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Police Academy Movie Review

Police Academy

R
What an institution!

Starring

Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall, G.W. Bailey, Bubba Smith

Donovan Scott, George Gaynes, David Graf, Andrew Rubin, Michael Winslow, Leslie Easterbrook, Debralee Scott, Bruce Mahler, Ted Ross Update Cast

Cameos

Look for Hugh Wilson making a cameo appearance!


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The film spawned no less than six sequels and a tv series. Only one member of the original cast remained throughout, the shameless Michael Winslow.

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Review

There aren’t too many films outside of horror that can claim a total of six sequels. Police Academy was the first in an almost endless franchise, making fun of America’s proud police force.

When a police academy, run by senile Commandant Lassard (George Gaynes) drops all of its entrance requirements, a large number of misfits sign up to try to join the force. The main man is Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenburg), a lazy, ambitionless, ladies man, who is forced to enlist after a string of misdemeanours.

He initially tries everything to get kicked out, but unsurprisingly soon realises, with the help of love interest Karen Thompson (Kim Cattrall), that he can become a decent cop and decides to stay. He then tries everything he can to finish the course, even in the face of the punishment dished out by drill instructor Lieutenant Harris (G.W. Bailey), who has taken an instant disliking to him.

The film features a whole host of crazy supporting characters, including human beat box Larvell Jones (Michael Winslow), man mountain Moses Hightower (Bubba Smith), Gun-obsessed Eugene Tackleberry (David Graf), the virtually mute Laverne Hooks (Marion Ramsey) and dominatrix instructor Sergeant Callahan (Leslie Easterbrook).

The beauty of the Police Academy films was that you could always rely on certain things happening. Mahoney would always get the girl, Harris would always be the victim of some practical joke (mace in the shower, super glue on his megaphone etc.), someone would always accidentally walk into the Blue Oyster Bar (a dreadfully stereotypical gay bar) and the criminals would always somehow be thwarted in the end.

Author: Guy WalkerUpdate This Review

Verdict

Slapstick humour at its best, with a cast of memorable, if slightly one dimensional characters.

Though it made me wet myself with laughter when I first saw it at eight years old (It may be rated 15, but I was a bad kid), it sadly now only makes me smile.

Lets face it, however, Mahoney is still pretty cool and the Blue Oyster Bar scene is still eagerly anticipated. Perhaps not good enough to deserve six sequels, but still a classic from a lost genre of silly films.

Slapstick humour. Memorable characters. Who could ever forget The "Blue Oyster" Bar?
Repetitive. Humour doesn't last through repeat viewings.

Rewind Rating

8.5/10

The Movie Data

Key Crew

Director: Hugh Wilson
Writer: Neal Israel, Pat Proft, Hugh Wilson
Producers: Paul Maslansky
Locations Manager: Michael Brownstone


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Data

Release Date: 23 Mar 1984
MPAA Rating: R
Studio: Warner Bros.
Production: Warner Bros. Pictures
Genre: Comedy


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The Movie Trailer
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1984 Warner Bros.
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