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
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