Directed by Peter Bonerz and written by Stephen J. Curwick, Police Academy 6: City Under Siege is the story of the gang of misfit police officers who are tasked to investigate a series of crimes in a section of the city while trying to figure out who has been leaking information for these criminals. The film is another departure of sorts where it revolves into the world of suspense and mystery along with elements of comedy as the misfit band of cops do whatever to take down the bad guys. With returning cast members Bubba Smith, David Graf, Michael Winslow, Leslie Easterbrook, Marion Ramsey, Matt McCoy, Bruce Mahler, Lance Kinsey, George R. Robertson, G.W. Bailey, and George Gaynes reprising their roles from previous films. The film also stars Gerrit Graham, Brian Seeman, Darwin Swalve, and Kenneth Mars as the city’s mayor. Police Academy 6: City Under Siege is a fun but very uneven film from Peter Bonerz.
Following a series of robberies and crimes in a section of the city, a group of police officers work together to stop the criminals while discover that there’s a leak within the group as trouble ensues from within. It’s a film that is a simple suspense story of sorts but also an exploration where a precinct leader in Captain Harris (G.W. Bailey) is trying to nab these criminals himself for his own glory yet manages to bungle his way at every opportunity. Harris is forced to work with Commandant Lassard (George Gaynes) and his team while Harris would talk to the city’s mayor in an attempt to get Lassard out of the case.
It’s a film that has a lot happening but it’s script is very uneven where there’s a lot going on but it is uncertain into where it wants to go. While the villains in the film are essentially hired guns for this mysterious mastermind where his motivations are unveiled. It is clumsily written as the reveal of the mastermind is a bit of a let down as it also becomes very obvious who is the leak that caused all of the trouble for the police. Especially as the script portrays Harris more as the bumbling idiot with his partner Lt. Proctor (Lance Kinsey) in tow while Commandant Lassard and his team are the most competent with their mixture of old-fashioned police work and unconventional methods.
Peter Bonerz’s direction is quite simple in terms of its compositions where it does create some unique close-ups and medium shots. Though there’s a few scenes shot in Toronto, much of it shot in Los Angeles soundstages and back lots to play into a city that is coming undone by crime. There are some unique usage of crane shots to play into the bigness of the city while most of the robberies are presented with a bit of humor and some suspense. Yet, Bonerz is unable to balance it where the mix of the two don’t work in some parts of the film as it gets silly at times where it often involves Captain Harris’ bumbling attempts to capture the criminals. Some of the comedy is inspiring such as a scene where Sgt. Jones (Michael Winslow) entertain people at a comedy club while the film’s climax is exciting where Jones, Sgt. Tackleberry (David Graf), and Lt. Hightower (Bubba Smith) each face off their equals. Overall, Bonerz creates a worthwhile but very messy film about a group of misfit cops dealing with some bad guys.
Cinematographer Charles Rosher Jr. does excellent work with the cinematography as it’s quite straightforward while using some unique lighting for some of the scenes set at night. Editor Hubert C. de la Bouillerie does nice work with some of the editing as it is quite straightforward in terms of capturing the rhythm of the humor and suspense. Production designer Thomas Azzari and set decorator Tom Bugenhagen do fantastic work with the look of the city as well as the precinct office where Commandant Lassard, Captain Harris, and their team try to discuss plans to nab the criminals.
Costume designer Peter Flaherty does terrific work with the costumes as it‘s mostly straightforward to play into what some of the characters wear off-duty. Sound editor Jeff Clark does superb work with the sound to play into the elements of gun and some of the chaos that occurs in the city. The film’s music by Robert Folk is amazing for some of the orchestral themes that plays into the suspense along with the film’s theme music that helps play into its sense of triumph.
The casting by Glenn Daniels and Brad Davis is brilliant as it features notable small roles from Billie Bird as an old society lady that Jones knows, Allison Mack as a young girl who is impressed by Proctor’s bus-driving skills, and Arthur Batanides as Tackleberry’s father-in-law. In the roles of the villainous trio, there’s terrific performances from Darwyn Swalve as the gigantic Ox, Brian Seeman as the acrobatic and martial arts expert Flash, and Gerrit Graham as the skilled gunner Ace. Kenneth Mars is very good as the city mayor who is always having trouble with what to say while talking to Harris about the progress to fight off the bad guys. George R. Robertson is superb as Commissioner Hurst who tries to ensure that things go well while Bruce Mahler is fantastic as Sgt. Fackler who makes his return to the gang after a hiatus as he’s still the accident-prone officer that causes trouble.
Lance Kinsey is very funny as Lt. Proctor as Captain Harris’ aide who tries to help him while realizing that they’re the ones screwing things up. George Gaynes is excellent as Commandant Lassard who helps Captain Harris in capturing the bad guys as he tries to use tactics to get the job done until he becomes a suspect for the leaks. Amazing performances from Marion Ramsey as Sgt. Hooks, Leslie Easterbrook as Lt. Callahan, David Graf as Sgt. Tackleberry, Michael Winslow as Sgt. Jones, Matt McCoy as Sgt. Nick Lassard, and Bubba Smith as Lt. Hightower help not only provide some humor but also moments that showcases why they’re great at their jobs. Finally, there’s G.W. Bailey in a wonderful performance as Captain Harris as a man trying to prove his worth as a cop as he bungles his way as he becomes a liability of sorts due to his own ego.
