National Security film review

certificate_12A

NATIONAL SECURITY

It's difficult to know where to begin criticising Dennis Dugan's lifeless buddy movie a la 48 Hours - there are just so many flaws to choose from.

Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn lack any chemistry and their characters' incessant bickering quickly becomes irritating. Even at a slight 88 minutes, the plot treads water and most of the gags are so achingly obvious, you'll be hard pushed to muster a smile.

Earl (Lawrence) tries to join the LAPD but he is summarily dismissed from police academy after an unfortunate incident during a training exercise. His misery is compounded when he tries to retrieve the keys he has accidentally locked inside his car and is promptly arrested by a cop called Hank (Zahn), who mistakenly thinks Earl is attempting to steal the vehicle.

In an outrageous twist of misfortune, a bee stings Earl during the arrest and Hank attempts to swat it away. Unfortunately, when the incident is replayed on a witnesses video camera (in an uncomfortable echo of the Rodney King beating), it looks like Hank is assaulting Earl with the swollen eye and cheek (the allergic reaction to the bee sting) the horrific injuries of the attack.

Hank pleads his innocence to no avail and he is summarily dismissed from the force, much to Earl's delight. Several months later, the two men end up working as security guards at the same firm and are partnered together.

They are forced to put their personal differences to one side, when they become involved with an undercover operation to break a crime ring responsible for the murder of Hank's work buddy.

Far from having a laugh, you're more likely to be overwhelmed by depression by seeing National Security - that Hollywood continues to invest big bucks in mindless rubbish like this.