Police Academy (1984)
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A group of mismatched recruits must navigate the challenges of a police academy after a new policy allows anyone to apply.
The story
In an unnamed city, the mayor orders the Metropolitan Police to accept all willing applicants for training, regardless of suitability. Hundreds apply, including a diverse group of individuals ranging from a rich girl to a reformed criminal. Rebellious underachiever Carey Mahoney is offered a deal to avoid jail by enrolling in the academy. However, he soon learns from Commandant Eric Lassard that he cannot quit or be dismissed until training ends. Meanwhile, Police Chief Henry Hurst schemes to drive the undesirable recruits out by making training intolerable, leading to various conflicts and mishaps among the cadets as they attempt to navigate the rigorous and often absurd environment of the academy.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In an unnamed city, the mayor orders the Metropolitan Police to accept all willing applicants for training, regardless of suitability. A diverse group of recruits, including the rebellious Carey Mahoney, enters the academy. Chief Henry Hurst attempts to make training so intolerable that the 'unsuitable' recruits will quit. Mahoney, who initially planned to be expelled, finds himself in a predicament where he cannot leave until the training is complete. The plot follows the various mishaps of the cadets, including a failed attempt to spy on others at a bar, a series of escalating incidents involving a stolen car and a citywide riot sparked by a stray apple. During the riot, Mahoney and others find themselves outnumbered and in danger. Amidst the chaos, a criminal takes hostage several officers. Mahoney is forced to surrender but is eventually joined by the gentle giant Moses Hightower, who defeats the criminal. At the graduation ceremony, Mahoney and Hightower are reinstated and awarded for bravery. The film ends with a revelation that Commandant Lassard had hidden a prostitute under a lectern to punish Mahoney for a previous incident.
- First release year
- 1984
- Runtime (minutes)
- 96
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Hugh Wilson
- Writers
- Neal Israel · screenplay; Pat Proft · screenplay; Hugh Wilson · screenplay; Neal Israel · story; Pat Proft · story
- Cast and characters
- Steve Guttenberg · Cadet Carey Mahoney; Kim Cattrall · Cadet Karen Thompson; Bubba Smith · Cadet Moses Hightower; Donovan Scott · Cadet Leslie Barbara; Michael Winslow · Cadet Larvell Jones; Andrew Rubin · Cadet George Martin; David Graf · Cadet Eugene Tackleberry; Bruce Mahler · Cadet Douglas Fackler
- Genres
- comedy; crime comedy
- Themes
- non-conformity; brotherhood
- Tone and mood
- slapstick; humorous
- Premise and plot tags
- police; comedy; ensemble cast
- Franchise connections
- Police Academy
- Content notes
- nudity
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its slapstick humor while others criticized its crude content.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 58% · scale: percentage · review count: 33; Metacritic · score: 41 · scale: 100 · review count: 6
- Production trivia
- The film was the most successful in its franchise as of 2022.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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