Police Academy 6: City Under Siege is a good yet messy film from Peter Bonerz. While it does have elements of past films that makes it enjoyable, it’s a film where it tried to be a lot of things but ends up being inconsistent though its cast keeps it fun to watch. In the end, Police Academy 6: City Under Siege is a terrific film from Peter Bonerz.
Police Academy Films: Police Academy - Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment - Police Academy 3: Back in Training - Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol - Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach - Police Academy: Mission to Moscow
© thevoid99 2015
Directed by Alan Myerson and written by Stephen J. Curwick, Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach is the story of a group of police officers who accompany their mentor as he is to accept an award in Miami as he copes with an impending retirement and a gang of jewel thieves. The film marks a departure of sorts in the series where the gang of misfit cops and their eccentric leader travel to Miami where much of the film takes place as well as parts of Southern Florida. With returning cast members Bubba Smith, David Graf, Michael Winslow, Leslie Easterbrook, Tab Thacker, Marion Ramsey, George R. Robertson, Lance Kinsey, G.W. Bailey, and George Gaynes all reprising their roles from previous films. The film also stars Matt McCoy, Janet Jones, and Rene Auberjonois. Police Academy 5: Assignment in Miami Beach is a hilarious and adventurous film from Alan Meyerson.
The film revolves around the group of misfit yet competent cops who accompany their mentor in Commandant Eric Lassard (George Gaynes) who is to receive an award in Miami as the Policeman of the Decade. Yet, the timing for this honor is bittersweet as Lassard learns he is to retire as Captain Harris (G.W. Bailey) is hoping to the job as he goes to Miami in an attempt to gain respect and become the next Commandant. Meanwhile, a jewel theft has happened where the thieves would make an encounter with Lassard who unknowingly has taken their jewels which causes all sorts of trouble. It’s a film that does mark a change of pace of sorts where it sets Lassard and some of the characters from previous films in a different setting where they all relax and have a good time as well as showcase their skills as police officers which leads to a climax in the Everglades against some jewel thieves.
The film’s screenplay not only plays into Commandant Lassard coping with his upcoming retirement but also the fact that he at least wants to go out in style to receive this honor in Miami as he is joined by not just his loyal officers in Lt. Callahan (Leslie Easterbrook), Sgts. Hightower (Bubba Smith), Jones (Michael Winslow), Hooks (Marion Ramsey), Tackleberry (David Graf), and Officer “House” Conklin (Tab Thacker) but also in his nephew in Sgt. Nick Lassard (Matt McCoy) who works for the Miami Police Department. The film has a few subplots which involves Captain Harris trying to impress Miami’s top police officials and its mayor but also nab the thieves in the film’s third act which doesn’t go well due to the idiocy of his aide Lt. Proctor (Lance Kinsey). Another factor to the script that is really successful is the form of an antagonist in a jewel thief in Tony (Rene Auberjonois) who is really one of the funniest characters of the series as he is constantly annoyed by his attempts to go after Lassard while being a victim of Lassard’s unknowing attacks.
Alan Myerson’s direction is very engaging not just in the simple approach to framing but also in finding the right balance between comedy and action. While part of the film is shot in Toronto, the city of Miami Beach is definitely a major character in the film where Myerson shoots the film on location in the famed Fontainebleau Hotel. Much of the compositions in the film involve some inspired use of crane shots and wide shots for some of the film’s action moments including its climax in the Everglades. Even as Myerson uses some unique high camera angles for a very funny moment in a scene shot inside an elevator. The usage of the locations in South Florida allow the film to have a looseness that hadn’t been seen since the first two films as it has moments where Lassard’s officers manage to do things their way for the film’s climax in the Everglades where it has some inspired moments in the action. Overall, Myerson creates a very thrilling and entertaining film about a group of cops honoring the man that had championed them.
Cinematographer James Pergola does amazing work with the film‘s cinematography in capturing the vibrant colors for the locations in Miami as well as some of the scenes set at night. Editor Hubert C. de la Bouillerie does excellent work with the editing as it‘s quite straightforward with some rhythmic cuts for the action scenes. Production designer Trevor Williams and set decorator Don K. Ivey do terrific work with some of the minimal set pieces such as Lassard’s penthouse and the look of the police academy and its offices. Costume designer Robert Musco does nice work with the costumes in not just the police uniforms but also in the colorful clothes many of the characters wear off-duty. Sound editor Gordon Daniel does superb work with the sound such as some of the scenes in Miami including a notable one where a parrot calls Captain Lassard a dork. The film’s music by Robert Folk is fantastic for its bombastic orchestral score with some lively pop and rock music to play into the world of Miami as the soundtrack features elements of calypso and dance music.
The casting by Pamela Basker and Fern Champion is brilliant as it features notable small roles from James Hampton as Miami’s mayor, Dan Fitzgerald as the Miami’s police chief Murdock, Ed Kovens as Tony’s boss Dempsey, director Alan Myerson as a cigar smoker in an airplane that Hooks deals with, Archie Hahn and Jerry Lazarus in their respective roles as Tony’s dim-witted henchmen Mouse and Sugar, and George R. Robertson as Commissioner Hurst who would also join Lassard and his fellow officers to Miami to support him. Janet Jones is pretty good as Officer Kate who a Miami policewoman Nick Lassard flirts with while Lance Kinsey is terrific as the idiotic Lt. Proctor who always bungle things up. David Graf, Marion Ramsey, Tab Thacker, Leslie Easterbrook, and Michael Winslow are excellent in their respective roles as Sgt. Tackleberry, Sgt. Hooks, Officer Conklin, Lt. Callahan, and Sgt. Jones as they each provide some funny moments.
