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
