National Security

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, National Security is available in Australia on Foxtel Now, and in the UK on Now TV Cinema right now. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 1,078 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Martin Lawrence is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. Available now on Foxtel Now — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

There is a reason National Security keeps coming up in conversation. National Security does what great comedies rarely manage — it is actually funny, consistently, across the whole run. 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. Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2003. The real test of any comedy is whether it is still funny once you know all the jokes, and National Security holds up on rewatch in a way that separates it from one-off curiosities. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

For viewers who want something light without wanting something stupid, National Security respects your intelligence. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Martin Lawrence's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.