Bubba Smith is superb as Sgt. Hightower as he would help lift up Commandant Lassard’s spirits while being the man that prove to be the big hero in the film’s climax. G.W. Bailey is fantastic as Captain Harris as the man who would be the one to get Lassard to embark on his retirement as he tries to find ways to impress Commissioner Hurst that he should be the next Commandant. Matt McCoy is brilliant as Lassard’s nephew Nick as he fills in the void left by Steve Guttenberg’s Mahoney character from the previous films but McCoy plays it straight while displaying some charm and wit into the few pranks he plays on Harris. Rene Auberjonois is phenomenal as Tony as a jewel thief who would have unfortunate encounters with Lassard as he would try to re-take the diamonds he stole as he brings a lot of humor to his role. Finally, there’s George Gaynes in a splendid performance as Commandant Eric Lassard as a police official who is forced to cope with an impending retirement as he would also deal with other things as Gaynes adds a touch of Jacques Tati to some of his performance which makes the film very enjoyable.
Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach is a fun and exciting film from Alan Myerson as it features an amazing ensemble cast as well as an engaging premise that keeps things lively. Even as the film manages to change things a bit and try different things where the results end up being very enjoyable as the setting in Miami just adds a looseness and exuberance to the film. In the end, Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach is a remarkable film from Alan Myerson.
Police Academy Films: Police Academy - Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment - Police Academy 3: Back in Training - Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol - Police Academy 6: City Under Siege - Police Academy: Mission to Moscow
© thevoid99 2015
Directed by Jim Drake and written by Gene Quintano, Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol is the fourth film of the Police Academy series in which the academy’s commandant decides to create a program where ordinary citizens help aid the city’s under worked and overstaffed police force. The film plays into the group of misfit cops who team up with some oddball citizens as an old nemesis returns to the academy to ensure that the program fails. With returning cast members Steve Guttenberg, Michael Winslow, Bubba Smith, David Graf, Marion Ramsey, Leslie Easterbrook, Bobcat Goldthwait, Tim Kazurinsky, Brian Tochi, Lance Kinsey, George R. Robertson, Scott Thomson, George Gaynes, and G.W. Bailey reprising their roles from past films. The film also stars Sharon Stone, David Spade, Brian Backer, Tab Thacker, Derek McGrath, Corrine Bohrer, and Billie Bird. Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol is a funny though very uneven film from Jim Drake.
The film revolves around a program where ordinary citizens help out their local police force to handle law and order as the police are coping with not being able to help their citizens. With the group of misfits police officers training a group of oddball citizens ranging from an old lady, a couple of skateboarders, a public defender, a photographer, and an enormous man, Commandant Eric Lassard (George Gaynes) hopes that the program will be success. While he has to attend a police conference overseas, he unfortunately has the program be watched by his graduates’ most-despised nemesis in Captain Thaddeus Harris (G.W. Bailey) who not only hopes for the program to fail but also usurp Lassard so he can become the academy’s new Commandant.
The film’s screenplay doesn’t just explore these group of cops helping out ordinary people but also cope with Captain Harris’ attempt to get the program shut down despite its support from the state governor and city’s mayor. It’s a classic snob vs. slob scenario of sorts where Captain Harris and his new insubordinate in Lt. Proctor (Lance Kinsey) try to make things tough for not just the cadets but also Lassard’s police trainers led by Sgt. Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg) who has a history with Harris as he tries to ensure the program’s success with his fellow cops. The script does have some subplots such as the cops trying to keep the troublemakers in skateboarders Arnie (Brian Backer) and Kyle (David Spade) as well as Tommy “House” Conklin (Tab Thacker) in check while Tackleberry (David Graf) befriends the elderly Mrs. Lois Feldman (Billie Bird) who shares Tackleberry’s love of violence. Another subplot involves Zed (Bobcat Goldthwait) falling for the photographer Laura (Corrine Boher) as he deals with the ongoing criticism of Captain Harris.
Jim Drake’s direction is all over the place in the fact that he does try to cram a lot of things into the film. While he does maintain elements of previous films in some of the gags that involves Tackleberry’s in-laws as well as a scene at the Blue Oyster Bar. Some of it involves a skateboarding sequence and a romantic scene between Zed and Laura as Drake wanted to put in a lot into the film. The result makes it very messy where it is a largely a cop-based comedy, it also wants to be a romantic film, a skateboarding movie, a martial arts film, and all sorts of things. It does get confusing even though Drake’s intention was to give something for everyone as he does keep the compositions simple with its close-ups and medium shots along with some inspired camera angles for the skateboarding sequences. Even the film’s climax where the police and the people from the program fend off against a group of escaped criminals involving planes and balloons as it does maintain a sense of thrill and hilarity. Overall, Drake creates an enjoyable yet flawed film about cops working with ordinary people in bringing law and order to their city.
