Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly Hilarious, Laughs Never Stop, November 7, 2001
By A Customer
The Police Academy series was still fresh and vibrant when this second installment was released (in sharp contrast, #5 was a dud). When I saw this on cable I laughed so hard I fell to the floor. This movie's best attribute is it's quick editing and spirited writing which keeps the jokes flowing fast and furious. Steve Guttenberg was fabulous, how come he never became a major star (was also great in "The Bedroom Window")? Sadly, the tall cop who loved guns has passed away. Great stuff here!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The first post-graduation assignment, May 19, 2004
This film was theatrically released on March 29,1985 precisely 53 weeks after the release of the first film. Some cast members of the first film have not returned for the sequel,and some have appeared for the first time such as Lance Kinsey as Seargeant Proctor,who'd appear in the next 4 sequels and Art Metrano as Lieutenant Mauser. Mauser's academy is separate from Commandant Eric Lassard's(George Gaynes). Mauser is the watch commander for those who were cadets in the first films(they are now seargeants). Also with an academy of his own is Eric's brother Pete(Howard Hesseman). Pete needed to "get his hands on some healthy young men",as he tells Eric on the phone. So the Metropolitan Police Academy's Class of 1984 are referred to Pete's academy. Pete has a "healthy young woman" also,her being soft-spoken Laverne Hooks(Marion Ramsey). The '84 graduates screw up,aggravating Pete. They are sent to put and end to the raunchy behavior of a dangerous gang who is terrorizing the city. Here we meet two more newcomers,stand-up comedian Bobcat Goldthwait who plays the leader of the gang and Tim Kazurinsky,late of Saturday Night Live,as Mr. Swechiuk,a home furnishings store proprietor. Gun buff Eugene Tackleberry(the late David Graf),while on motorcycle duty,meets the girl of his dreams,and marries in the final scene,Kathleen Kirkland(Colleen Camp). While preparing for his first date out on the town with Kathleen,Eugene splashes gun oil on his face as an alternative to cologne! Also,he gives Kathleen a pair of earrings in the shape of miniature handcuffs. The gang terrorizes a supermarket,knocking down merchandise and opening packages. The gang wrecks havoc at a carnival also. The star character,Carey Mahoney(Steve Guttenberg) goes undercover as a gangster like the gang seen in this film,and brings them to justice with the help of his colleagues,including Laverne,who again angrily yells "DON'T MOVE DIRTBAG!" Then,there's the civil wedding ceremony of Eugene and Kathleen Kirkland Tackleberry with all of Eugene's colleagues present and Kathleen's brother and parents. Another funny scene is where Lt. Mauser is about to shampoo his hair. The shampoo is taken away and replaced with a strong glue,like Krazy Glue. Some of the removed hair ended up on his hands. So Proctor places a wig on Mauser's head. It looks totally different,the wig being straight auburn hair(Mauser's natural hair is black and permed). Also,not seen in theatres but on television,is the scene,following the wedding,where the gang members join the Metropolitan Police Academy. Zed,the gang leader became a new man upon joining and would return for the next two sequels.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
a declining series, but one of the better ones, August 26, 2004
A film by Jerry Paris
"Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment" is the first of six sequels to 1984's "Police Academy". The screwball recruits have graduated from the Academy and are now ready for their first assignment as full fledged police officers. With the city in the midst of a crime wave, the rookie officers are assigned to the city's worst police precinct. The Captain in charge of the precinct just happens to be Pete Lassard (Howard Hesseman), the brother of the Commandant of the Police Academy, Eric Lassard (George Gaynes). Pete asks his brother for a dozen good men. Eric gives him six, all of which are the screwball recruits from the first movie. Pete Lassard is given thirty days to turn his precinct around or he'll be out of a job.
In charge of the rookies is Lt Mauser (Art Metrano), an obvious replacement for the Harris (G.W. Bailey) character. Mauser sets himself up in opposition to both the rookies as well as Pete Lassard. Mauser is gunning for Lassard's job. Each of the rookies are given a partner to train with and learn the ropes. Strangely enough, each training partner seems to bungle their job as much as the rookies. Returning for this movie are Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), Hightower (Bubba Smith), Tackleberry (David Graf), Hooks (Marion Ramsey), Fackler (Bruce Mahler), and Jones (Michael Winslow). This movie (and the series, really) is built around Mahoney and his confrontations with authority figures. He is the most likeable character, but a prankster. Of course Mauser takes a personal dislike to Mahoney from the start.
At this point there is nothing truly wrong with the "Police Academy" series. The movies are funny, though they are less funny with each subsequent movie. They are the typical screwball comedy, but the comedy gets more and more family friendly with each movie (the first movie had an "R" rating, this one has "PG-13", the rest have "PG") and it loses whatever edge it once had.
Nearly 20 years later (has it been so long?), is the movie still funny? Not as much as it was when I was twelve. "Police Academy 2" makes me smile at times, mostly because the situations are familiar and watching the movie is nostalgia now. The only thing about the movie that is really wrong is the character of Zed (Bobcat Goldthwait), a character that is simply annoying and not funny or interesting. Naturally he'll be back for two sequels.
The series is all downhill from here. The highpoint was the first movie, though this one isn't so bad. Still, if you are feeling nostalgic for the series, start from the beginning and quit when you are tired of it all. Most viewers should be able to make it past this one, but the series becomes very bad in a hurry. "Police Academy 2" is one of the better movies in the series, though that may not be saying very much.
-Joe Sherry
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