Police Academy Review

MPAA Rating: R
Released: 1984

The original Police Academy was a hilarious look at a police academy forced to accept a band of lovable misfits when the mayor decides to drop all entrance standards in order to encourage diversity. Due to the success of the original film, the Police Academy series popped out sequels and offshoots faster than a pair of excited rabbits, each becoming less and less humorous as is usually the case. But don't let the latter entries in the series dissuade you from enjoying this classic 80's romp.

You just have to love the 80's style, where lighthearted comedy ruled supreme and the almighty school of political correctness was tossed aside like a redheaded stepchild. Police Academy isn't afraid to take funny swipes at racial diversity, the sexes, gay bars or even prostitutes, though it's always done in such a gentle and mischievous manner that it's nearly impossible to actually become offended.

Steve Guttenberg stars as Carey Mahoney, an affable young man with a devilish streak that gets into a bit of legal trouble. Captain Reed (Ted Ross), an old family friend, offers Mahoney an ultimatum: go to jail or join the police academy and straighten his life out. Obviously Mahoney elects to go the academy route, but there's a twist: he may not quit the program or he'll go to jail. The only way to leave the program is to be kicked out.

Mahoney heads to the academy and immediately begins to do his best to get kicked out of the program. There's just one problem: by mandate of the mayor none of the new cadets may be forcefully removed from the program, but the police leadership is determined to thwart the mayor's dictation by breaking the misfit recruits down until they quit.

Lt. Harris (G.W. Bailey) is all to happy to browbeat the recruits until they quit, but to both his and Mahoney's dismay they are in a Catch-22. Both want Mahoney gone, but Mahoney cannot quit nor can he be fired!

Although the focus of the movie is shared by the potent duo of the charismatic Mahoney and the manic Harris, the rest of the Police Academy gang was also an essential ingredient in this madcap comedy. George Gaynes plays Cmndt. Eric Lassard, the somewhat scatterbrained and serene overseer of the academy. His easy-going presence is more than welcome each time he appears, especially during an accidental encounter with a prostitute who gives him oral pleasure as he's giving a speech behind a podium.

Other notable characters include Cadet Larvell Jones (Michael Winslow), a human sound-effects machine; Cadet Moses Hightower (Bubba Smith), a gentle giant of a man; Sgt. Debbie Callahan (Leslie Easterbrook), an academy instructor with a dominatrix streak; Cadet Douglas Fackler (Bruce Mahler), a walking accident waiting to happen; and Cadet Eugene Tackleberry (David Graf), a gun-toting maniac that is good for plenty of laughs.

There are other characters involved in the film, and each of them are as equally amusing in their roles, but the above comprises the core of the Police Academy team.

The film's crazy antics culminate with an outrageous riot in a nearby city. Due to a lack of manpower resources, the cadets are called in to blockade the rioting area and prevent others from entering. But when the riot is fierce enough to send the professional police forces running, the cadets find themselves in the center of the chaotic maelstrom.

Whereas future sequels were neutered down and made more family friendly, the original Police Academy is a disarmingly fun and politically incorrect adult comedy that provides plenty of zany scenarios for the viewer to enjoy.

Movie rating: 9 stars

If you enjoyed Police Academy you may also find the following films to be of interest:

Enjoy the Police Academy experience in the comfort of your own home with these products!

DVD

Movie Sitemap

Wondering if the Netflix service is all
it's cracked up to be? Read our
detailed review and find out!