Cinematographer Robert Saad does nice work with the cinematography as it‘s very straightforward for many of the daytime scenes set in Toronto along with some nighttime lighting schemes for the skateboarding sequences including a scene at the mall. Editor David Rawlins does excellent work with the editing with the cutting of the skateboard scenes as well as maintaining something straightforward for the comedy and action scenes. Production designer Trevor Williams, with set decorator Steve Shewchuk and art director Rhiley Fuller, do superb work with the look of the academy and its facilities as well as the mall and other scenes set in Toronto.
Costume designer Aleida MacDonald does terrific work with the costumes as it‘s mostly straightforward as well as the punk-biker look that Zed sports when he‘s off-duty. Sound editor Ron Clark does wonderful work with the sound as it plays into the sound of gunfire and other sound effects. The film’s music by Robert Folk is amazing for its mixture of bombastic orchestral music and some jazz pieces including some re-used themes from previous films while music supervisor David Chackler creates a fine music soundtrack that largely features an eclectic mix of music from hip-hop, pop, and rock including contributions from Chico Debarge and Brian Wilson.
The casting by Pamela Basker and Fern Champion is amazing as it features notable small roles from Brian Backer and David Spade (in his film debut) in their respective roles as the skateboard kids Artie and Kyle, Derek McGrath as the public defender Butterworth, Corrine Bohrer as the photographer Laura that Zed falls for, Scott Thomson as the bossy but incompetent cop Sgt. Copeland, Arthur Batanides and Jackie Joseph as Tackleberry’s in-laws, Andrew Paris as Tackleberry’s brother-in-law Bud, Colleen Camp as Tackleberry’s wife, Brian Tochi as Lassard’s academy representative Nogata at the conference, and Randall “Tex” Cobb as the main villain who would lead the film’s climax. Also making appearances in the film in the skateboarding sequences include such famed skateboarders Tony Hawk (who is also Spade’s skateboarder double), Steve Caballero, Chris Miller, Tommy Guerrero, Lance Mountain, and Mike McGill.
Other notable small roles include Tab Thacker as the enormous House whom Hightower knew as a kid, Sharon Stone in a terrific role as the journalist Claire Mattson whom Mahoney flirts with, and Billie Bird in a phenomenal scene-stealing performance as the elderly Mrs. Feldman who loves to kick ass and fire guns. Performances from Marion Ramsey as Sgt. Hooks, Michael Winslow as Sgt. Jones, Leslie Easterbrook as Lt. Callahan, David Graf as Sgt. Tackleberry, Bubba Smith as Sgt. Hightower, Tim Kazurinsky as Officer Sweetchuck, George R. Robertson as Commissioner Hurst, and Lance Kinsey as the bumbling Lt. Proctor are all great as they each bring their own brand of humor into their performances.
Bobcat Goldthwait is hilarious as Officer Zed as the reformed gang member who helps in training the citizens while dealing Captain Harris’ criticism. G.W. Bailey is brilliant as Captain Harris as the man who once trained his trainees as he hopes to bring Lassard’s program down. George Gaynes is superb as Commandant Eric Lassard as the man who created the program as he hopes to create some unity between the police and its citizens. Finally, there’s Steve Guttenberg in a fantastic performance as Sgt. Mahoney as Guttenberg maintains a sense of charm and wit to his role as the film marks his final appearance in the series.
Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol is a stellar film from Jim Drake. While it is one of the weakest entries in the film series, it does manage to bring in some big laughs and some entertaining moments where misfit cops work with oddball citizens to get the job done. In the end, Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol is a wonderful film Jim Drake.
Police Academy Films: Police Academy - Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment - Police Academy 3: Back in Training - Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach - Police Academy 6: City Under Siege - Police Academy: Mission to Moscow
© thevoid99 2015
Directed by Jerry Paris and written by Gene Quintano, Police Academy 3: Back in Training is the story of the academy’s best graduates who are asked to return to the academy in order to train a new group of misfit recruits in order to save it from being shut down in a competition with a rival academy. The film is another comedy where cops do whatever it takes to save their academy as their new recruits include a cop’s wife, a Japanese police officer, a former merchant, and a reformed gang leader. With returning cast members Steve Guttenberg, Bubba Smith, Michael Winslow, David Graf, Leslie Easterbrook, Marion Ramsey, Bruce Mahler, Tim Kazurinsky, Bobcat Goldthwait, George R. Robertson, Lance Kinsey, Art Metrano, and George Gaynes all reprising their roles in the previous films. The film also stars Brian Tochi, David Huband, Shawn Weatherly, and Ed Nelson. Police Academy 3: Back in Training is a wild and exhilarating film from Jerry Paris.
When the state’s governor announces that its government is unable to support two police academies as one of them will be shut down, the two academies go into a competition where a committee will decide which one will stay and which one will shut down. That is pretty much the plot of the film where Commandant Eric Lassard (George Gaynes) brings back his top graduates from the past to spar with Commandant Mauser (Art Metrano) who leads the other academy. Yet, Mauser would get wind of what was to happen before the announcement as he and his assistant Captain Proctor (Lance Kinsey) team up with two of Lassard’s former cadets in Sgt. Blankes (Brant van Hoffman) and Sgt. Copeland (Scott Thomson) to ensure that Lassard’s academy goes down. Yet, Lassard brings in his top graduates in Sgt. Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), Sgt. Hightower (Bubba Smith), Sgt. Tackleberry (David Graf), Sgt. Jones (Michael Winslow), Sgt. Hooks (Marion Ramsey), and Lt. Callahan (Leslie Easterbrook) to train the new recruits any way they can as well as do some humiliating things to Mauser.
