Police Academy

Hugh Wilson (1984)

92min

15 Certificate

Review

Our Score

by John Ferguson

It's hard to imagine that, back in 1984, anyone would have thought this would spawn six sequels as well as a cartoon series. Yet somehow it managed to strike a chord with audiences around the world and made a star (well, briefly anyway) out of Steve Guttenberg. And, while the follow-ups became increasingly puerile as the series went on, the original film produced its fair share of belly laughs. Guttenberg leads a group of oddballs, who probably shouldn't even be allowed to watch cops on television, into police training, where they clash with authority but prove themselves in the end. It's crude and juvenile, but fans will be in heaven.

Summary

An American police college lowers its entrance requirements in the hope of attracting new recruits, and in response, assorted dubious candidates turn up for enrolment. A short-tempered instructor is determined to weed out the bad apples, but a riot provides the clueless cops with a chance to prove their worth. Comedy, starring Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall, Bubba Smith and GW Bailey.

Cast & Crew

Carey Mahoney Steve Guttenberg

Karen Thompson Kim Cattrall

Lieutenant Harris G W Bailey

Moses Hightower Bubba Smith

Leslie Barbara Donovan Scott

Commandant Lassard George Gaynes

George Martin Andrew Rubin

Tackleberry David Graf

Sergeant Callahan Leslie Easterbrook

Larvell Jones Michael Winslow

Mrs Fackler Debralee Scott

Doug Fackler Bruce Mahler

Captain Reed Ted Ross

Director Hugh Wilson

Other Information

Language: EnglishColourTheatrical distributor: Columbia-Emi-Warner Dists LtdGuidance: May be edited for language, violence and nudity. Available on: video, DVD and Blu-ray

Comedy

Full Episode Guide

RIP George Gaynes, Police Academy's Commandant Lassard: we salute you - and that very memorable scene!

THAT moment from Police Academy made me laugh as a teenage boy and it still does today, says Paul Jones - and that's something to celebrate about the life of actor George Gaynes