gavin6942 A group of good-hearted but incompetent misfits enter the police academy, but the instructors there are not going to put up with their pranks.This is just one of those iconic 1980s comedies. Between this film, its six sequels, a TV series, a comic book and more, it really became part of popular culture in a big way. Heck, Steve Guttenberg was sort of the defining comedic actor of the 1980s (and then disappeared).Although many of the actors are best known for their roles here, it is worth noting that Kim Cattrall plays an important role and she remained popular right up through "Sex and the City". Leslie Easterbrook also stayed strong through the 2000s, something many of the cast cannot claim.

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!

videorama-759-859391 I guess something you never so coming, was Ebert's review of this. May'be he missed the point. The 1984 hit, was pure slapstick, meant to take digs at the police academy. It's as entertainingly addictive as 1985's Night Patrol. Of course, nearly in all cases, the original's the best: same case here. We're introduced to a bunch of richly written characters, delinquents, wannabes, who we grow to love over the next chain of sequels, each character, totally different from the next. Sadly most of the actors, and they are good, didn't go very far after this. Of course, the chief character or the main dude of our story, is the delinquent Mahoney, who as a valet driver rightfully drives an abusive customer's car sideways. He's arrested (not the first time) and forced to do community service, via a police academy program, which for Mahoney, is what you could call hard time. He butts heads with a nemesis lieutenant, Harris (G.W. Bailey- Major Crimes) and this is where the real fun lies, but also we have a little revenge, a liked for two kiss arse students, who like to be pain in the arse martyrs, where Mahoney and them square off in one scene. I loved Bubba Smith in this too, as Hightop. I could spend hours going on about the wonderfully meaty formed characters and the gags, but P.A. is a see for yourself comedy, another reason that just made the eighties great. For those who have never seen it, and there wouldn't be many around, let me tell ya, it's not too late to watch, as it will have the same infectious impression on you now, as if you watched it back in 1984.

Jamesfilmfan905 police academy made in 1984 was to try and capture the same sort of zany scatological humour that had placated audiences in movies such as airplane , the naked gun , but police academy's humour comes in the form of slapstick and sketch like gags etc. and raunchy . Any the film is about a man named Carey Mahoney played by Steve Guttenberg who is told by his prison officer that he has to complete the 14 week training course or he has to face a prison sentence and when arrives he meets a whole host of weird wacky misfits who hope to become police officers themselves and hopes he can endure what is ahead of him . Everyone gives an memorable performance in the film such as Guttenberg Michael Winslow as Jones but the main one that stands above the rest of the cast is GW Bailey as captain Harris who suitable mean and smarmy to the point of sheer exhilaration . Overall police academy is funny in bits not all the way through but its very entertaining and better than all the abysmal sequel's that followed it . Rated R for comic violence and some strong language and sexual scenes