The film’s screenplay is sort of a rehash of the first film which was about a group of misfits who attend the police academy in their desire to be cops as this one is also about a band of misfits that includes Tackleberry’s brother-in-law Bud Kirkland (Andrew Paris), a young heir named Hedges (David Huband), a Japanese police officer named Nogata (Brian Tochi), a beautiful woman named Karen Adams (Shawn Weatherly) whom Mahoney falls for, and the wife of a cop in Mrs. Fackler (Debralee Scott). Also joining Lassard’s academy is the former merchant shop owner Sweetchuck (Tim Kazurinsky) and his old nemesis in reformed gang leader Zed (Bobcat Goldthwait) as they become roommates and later work together to help Lassard win over the committee. Especially as Mauser is willing to do anything to make Lassard and his academy look bad as he becomes cocky in his pursuit as well as be humiliated by Mahoney and his gang in a series of hilarious pranks.
Jerry Paris’ direction is quite simple in terms of the compositions as he doesn’t go for anything new though there is this nice balance between action and comedy. Most notably as Paris brings back a few gags from previous films while creating new ones that play into Mahoney and his gang trying to one-up and humiliate Mauser who is doing everything he can to impress this committee. Paris’ usage of close-ups and medium shots do play out as it relates to Nogata’s attraction towards Callahan as well as some of the moments involving Sweetchuck and Zed as they play off this odd couple of meekish nerd and wild slob, respectively. Though there’s a few moments where some of the humor doesn’t exactly work which does lag the pacing of the film a bit. There are moments where it is about a group of misfits trying to rise above everything and save the academy from being shut down as well as deal with those who are trying to take it down. Overall, Paris creates a very fun and exciting film about a group of misfit cops and some new recruits battling it out with another academy in order to save their own.
Cinematographer Robert Saad does nice work with the film‘s cinematography where it‘s quite straightforward for the daytime scenes while it‘s more effective for the scenes at night that includes the opening meeting Mauser holds with Proctor, Blankes, and Copeland at a parking garage. Editor Bud Molin does excellent work with the editing as it‘s straightforward with some stylish transitions and rhythmic cuts to play into the film‘s humor and action scenes. Production designer Trevor Williams, with art directors Rhiley Fuller and Dennis Davenport and set decorator Sean Kirby, does brilliant work with the look of the academy as well as some of the locations in Toronto plus the look of Mauser‘s academy.
Costume designer Aleida MacDonald does superb work with the costumes from the different police uniforms such as the more dark-blue style of Lassard‘s academy to the more khaki-based look of Mauser‘s academy. Sound editor Dale Johnston does amazing work with the sound to play into the sound of gunfire and other sound effects including the self-made ones by Jones. The film’s music by Robert Folk is fantastic for its bombastic theme with some orchestral flourishes and jazz-based pieces while music supervisors Tena Clark and David Chackler bring in a soundtrack that features a mix of rock and pop music.
The casting by Fern Champion and Pamela Basker is great as it features notable small roles from David James Elliot as one of Mauser’s cadets, Ed Nelson as the governor, Bruce Mahler as Fackler, Arthur Batanides as Kirkland’s father, Georgina Spelvin as the hooker from the first film who humiliates Proctor in a funny way, David Huband as the posh cadet Hedges, Debralee Scott as Fackler’s wife who becomes a police cadet and falls for Bud Kirkland, Andrew Paris as Tackleberry’s brother-in-law Bud who becomes a cadet as he has the boxing skills to fight off criminals, the duo of Brant van Hoffman and Scott Thomson in their respective roles as the sniveling Blankes and Copeland who help Mauser in taking Lassard’s academy down, and George R. Robertson as Chief Hurst who becomes annoyed by Mauser‘s ass-kissing. Other notable small roles include Shawn Weatherly in a wonderful performance as Karen Adams as a cadet Mahoney takes a liking to as well as Brian Tochi in a terrific performance as the Japanese cadet Nogata who is skilled in karate as he falls for Callahan.
Lance Kinsey is very funny as the dim-witted Proctor who does everything for Mauser only to screw things up and also become a victim of the other Academy’s pranks. Marion Ramsey is fantastic as Hooks as she teaches the cadets in police work while being very suspicious about Blankes and Copeland. George Gaynes is superb as Commandant Eric Lassard as the eccentric academy leader who is hoping that his academy will win while just being focused on police work as he also proves to be a formidable badass. Art Metrano is excellent as Commandant Mauser as the film’s antagonist who tries to take down Lassard’s academy as his arrogance and brown-nosing ends up having him be the brunt of many of the pranks caused by Mahoney. Leslie Easterbrook is brilliant as Lt. Callahan who helps in the training of the new cadets while getting the attention of Nogata whom she is impressed by.
Michael Winslow is hilarious as Jones as he creates some noises to humiliate Mauser as well as help Nogata out in winning over Callahan. David Graf is terrific as Tackleberry as he helps Sweetchuck into become a tough police officer. Bubba Smith is amazing as Hightower as big man who gets things done while teaching cadets how to have police dogs as their equals. Tim Kazurinsky is fun to watch as the meek Sweetchuck who tries to gain some confidence as a cop. Bobcat Goldthwait is a riot as Zed as a reformed gang leader who decides to become a cop as he uses unconventional tactics to get results. Finally, there’s Steve Guttenberg in a marvelous performance as Mahoney as he aids in training the cadets as he also tries to boost their confidence while finding ways to humiliate Commandant Mauser.
