Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985)

Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment was the last film to be remotely funny out of the further Academy films. No wonder almost every single orignal cast member dropped after the 4th film. My favorite character in this film however, and the only being who made it funny, was Bob Goldthwait. He and his raspy voice are hilarious, and make this film worth watching. I saw it on at 1 am once. I guess it's the only time slot the channel figure that no one will be watching. Anyway, it's worthy of a one time viewing, as the first, though they are both rip-offs of the film stripes. But still, see 1 & 2 once, and don't bother with the rest. 2.5/5 stars.

JOHN ULMER

Fmovies: Ask most people who felt that Police Academy 5 fell flat on its face, and they will tell you that the franchise couldn't cope without its top-billed star, Steve Guttenberg. This is only part of the truth. The fact is that after Police Academy 2, the series had two top-billing stars. The other one was Bobcat Goldthwait, he with the amazing power to convince audiences that screaming and nervous tics constitutes a comedy act. Together, these two could have made any B-grade comedy film a masterpiece, but they soon decided they had better things to do.

Bobcat's performance here is fairly standard stuff for him. Simply act like a brutish thug who obviously took too much acid during the 1970s, and let nature take its course. Given that he only appears in the film's final act after some fairly hilarious shenanigans from the rest of the cast, the fact that his is the most memorable performance in the entire film should tell you a lot.

The rest of the film is all about the original cast, as well as several new faces obviously intended as substitutes for the old that weren't brought back, acting out a situation where they're no longer misfits looking for a new path in life, but still trying to make the grade where their superiors are concerned. Never mind that recruits like Tackleberry would never get within shouting distance of passing the Academy's psych screening, it's what they did after the fact that this film covers.

This episode also marks the debut of Michael Winslow's Bruce Lee schtick, which remains a poignant example of how much easier it was to laugh in a world without political correctness. However, instead of a main player, Winslow is relegated to a sideline act for this episode. Which is hardly surprising. In spite of numerous players being excised from the original cast, this sequel looks and feels overcrowded. As a result, each of the Police Academy sequels sees the characters taking turns at development.

In Police Academy 2, Tackleberry gets his turn to be developed, and boy what a turn it is. The concept of this nutter finding a woman, who in turn has an entire family, that shares his enthusiasm for firearms, is one that wouldn't go amiss in a horror film. David Graf was probably one of the most underrated performers in the franchise, making it all the more disappointing that he is not with us to be part of Police Academy 8.

Interestingly, the people in Police Academy films who are set up as the true villain are always those who actively seek advancement, be it by fair means or foul. The heroes, by contrast, are content to remain where they are, and advance quietly from sequel to sequel. Perhaps this is a subtle social commentary? If so, I'd say it came about purely by accident. The idea that a Police Academy writer could do something so clever on purpose is pretty laughable.

In all, Police Academy 2 gets a two out of ten from me. It's not nearly as horrible as those that came after, but it does show that the makers were running out of ideas already.

The crew of the first "PA" movie are back! Carey Mahoney(Steve Guttenberg), Moses Hightower(Bubba Smith), Eugene Tackleberry(David Graf, 1950-2001), Laverne Hooks(Marion Ramsey), Larvelle Jones(Michael Winslow), and all the others from the original. This one is really of the hook. It got some great scenes here I really like. Tackleberry mentions his sex life to the others, so when he's partner with a female officer, you see what I mean. However, each one of them have a flair for guns. That's a great start there. Then there's a scene where Jones goes kung fu cinema on the bad guys. If you thought his sound effects on the first on was something, the fight scene is really something to remember by. Then there's a person in the department who is worse than Harris(G.W. Bailey), it's Mauser(Art Merano). The gang got him good when Jones switched the shampoo with the epoxy, and they have him leaving the shower, exposed. The real challenge is when they took out the gang who are running rampant all over the city. It's a surprise when they got Zeb(Bob "Bobcat" Goldwait) to join the force, and BIGFOOT as the honeymoon vehicle? What a hoot! I liked the movie very well. 4 out of 5 stars!

Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment fmovies. Police Academy 2 is a cinematic masterpiece. I was really surprised on how the cast came together to make a very good film. Howard Hessman AKA Dr. Johnny Fever from WKRP in Cininnnati, makes his only appearance in the series as Lasards brother. There chemistry on screen is unmatched and its a shame that they never teamed up again. Tim Kazerinsky plays the role of Sweetchuck, a very complicated man with many unfulfilled dreams. Bobcat Goldwait also makes his first appearance in the film. This film feels good from start to finish.Steve Guttenburg remains in top form as does Bubba Smith, and the late David Graf round out a talented cast.

Police Academy 2 Their First Assignment is filled with non stop laughs from start to finish honestly I enjoyed this movie more than it's sequels because after wards it got a bit boring. This time around we see Police Academy graduates Carey Mahoney (Guttenberg) and his friends Jones (Winslow), Hooks (Ramsey), Hightower (Smith), gun loving Tackleberry (Graf), and Fackler (Mahler) assigned to the 16th precinct to help stop a gang led by Zed (Goldthwait) that's terrorizing the neighborhood. Meanwhile Lieutenant Mauser (Metrano) does all he can to prevent the new recruits from succeeding if all fails he'll replace Pete Lassard (Hesseman) the brother of Commadant Lassard (Gaynes) as captain. So the group fights back with slapstick humor and crazy antics, along the way Tackleberry falls in love with fellow officer and also gun lover Kathleen Kirkland (Camp)It was so funny seeing Mahoney get revenge on Mauser by switching the shampoo with epoxy resin made me laugh so hard.

After the Police Academy surviving the graduating class that these most unusual police cadets are in, the whole group is assigned by special request of Howard Hessemann brother of Academy Commandant George Gaynes to his precinct which has seen an outbreak of gang violence. Hessemann is looking for some new and idealistic recruits to help him out. Instead he gets these goofballs.

If Steve Guttenberg learned Courtesy, Professionalism, and Respect at the Academy it's all forgotten by him and his fellow graduates. They also get involved in departmental politics as second in command Art Metrano at the precinct wants this crew to foul up. And they do everything they can to oblige him.

Police Academy movies are a guilty pleasure of mine. They can be described as gross, vapid, stupid, puerile, and funny as all hell.

I'm so glad they wrote in George Gaynes into this film showing his graduates and how well they do in Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment. There is something downright lovable about the clueless Captain Lessard whom he plays. And Art Metrano is the kind of villain you just love to hate and you just love seeing how Guttenberg and the rest get back at him in their own little ways.

The regulars are all there, Bubba Smith with that 6'7" inch frame of his, showing that size does indeed matter, Michael Winslow and that uncanny ability of sound effects, David Graf as Tackleberry who finds true love in this one with Colleen Camp. My favorite however is Marion Ramsey, little Officer Hooks with the squeaky voice. You can't help but love her.

Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment may be the funniest of the series. Watch it and see if you agree.