BY MIKEY MIGO
I normally like to review movies that are current and new. There are plenty of new movies that I could have reviewed this week. If you had told me a few days ago that the next review I wrote was for the 1984 comedy “Police Academy” I’d sock you one good right in the kisser. I was one years old when this movie was released, but the Police Academy franchise was part of childhood. I remember the sequels, the characters, the spin off cartoon, the toys, and pretty much everything about this stuff. It spawned like a half dozen sequels and I’ve seen them all. The problem is that it’s all one big blur. I learned this as I watched this 1984 comedy film. In my head I think part one, part two, AND part three were one big movie. The first one was pretty damn funny. I’m not going to lie. I did honestly find myself laughing out loud at a few well done bits and jokes. It was just a fun movie. Some would call it “low brow”, but it had a lot of that old school slap-stick stuff of the past mixed in with the raunchy grit of the late 70’s and early 80’s. The movie, for those who suck at life and don’t already know this, is about a group of rag-tag misfits coming together in the Police Academy for their own reasons. The movie centers around Steve Guttenberg playing “Cadet Mahoney”. He’s the scrappy leading man. He’s charming, in on the jokes, and a very decent shoulder to carry the movie. I know he had Short Circuit and Cocoon, but I’m still surprised he hasn’t popped up in more stuff since then. How is he not the lead in a sitcom or a guest on a series? Is he a dick or something? He seems likeable enough. I don’t get it. Along with him is GW Bailey as the asshole of assholes “Lt. Harris”, George Gaynes as “Cmndt. Eric Lassard”, Bubba Smith as “Hightower”, David Graf as “Tackleberry”, Marion Ramsey as “Hooks”, and the human sound board Michael Winslow as “Jones”. The normal folks from the franchise are there. Then there are a few who came and went like Kim Cattrall, Andrew Rubin, Donovan Scott, and a few others. Still I expected a few others. I didn’t see “Proctor” or Bobcat Goldthwait . I thought they were in all of them. I also thought Howard Hesseman and the big slobbish guy with the dog was in it. I researched and apparently I really did think part one and part two were the same movie. The ending was simple. There was a riot and the cadets had to step up. And at the end, they had an award ceremony on top of their graduation. I think all of their movies ended that way. This movie wasn’t what I expected. I thought more of the Police Academy “mythos” was involved with the first movie. I think that’s the first time the words “Police Academy mythos” were ever used. Still, I enjoyed myself and I enjoyed being taken back to a time when something this silly could be so enjoyable without any ironic twist or tongue-in-cheek snarkiness. They were talking about doing a reboot of this movie with either the originals or with an entirely new class of actors. I say why not work it out for both. I’m sure a Sergeant Mahoney could make for a fun situation. I could cast this entire movie with newer up and coming comedians VERY easily. Why isn’t someone bringing this franchise back?! Seriously! If needed, I’ll clear my schedule and do it myself if I were permitted. This needs to happen. Any way… watch the 1984 version. Do yourself a favor and do it on DVD so you get the full intended raunch! B+
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