Police Academy 3: Back in Training is a superb film from Jerry Paris. With its great cast as well as some very funny moments, it is a film that manages to be entertaining though it is quite flawed but saved by some of the scene-stealing performances of Art Metrano and Bobcat Goldthwait. In the end, Police Academy 3: Back in Training is a fantastic film from Jerry Paris.
Police Academy Films: Police Academy - Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment - Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol - Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach - Police Academy 6: City Under Siege - Police Academy: Mission to Moscow
© thevoid99 2015
Directed by Jerry Paris and screenplay by Barry W. Blaustein and David Sheffield, Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment is the sequel to the 1984 film where it revolves on six of its graduates who are assigned to help a police precinct captain to battle a local gang. The film plays into the world of gang culture as six young cops do whatever they can to battle this gang as Steve Guttenberg, Bubba Smith, David Graf, Marion Ramsey, Michael Winslow, Bruce Mahler, and George R. Robertson, and George Gaynes all reprise their roles from the first film. Also starring Bobcat Goldthwait, Tim Kazurinsky, Lance Kinsey, Art Metrano, Colleen Camp, Peter Van Norden, and Howard Hesseman as Captain Pete Lassard. Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment is a fun and wild film from Jerry Paris.
When a local gang runs amok on a city as a police precinct captain has 30 days to deal with the situation, he is given six new recruits who had just graduated from the police academy as they deal with this wild gang. It’s a film that sort of picks up where the previous film left off as Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), Jones (Michael Winslow), Hightower (Bubba Smith, Tackleberry (David Graf), Hooks (Marion Ramsey), and Fackler (Bruce Mahler) are chosen to aid Captain Pete Lassard in shaping up his precinct which is filled with aging cops who are too overwhelmed to handle the situation. Yet, the local gang run by Zed McGlunk (Bobcat Goldthwait) are an unconventional gang who do what they want as the other problem Mahoney and his fellow graduates have is Lt. Mauser (Art Metrano) who also works at the precinct as he is trying to make sure they screw up so he can become the new captain of the precinct.
The film’s screenplay not only play to the struggle the rookies have to face in their very first assignment but also into the world of inter-police politics as Lt. Mauser is eager to make Cpt. Lassard look bad as Mahoney and some of the officers know exactly what Mauser is up to as they would pull a few pranks on him. There’s also some subplots as it relates to the rookies in their first assignment as some of them are paired with more experienced officers as Mahoney teams with a slob named Vinnie Schtulman (Peter Van Norden) and Tackleberry with Sgt. Kathleen Kirkland (Colleen Camp) whom he falls for as they both share a love of guns and firepower. The rookies’ encounter with Zed’s gang also has them meeting up with a frequent victim of the gang in Carl Sweetchuck (Tim Kazurinsky) who is put into some darkly-comical situations. The script succeeds in not just developing the rookies trying to get the job done but also take some major risks in putting Zed and his gang down for good while saving Captain Lassard’s job.
Jerry Paris’ direction is very lively as it is shot on location in Toronto and nearby locations in Ontario as he manages to keep things straightforward in the compositions. Notably as the streets in Toronto are given a very grimy look to play into a city coming undone by a gang as they wreak havoc on the street at it includes a scene walking into a supermarket and causing trouble with some funny moments. Paris’ usage of close-ups and medium shot do play into the action as well as some of the film’s comical moments that includes Jones using his martial arts skill to pretend he’s Bruce Lee or Hightower throwing a football to a street punk. The gags manage to keep things lively as it includes a scene at the Blue Oyster Bar where Zed’s gang definitely cross path with a bunch of men that shouldn’t be messed with. Paris also brings in bits of crass humor that is quite playful as it plays a moment in time where it was OK to be politically incorrect as well as elements that are quite silly but it’s not afraid to be silly or crass. Overall, Paris creates a very funny and engaging film about six rookies going all out against a street gang.
Cinematographer James Crabe does excellent work with the film‘s cinematography to play into the grimy look of the streets for some of the daytime exteriors as well as some unique lighting for its nighttime interior/exterior scenes. Editor Bob Wyman does terrific work with the editing as it‘s very straightforward to play into some of the film‘s humor and action sequences. Production designer Trevor Williams, with set decorators Robert C. Furginson and Dennis W. Peebles, does brilliant work with the look of the city streets to play into its sense of decay as it‘s being ruined by Zed‘s gang as well as the look of Zed‘s secret hideout.
Costume designer Bernie Pollack does nice work with the costumes as it mostly involve the uniforms and the grimy clothes of the gang. Sound editor Dale Johnston does superb work with the sound as it plays into the sound of gunfire and some of the sound effects that Jones make. The film’s music by Robert Folk is brilliant as it features the franchise’s theme as well as thrilling pieces involving the saxophone for its action as well as some of the romantic moments while the soundtrack includes some rock and pop music.
