Police Academy 2 & 3 Double Feaure

Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985)

Directed by Jerry Paris

Starring Steven Guttenberg, David Graf, Howard Hesseman

To protect, to serve... and make you laugh. America's funniest crimebusters are back!







Police Academy 2 takes the recruits from the first film and puts them at their first assignment, which is the worst precinct in the area.  The captain (Hesseman) also happens to be Commandant Lassard's younger brother, and he has been given 30 days to shape up his precinct, or he is out.  That is where the new recruits come into play, and Captain Lassard is given Mahoney, Jones, Hooks, Tackleberry, Fackler and Hightower to help improve.  Lassard is unaware though that Officer Mauser (Art Metrano) has been told the precinct will become his if Lassard fails, so he attempts to make sure that happens, with the help of Sgt Proctor (Lance Kinsey).

Police Academy 2 introduces some new characters, as well as brings some favorite back.  Missing are Lt. Harris and Sgt. Callahan from the first movie, and it shows.  But the "villain" role is filled by Mauser, and there are some great gags that I don't think would've worked as well if Harris had been in the role.  Also introduced in this sequel are two of my favorite characters, Mr. Sweetchuck (Tim Kazurinsky) and Zed (Bobcat Goldthwait).

I found this follow-up to be surprisingly entertaining, and though not as good as the first (or the 3rd, which I assume will be my favorite of the sequels), I enjoyed myself.  I think part of the charm of the franchise is that the characters are memorable and each one is unique.  There is a sequence is this sequel where they respond to a robbery call at Sweetchuck's store that had me laughing heartily.

None of the entries in this franchise were going to be award-winning, and maybe it is the nostalgia factor for me, but I do find them to be fun and watchable. 3.5/5

Police Academy 3: Back In Training (1986)

Directed by Jerry Paris

Starring Steve Guttenberg, Art Metrano, David Graf

Run for cover!








Police Academy 3 takes us back to the academy, as the Governor has decided to close one of the state's academy's and has put together a committee to evaluate each one on their latest class of recruits.  Commandant Lassard decides the way to win is to have the class of '84 be part of the training of the new group of misfits (including Sweetchuck and Zed from the previous installment).  The other academy is being ran by Commandant Mauser, who has schemed with Sgt. Blanks and Copeland and has their help in sabotaging Lassard's recruits.

All of the usual suspects return in this sequel, and Callahan also makes her return to the series.  New recruits also include Tackleberry's brother-in-law Bud, Fackler's wife, and Tomoto Nagata, who falls for Callahan,

As with the previous two movies, this one sticks to slapstick humor to be funny.  Mauser once again gets some tricks played on him, as well as his right-hand man Proctor.  The series has a few reoccurring jokes they use, like Commandant Lassard's poor goldfish, Hooks saying "Don't move, dirtbag!", and the use of the Blue Oyster club.

This is the entry in the franchise I have the most remembrance of, as it includes a boat chase as part of its finale.  One of my favorite gags is Jones turning his jet ski into a submarine, to avoid collisions.  A worthy follow-up, and probably the last good one.  3.75/5

Police Academy (1984)

Police Academy (1984)

Directed by Hugh Wilson

Starring Steve Guttenberg, Bubba Smith, and G.W. Bailey

What and Institution!








Police Academy is a franchise I remember watching a lot growing up.  The first four are the ones I remember mostly, and I think that is due to my grandpa having them recorded (probably off of HBO).  I finally got around to picking up the series on DVD (thanks to WB releasing two 4-movie sets), and I decided to revisit the franchise to see how it holds up.

I will say that I was not disappointed in Police Academy, as it has held up and I laughed a lot.  A lot of that has to do with the great ensemble cast that it has.  I won't even begin to list each character, but each one is unique and has their own voice (even if it is meek, like Hooks), and that is part of the charm of the series.

The basic plot is simple: a new mayor has removed the criteria of joining the police academy, so everyone and anyone can join now.  We watch as the worst of the new recruits are put with Lt. Harris (Bailey) and Sgt. Callahan (Leslie Easterbrook) for their 14 weeks at the Academy.  Mahoney (Guttenberg) is our protagonist, at the academy as an alternative for jail time.  He can get thrown out, but can't quit.

Like a said, a broad cast of characters make up our group of misfits, each with their own unique characterization.  Jones is a human sound effects machine, Hooks has a meek voice, Tackleberry (a personal favorite) is gun-ho at a moments notice, and Commandant Lassard is a dim-witted commander.  At least in the first film, no one really outshines the rest, and they all work very well together.

It has probably been 15+ years, if not longer, since I had seen a film of the franchise.  But when I popped in the DVD and heard the theme playing, a rush came over me and a smile came to my face.  For that alone, I was happy.  I laughed a lot in my revisitation of the movie, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.  I don't expect the caliber of the first one, but with the memories I have, I do expect to at least find them enjoyable.  This is easily a title I can throw on as background noise, or if I need a mood lightened up.

Motel Hell (1980)

Motel Hell (1980)

Directed by Kevin Conner

Starring Rory Calhoun, Paul Linke, Nancy Parsons and Nina Axelrod

It takes all kinds of critters to make Farmer Vincent's fritters.







I remember seeing the VHS box (pictured) for Motel Hell when roaming the horror aisle at the local video store when I was younger, but never watched it.  I guess that particular box was never appealing to my young eyes, and I wasn't one who read the synopsis on the back to help me make a decision,

I'm glad I finally took a shot on it (thanks to Scream Factory releasing it on Blu-Ray), as it is a better film than my young brain decided it was.  But then again, my taste in horror has grown since the days of wanting a basic slasher film, and I'm not sure I would've picked up on the black humor and satire the film has.

Farmer Vincent (Calhoun) runs a motel with his sister Ida (Parsons), and also makes smoked meats on the side.  The meat is world-famous, but is only sold within 100 mile radius of the farm, to keep costs down.  But Farmer Vincent has a secret: he has a garden of people that he uses as his secret ingredient for his smoked meats.  Vincent and Ida's younger brother is Sheriff Bruce (Linke), who is naive to what is going on,

The cast is what makes the film so great, especially Calhoun who carries the film as Farmer Vincent.  Parsons, Linke, and Axelrod (as Terry, a young female that Vincent falls for) all do well in their parts too.  There are a few minor roles too, including a pre-Cheers John Ratzenberger and Wolfman Jack.

If anything, the film is worth seeing for the finale: a lot of things come to head, and it includes a final fight with dueling chainsaws.  Also, the image of Farmer Vincent wearing a hog's head while wielding a chainsaw is iconic.

Overall, a very enjoyable flick, and Scream Factory did a wonderful job with their release of it, including interviews and a making of feature that makes me appreciate the film a little bit more.  4/5