Eric Stevenson This is the first of many "Police Academy" movies and it seems like everyone agrees this is the best. I was really shocked to find that each one had a lower rating than the last one. It's like in exact order. This is the only "Police Academy" movie to be rated R. It's mostly because there's lots of topless women. No wonder the sequels were so hated.They needed boobies! Anyway, this is nothing but hit and miss. The best joke is probably when the one guy is beating people up only to find they were just taking stuff out of their own apartment. The worst joke was when the guy went in the horse's butt. The guy who does the sounds is really very entertaining. He's so good at it. **1/2

blackmamba99971 If you've ever wanted to know how the real police academy operates then look no further. Police academy, home to the newest recruits, and also a new way of allowing normal civilians to make a dream come true. Heritage has shown that most academies look for those who have stamina, strength, the right height, right weight, and Johnsons. Yet as the times change so do the police forces. Much like this film who shows that no more discrimination is allowed among the young cadets. Which brings us to the protagonist Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg). A brash trouble maker who pulls pranks long enough to finally get himself thrown into the academy to become a better citizen. How will the city survive? Along with Mahoney comes a motley crew of misfits misunderstood by society such as Marvell Jones (Michael Winslow) who usually passes the time by making sound effects that sound so real you would think the sounds were authentic. Such as gun fire, harmonicas, or even an arcade game. In between these two are other characters such as Tackleberry (David Graf) Hightower (Bubba Smith) or Hooks (Marion Ramsey). Put these people together you get the next generation of cop that most would sacrifice their life for to keep them in their neighbourhood.Although learning is part of the ritual, for which you will need a rough, tough, and hardened Lieutenant Harris (G. W. Bailey) and his sidekick who is not only beautiful but cruel as Harris is Sergeant Callahan (Leslie Easterbrook) Together they make the best drill instructors this side of Siberia with their relentless training regimes of push ups, sit ups, running, push ups, obstacle training, push ups, and more. But also there are the butt kissers such as the two squad leaders such a Copeland, and Blanks who during this feature gets dancing lessons by some very mean looking S+M Blue Oyster club members.Put it all in one can you have one hell of a thrill ride from frame one to six thousand. Full of laughs, action, and great actors such as the most beloved academy leader Commandant Lassard (George Gaynes) who only wants to see his cadets graduate with Honourable pride. Police academy was one of the top grossing films during the eighties, which inspired many people from all walks of life to enlist hoping to become the next Carey Mahoney. Yet to do that one only has to park a car sideways, and listen to Frankie Goes To Hollywood. Since the first film it spawned five more instalments making it one of the successful franchises in recent years including their own animated series. To remake this kind of humour would need some very intelligent writers that do not need CGI or special effects, only cut throat humour that can make an audience laugh from start to finish.However to make it work for the Commandant position since the passing of George Gaynes it will be some time before it can actually get off the ground. In the mean time sit back, and enjoy a real gem from the eighties as Police Academy breaks all the rules, with gut busting laughs, and fun. Highly recommended for ages fourteen and above.

TheLittleSongbird Part of me did want to see the first 'Police Academy' film for a while now, but the bad reputations of the sequels and that the style of humour 'Police Academy' has has been done really badly elsewhere that it did admittedly put me off.Seeing all the films recently, for curiosity and giving the benefit of the doubt, while the sequels are really not good on the most part the original 'Police Academy' is and is rightly considered the best of the series. 'Police Academy' is never going to be one of my favourite films, and won't be in my list of favourite comedies any time soon, but, taking it for what it is and what it set out to do, it entertained for most of the just over an hour and a half running time.It is a bit hit and miss in places, not all the jokes work (most do though), due to going a little too heavily on the childish and cheap low-brow factors. That said, nothing is distasteful at least, nothing makes you want to gag or make you go to the bathroom and throw up copiously (which is more than can be said for stuff like 'Freddy Got Fingered' and the worst of Adam Sandler).'Police Academy's' story is rather thin, with less eventful parts leaving some rather draggy stretches, and gets a bit silly. Kim Catrall does a good job being sexy and sassy but she is given little to do and the film didn't seem to know what to do with her.However, 'Police Academy' is competently made visually, not stunning but hardly cheap. The setting looks good too and is well utilised. The soundtrack is catchy and infectious, fitting the tone perfectly.While it has been said that not everything in the humour works, most of it does, the crudeness is mostly not overdone and the silliness is mostly endearing. Much of the dialogue is hilarious and there are set pieces that raise at least a couple of big belly laughs, the highlights being the speech scene (absolutely hilarious and to me the single best and funniest scene of the whole 'Police Academy' series) and the scenes with Copeland and Blankes.Steve Guttenberg seems to be really enjoying himself, and is a fun and amiable presence. Easy to see why his role here made him a star at the time, even if somewhat briefly. George Gaynes is a hoot and GW Bailey is suitably hard nosed, which provides some entertaining conflict. Everyone else is fine too.Overall, good fun film that never tries to be more than it is and knows what it wants to be. Hit and miss perhaps, but when it hits man isn't it entertaining. 7/10 Bethany Cox

Idiot-Deluxe 1984's Police Academy was great in it's day and 32 years later the movie still feels fresh and full of vitality. Sadly it's ONLY the first entry in the series that has held up over the years and that's largely due to the films risqué sense of humour, being more adult or "mature" in nature. I've seen this film dozens of times over the years and always get a kick out it.It's funny to think that this movies success (or the entire series for that matter) largely hinges upon the presence of a perennial B-Lister like Steve Guttenberg, but it's true - it just doesn't seem like a Police Academy movie without Officer Mahoney. For the uninitiated Police Academy is a rousing comedy, that comes loaded with many funny and memorable characters and it was the starting point for a long-running and prolific series of movies throughout the 80's and into the early 90's. But it's this one, the first one, if memory serves me correctly, is the only one that's actually true to it's title - it being the only one that takes place largely at a "police academy". And it's here, at the beginning, where the comedy is most focused and is at it's most effective.Centering largely around Cadet/Officer Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg) who plays a good-for-nothing punk that's constantly in trouble with the law, as he drifts from one low-paying job to another. Eventually he's pressured into going to the police academy or prison, unenthused by either choice, he chooses the academy, once there he's intent on getting thrown out later that very same day "Be out of here by three". He proceeds to cause mischief where ever he goes and with every chance he gets - and there are many. Because after all, that's really half the show - Mahnoney's shenanigans on campus. In fact his handiwork becomes so well known to others, that you hear lines like "Mahoney... it's gotta be Mahoney". He's constantly at odds with his superiors's and one in particular: Lituentant Harris, who is by far the most combustible and vocal of the academy's training core and it's between them that many of the movies funniest exchanges happen. I'd say the best of which would have to be the accident involving the dirt-bike and horse's ass - Riotous! Truly a classic film moment - or better yet the scene that immediately follows, which is a hilarious continuation of that scene.Having recently seen it yet again, I can attest to the films seemingly timeless quality and it's irrepressible comedic charm. Director Hugh Wilson did a great job with getting the most out of his cast and the films comic sensibilities still manage to shine brightly after all these years. Police Academy, the first in the series, the one that literally "started it all" remains a top-tier comedy and one of the very best of the 80's - a decade that easily had more notable comedies than any other (I could make a list but don't feel that it's necessary).Sadly it's -only- with the first Police Academy movie that the magic is alive and vital - the rest were obviously tamed-down for younger audiences - and it's a real shame they went with that direction.I can't help but think how awesome it would have been for Eddie Deezen to have been one of the new cadet's, definitely a missed opportunity..... but anyway's - Long Live The Great Mahoney!