The casting by Pamela Basker and Fern Champion is great as it features some notable small roles from Julie Brown as a seamstress, Jason Hervey as a brat kid who refuses to go to school, Julie Paris as a check-out girl, Andrew Paris as Kirkland’s brother, Arthur Batanides and Jackie Joseph as Kirkland’s parents, Jennifer Darling as the city mayor, Kenji Shintani as a sushi chef, Ed Herlihy as Fackler’s veteran partner Dooley, Rich Hall as blond street punk, and George R. Robertson as Chief Hurst who demands Captain Lassard to turn things around. Other notable small roles include George Gaynes as the academy’s supervisor Commandant Lassard who would give his younger brother Pete the six rookies he needs, Tim Kazurinsky as a wimpy merchant named Sweetchuck who is a frequent victim of Zed and his gang, and Lance Kinsey in a funny performance as Mauser’s assistant Sgt. Proctor.
Peter Van Norden is terrific as the snobbish Schtulman who eats dirty food and always has his big dog Lou around him while Colleen Camp is wonderful as Kirkland who shares Tackleberry’s love of firearms and violence. Art Metrano is excellent as Lieutenant Mauser as a scheming officer who wants to oust Captain Lassard so he can run the precinct and be in total power as his funny moments involve him being the victim of the pranks. Bruce Mahler is very good as Fackler as the accident-prone officer who manages to use that flaw to his unknowing advantage while Marion Ramsey is superb as Hooks as she is forced to sit behind a desk and give out codes until she does what is right in the film’s climax. David Graf is brilliant as Tackleberry who not only copes with having the perfect woman as his partner but also in the fact that isn’t really experienced with being with women. Bubba Smith is fantastic as Hightower as the giant who not only gets the job done but also prove to be the one person that Zed’s gang is afraid of. Michael Winslow is amazing as Jones as he provides a lot of humor with his sound effects while being a total ass-kicker with his martial arts skills.
Bobcat Goldthwait is hilarious as Zed as a gang leader who likes to cause chaos while having a very sensitive side that makes him a very odd antagonist. Art Metrano is marvelous as Mauser as a lieutenant who wants to get rid of Captain Lassard as he mocks the new rookies as he also has an immediate dislike towards Mahoney as he becomes a victim of Mahoney’s pranks. Howard Hesseman is phenomenal as Captain Pete Lassard, Commandant Lassard’s younger brother, who copes with the on-going gang war as well as knowing that he has little time to shape things up in his precinct. Finally, there’s Steve Guttenberg in a remarkable performance as Mahoney as a rookie cop who deals with his first assignment while finding humor in his many situations while dealing with Mauser as he knows what he is up to.
Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment is an excellent film from Jerry Paris as it’s one of the finest films of the franchise. Most notably for its cast, music soundtrack, and its offbeat humor that manages to keep things being wacky as well as entertaining. In the end, Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment is marvelous film from Jerry Paris.
Police Academy Films: Police Academy - Police Academy 3: Back in Training - Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol - Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach - Police Academy 6: City Under Siege - Police Academy: Mission to Moscow
© thevoid99 2015
Directed by Hugh Wilson and screenplay by Neal Israel, Pat Proft, and Hugh Wilson from a story by Israel and Proft, Police Academy is the story revolving around a group of misfits who attend the police academy to become police officers after a new policy by the city’s mayor has been created. The film is a comedy that revolves a group of oddball characters who are eager to become police officers despite their lack of physical, educational, and mental requirements to be part of the police force. Starring Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall, Michael Winslow, David Graf, Bubba Smith, Bruce Maher, Marion Ramsey, Donovan Scott, Leslie Easterbrook, G.W. Bailey, and George Gaynes as Commandant Eric Lassard. Police Academy is a silly yet absolutely enjoyable film from Hugh Wilson.
When a shortage of police officers in an unnamed American city gets the attention of its newly-elected mayor, a new policy emerges that would allow ordinary people to attend the city’s police academy as the film revolves this group of oddball misfits who would join the academy. Among them is the gun-obsessed Eugene Tackleberry (David Graf), a human beatbox/noise-maker in Larvell Jones (Michael Winslow), a gigantic man of strength in Moses Hightower (Bubba Smith), an overweight coward in Leslie Barbara (Donovan Scott), a soft-spoken and timid Laverne Hooks (Marion Ramsey), the accident-prone Douglas Fackler (Bruce Mahler), a bored socialite in Karen Thompson (Kim Cattrall), a ladies man in George Martin (Andrew Rubin), and an easy-going trouble-maker in Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg). All of which enter the academy as they all face challenges while Mahoney is forced to attend the academy by an old friend of his father so he can avoid jail time for his many antics.
The film’s screenplay plays into the challenges these characters have to face at the academy as not everyone is happy about the mayor’s new policy such as Chief Hurst (George R. Robertson) and Lieutenant Thaddeus Harris (G.W. Bailey) who would train the cadets in the worst way to get them to quit. The academy’s superior Commandant Eric Lassard however, wants to give the new recruits a chance as he is open to the new changes despite Lt. Harris’ attempts to push them as he seeks the help of a couple of recruits in Blankes (Scott Thomson) and Copeland (Brant Von Hoffman) whom he feels have what it takes to actually be police officers. The film features a lot of subplots as it relates to the training period as Mahoney gets the worst of it as he is being pushed to quit where he goes from being this trouble-maker to actually wanting to become a cop like his father did many years ago. He also helps out his fellow cadets like Hightower who has all of strength and power to be a cop but hasn’t driven a car since he was twelve.
