
3. The title, the irony of the company and the CIA? Surveillance, security firms, the police? Criminals?
4. The focus on Hank, the surveillance of the factory, the confrontation with the criminals, his partner being killed? The effect on him, bitterness, going out on his job, meeting Earl and seeing him at the car, the confrontation, the harassment (and the memories of Rodney King)? The bee and Earl's allergy, trying to get rid of the bee, the home video and its being presented to the police, on the media? Hank going to court, Earl's testimony, the police wanting to make an example of him? In prison, the threats of the black men, his attacking the guard, three months in solitary - and the repeat performance? His getting out, trying to remake his life, the two-day security training?
5. Earl, his presence at the police academy, cocky, taunting the instructor, the car chase and shooting, the wreck? His being ousted? At his car, his reaction to Hank? The bee? Going to the police, going to court, his testimony?
6. The set-up with Hank finding a repeat of the situation at the warehouse? Earl and his date with the girl, handcuffing her? The confrontation with the gang, saving each other's life, turning the gun on each other, collaborating? The smash-up of the drink bottles? Their work together, the stake-out, Earl in the room of the criminal? Having to get out? The shootings? Discovering the stolen cans, getting the analysis? Getting in on the act, the set-up with the police, the confrontation on the cliffside, the police chief turned? The dramatics and pyrotechnics of the shootout, Earl on the side of the cliff, Hank rescuing him? The finale with their being given medals?
7. The police chief, his earnestness, the irony that he turned out to be the criminal? Bringing his own SWAT team? The black officer, the interrogations, supportive of Earl, anti-Hank? Brought along at the end, helping them with the confrontation?
8. The criminals, Eric Roberts doing yet another criminal, his white hair, enjoying his job, vindictiveness? The finale with Earl and his going over the cliff?
9. The girls, Earl as a ladies' man, his shock to find that Hank had a black girlfriend? Her helping him after he had been shot - only a scratch? Supporting them at the end?
10. Martin Lawrence's coming patter, comic action, Steve Zahn as the straight man? The blend of action, explosions and comedy?
