A staple of 80s comedy, i’d been meaning to get around to watching the ‘Police Academy’ films for literal decades…and after a particularly uneventful Thursday, that time has finally come, starting with the first film; and the one that most people will champion as ‘the one to watch’.

The plot revolves around a city where the new mayor has made a decision to no longer disqualify applicants to the police force based on sex, weight, height, religeon or education status. ALL are welcome to try out for the force, and a ragtag group of misfits take the city up on that offer. Its basically stereotypes from here on in, as a tall muscley black guy, a fat man, a gun nut, a criminal, an ‘Italian’, and many MANY other bizarre individuals sign up to Police academy.

But the chief of the Academy is strongly against the situation and has instructed his staff to make conditions at the training camp SO unbearable, that these misfits will quit as they cant just throw them out anymore. As such prank wars and ‘hilarity’ ensue for the first 60 minutes, until one of their hairbrained schemes triggers a full blown riot, leading the ‘Cops to be’ RIGHT into a heavy and serious situation, that may prove too much for the team!

And for all the pomp and circumstance this film gets as a ‘hit 80s comedy’ its fine. Nothing remarkable, not particularly bad, VERY dated and kind of meandering. But hey, you wanna see a handful of mixed ability comedians do some low brow, low quality ‘yuck yucks…’ then here you go.

I think the plot itself is fine, though I do think we spend a bit too long at the Academy itself, the characters dont really get much of a chance to grow beyond their establishing, and it isnt really until the 3rd act when they DO get out amongst the public that the real fun of this film kicks in. The characters are all pretty much one note stereotypes. what you see in their first 3 minutes on screen is basically what you’ll be getting for the remaining 83 minutes…so…be ready for that.

The jokes are pretty poor, most of the comedy is low effort, low brow gags that AT MOST caused a stifle ‘mhmm!’ from me. there were 2 gags in this that actually made me laugh, but otherwise, its a very dry film thats aiming for ‘zany’ with non of the real qualities of what a ‘zany’ film needs to thrive. Michael Winslow as Larvell doing sound effects is about as ‘thought provoking’ as this film gets really.

Still! the direction and cine are solid enough for the early 80s, the castings about as solid as it could have been, and the scores definitely memorable. I just kind of wish they’d done a bit more with the premise, because as it stands this feels like a ‘DC Cabs’ rip off with elements of Porkys thrown in for good measure.

Its definitely not a bad comedy, im sure some people will get something out of it…its just kind of unremarkable, just a fairly middle of the road comedy movie that didnt really have me in stitches..BUT It did inspire 2 of my favourite ‘Simpsons’ bits…So I guess it has that going for it.

Definitely not one I can recommend in the year of our lord 2025. But if you’ve had it on your watch list for a while and are curious about how it goes. i’d say its fine enough to catch at least once if your inclined.

source https://letterboxd.com/tytdreviews/film/police-academy/