The script’s strength also involves the fact that it doesn’t take itself so seriously as it manages to play into many antics in which the main antagonist in Harris would often be the brunt of these antics while Blankes and Copeland would be victims of some of the pranks Mahoney would create. Among them is where the two were given to the wrong directions of a party the cadets were having as they end up walking into a gay bar known as the Blue Oyster Bar filled with men in leather and biker gear who seem to love tango music. There’s also antics in which the George Martin character disguises himself as a woman to sleep with female cadets as he gets the attention of one of the academy’s trainees in Sgt. Debbie Callahan (Leslie Easterbrook). It all plays into the development of the cadets as they would gain the respect of Sgt. Callahan and Commandant Lassard but also some self-respect as it would drive Mahoney to find meaning in his own life.
Hugh Wilson’s direction is very simple in terms of the compositions he creates while manages to display some very funny gags that are prevalent through the film. Shot on various locations in Toronto as well as Hamilton, Ontario in Canada, the film does feel like it could be shot in America as it plays into a world where things aren’t going as great as it creates this motivation to get new recruits. The locations where the academy and its training facilities are lovely to watch while it does add to some of the humor in these moments. Especially in a few sequences such as a training sequence where the cadets had to use a shotgun as it relates to how crazy Tackleberry is when he is given a shotgun.
Wilson’s doesn’t go for anything stylized though there’s a few dolly tracking shots and some unique camera angles as he mostly uses medium shots and close-ups for the film. Even as it plays into the film’s climatic riot that is caused by a simple accident as it has moments of thrills but also some big laughs where Wilson manages to find the right balance for these moments. Overall, Wilson creates a very funny and lively film about a bunch of misfits becoming police officers.
Cinematographer Michael D. Marguiles does excellent work with the cinematography as it‘s quite straightforward with some unique lighting schemes for the interior/exterior scenes set at night. Editors Robert Brown and Zach Staenberg do nice work with the editing as it‘s very straightforward with some stylish rhythmic cuts to play into the film‘s humor. Production designer Trevor Williams, with set decorator Steve Shewchuk and art director Dennis Davenport, does brilliant work with the design of the Police Academy facilities as well as some of the locations in the city such as the climatic riot sequence.
Costume designer Christopher Ryan does terrific work with the costumes from the different array of clothes of the characters prior to joining the academy to the uniforms and sweats they would wear in training. Sound editor Anthony Ippolito does superb work with the sound from the way some of Jones‘ own sound effects are presented to the sounds of gunfire and other things. The film’s music by Robert Folk is amazing for its bombastic theme as well as other score pieces that range from jazz to rock to play into some of the action and humor while the music soundtrack includes pieces of dance music, jazz, pop, and tango music for the scenes at the Blue Oyster Bar.
The casting by Pamela Basker and Fern Champion is incredible as it features some notable small roles from Ted Ross as Captain Reed who knew Mahoney’s father, Debralee Scott as Fackler’s wife in a very funny scene, Doug Lennox as the main bad guy in the riot sequence, Georgina Spelvin as a hooker who is tasked to get Barbara in trouble, and George R. Robertson as the city’s police leader Chief Hurst. Other notable small roles include Leslie Easterbrook as the very tough yet sensuous Sgt. Callahan, Brant Von Hoffman and Scott Thomson in their respective roles as the jerk cadets Blankes and Copeland, Bruce Mahler as the accident-prone Fackler who always unknowingly cause trouble, Andrew Rubin as the suave ladies man George Martin, and Donovan Scott as the cowardly Barbara who would gain some guts in the academy as they all give some funny performances.
Marion Ramsey is terrific as the meek Laverne Hooks who could barely speak loudly as she would later find her own voice and confidence as a cop. Michael Winslow is excellent as Larvell Jones as a man who can sound effects with his own mouth as he would prove to be very useful for the police force. David Graf is fantastic as Eugene Tackleberry as a man who loves guns and to kick ass as he is also this off-the-wall adrenaline junkie. Bubba Smith is superb as Moses Hightower as a gigantic man with great strength who is also quite humble and only uses violence when necessary. Kim Cattrall is wonderful as Karen Thompson as a socialite who joins the academy to broaden her view of the world as she would become Mahoney’s love interest.
G.W. Bailey is brilliant as Lt. Thaddeus Harris who sees the new cadets as dirt bags as he decide to train them till they quit as he finds an opponent in Mahoney. George Gaynes is amazing as Commandant Eric Lassard as the police academy’s leader who is an eccentric individual that wants to give the cadets a chance while spending a lot of time with his goldfish. Finally, there’s Steve Guttenberg in a remarkable performance as Carey Mahoney as a troublemaker who is unable to cope with authority as he is forced to join the academy to avoid jail time as he eventually decides to be a cop despite the bullying tactics of Harris, Blankes, and Copeland.
Police Academy is marvelous film from Hugh Wilson that features a great cast led by Steve Guttenberg. The film is definitely not just one of the finest comedies of the 1980s but also a film that refuses to take itself seriously while giving audiences characters to root for. In the end, Police Academy is a phenomenal film from Hugh Wilson.
Police Academy Films: Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment - Police Academy 3: Back in Training - Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol - Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach - Police Academy 6: City Under Siege - Police Academy: Mission to Moscow
© thevoid99 2015
