Police Academy *** (1984, Steve Guttenberg, George Gaynes, Kim Cattrall, G W Bailey, Bubba Smith, Donovan Scott) – Classic Movie Review 3374

A moderately amusing idea about a police commissioner lowering his standards to take in a bunch of misfit recruits turned into a comedy sensation that has surprisingly run and run (to Police Academy 7 so far). The mayor has changed the requirements to join the police force, and sex, weight, height and orientation are now not factors, so basically anyone can join.

The appealing comedy playing of young Steve Guttenberg (as Carey Mahoney) helps co-writer/ director Hugh Wilson’s silly, raucous, lowbrow and sexist 1984 comedy Police Academy along nicely. Mahoney is a petty criminal busted for criminal damage and forced to join the Police Academy as a punishment. In the predictable story, he tries to get thrown out, but eventually realises he likes the academy and wants to become a cop after all.

Police Academy offers a fair cop of juvenile funny gags, and it is certainly the best of the series – in fact the only really palatably funny movie of the whole seven.

Likeable performers Kim Cattrall as Karen Thompson, G W Bailey as Lieutenant Harris, Bubba Smith as Moses Hightower and George Gaynes as Commandant Lassard star, and create fairly memorable characters, but it is Michael Winslow who gets the lion’s share of the laughs as a sound-effects genius, Larvell Jones.

Also in the cast are Donovan Scott as Leslie Barbara, Leslie Easterbrook as Sergeant Callahan, David Graf as Tackleberry, Andrew Rubin as George Martín, Bruce Mahler as Doug Fackler, Ted Ross as Captain Reed, Scott Thomson as Chad Copeland and Brant von Hoffman as Kyle Blankes.

The screenplay is by Hugh Wilson, Neal Israel and Pat Proft, based on a story by Neal Israel and Pat Proft.

Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment followed in 1985, with most of the cast returning.

Kim Cattrall previously played Honeywell in Porky’s, so this was a step up, but she did not return to the series. She made her film debut in Rosebud back in 1975.

George Gaynes died on February 15 2016 in North Bend, Washington, at the age of 98. He starred in all seven of the films as Commandant Lassard.

He was also known for Punky Brewster (1984), Tootsie (1982) and his last film, Just Married in 2003. He was married to Allyn Ann McLerie.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3374

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/