Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment was a fun sequel. It was enjoyable to see the new recruits having graduated from the Police Academy from the original movie and now assigned to their first station where they hit the streets.
Officers Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), Larvell Jones (Michael Winslow), Moses Hightower (the late Bubba Smith), Eugene Tackleberry (the late David Graf), Larvene Hooks (the late Marion Ramsay) and Douglas Fackler (Bruce Mahler) have the misfortune to be transferred to the 16th precinct. Hightower is assigned to foot patrol, Hooks is assigned to desk duty in the communications room, Fackler is assigned to the affable Dooley (Ed Herlihy), Jones to the cantankerous Sistrunk (Sandy Ward), Mahoney to the slovenly but well meaning Vinnie Schtulman (Peter Van Norden), and Tackleberry to motorcycle patrol alongside Kathleen Kirkland (Colleen Camp). Initially reluctant partners at first, they later form a friendship as they share common ground with their shared knowledge and experience with firearms which later blossoms into a romantic relationship.
The 16th precinct is located in a high crime area and the officers are having trouble getting the crime under control. Captain Pete Lassard (the late Howard Hesseman) is given an ultimatum of 30 days to turn things around or he is out. Pete Lassard asks his brother Commandant Eric Lassard (the late George Gaynes) for help and recommends his six new graduates to be assigned to the area to help with the crime wave. Though the new rookies have the misfortune of being transferred to the high crime area, all six officers are undettered about their situation as both of the Lassard brothers have faith in them that they will carry out their duties with pride which they do.
While Captain Pete Lassard is facing the axe, Lieutenant Eddie Mauser (the late Art Metrano) is grooming himself to become the captain of the precinct alongside the dimwitted Sergeant Carl Proctor (Lance Kinsey). Lieutenant Mauser is determined to see Captain Lassard fail and also undermines the officers by setting them up to fail. In revenge, Mahoney pulls pranks on Mauser in an effort to humiliate him. The crime wave has gotten worse especially with the gang The Scullions led by Zed (Bobcat Goldthwaite) running riot in the area, and the new police officers set out to curtail the crime wave in their own unique way.
It was great to see the main cast return. Though some cast members from the original movie didn't return for any of the sequels, it was great to see Steve Guttenberg, Michael Winslow, Bubba Smith, David Graf, Marion Ramsay, Bruce Mahler and George Gaynes return. Art Metrano was the vindictive Lieutenant Mauser was great to see. Lance Kinsey stole every scene as the dimwitted and clumsy Sergeant Proctor who became a mainstay for the rest of the series and was later promoted to Lieutenant.
Police Academy 2 is a delight to watch. After the success of the first movie released in 1984, it was great to see the new rookies hit the street. Though it was a hit at the box office, critics and audiences didn't exactly agree with some stating that it wasn't as funny as the first movie and some stating that it was too goofy with a lot of the sexual references toned down compared to the first movie. Regardless of some of the negative reviews, I enjoyed it. The series continued on with 4 more sequels yearly from 1986 to 1989, followed by a hiatus with the unnecessary Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (1994) which was the worst movie of the series. There was an animated series which was popular for a few years, and a short lived live TV series that was met with indifference. There were talks for a reboot or a remake of Police Academy with a whole new cast but I don't see that happening. That idea has seemed to have been scrapped. It's unfortunate, but maybe it's for the best.
On a personal note, Police Academy 2 was an inspiration for my first choice of cosplay back in 2017. That's why I still think well of the movie and years later it's still a delight to watch.
7/10.
Officers Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), Larvell Jones (Michael Winslow), Moses Hightower (the late Bubba Smith), Eugene Tackleberry (the late David Graf), Larvene Hooks (the late Marion Ramsay) and Douglas Fackler (Bruce Mahler) have the misfortune to be transferred to the 16th precinct. Hightower is assigned to foot patrol, Hooks is assigned to desk duty in the communications room, Fackler is assigned to the affable Dooley (Ed Herlihy), Jones to the cantankerous Sistrunk (Sandy Ward), Mahoney to the slovenly but well meaning Vinnie Schtulman (Peter Van Norden), and Tackleberry to motorcycle patrol alongside Kathleen Kirkland (Colleen Camp). Initially reluctant partners at first, they later form a friendship as they share common ground with their shared knowledge and experience with firearms which later blossoms into a romantic relationship.
The 16th precinct is located in a high crime area and the officers are having trouble getting the crime under control. Captain Pete Lassard (the late Howard Hesseman) is given an ultimatum of 30 days to turn things around or he is out. Pete Lassard asks his brother Commandant Eric Lassard (the late George Gaynes) for help and recommends his six new graduates to be assigned to the area to help with the crime wave. Though the new rookies have the misfortune of being transferred to the high crime area, all six officers are undettered about their situation as both of the Lassard brothers have faith in them that they will carry out their duties with pride which they do.
While Captain Pete Lassard is facing the axe, Lieutenant Eddie Mauser (the late Art Metrano) is grooming himself to become the captain of the precinct alongside the dimwitted Sergeant Carl Proctor (Lance Kinsey). Lieutenant Mauser is determined to see Captain Lassard fail and also undermines the officers by setting them up to fail. In revenge, Mahoney pulls pranks on Mauser in an effort to humiliate him. The crime wave has gotten worse especially with the gang The Scullions led by Zed (Bobcat Goldthwaite) running riot in the area, and the new police officers set out to curtail the crime wave in their own unique way.
It was great to see the main cast return. Though some cast members from the original movie didn't return for any of the sequels, it was great to see Steve Guttenberg, Michael Winslow, Bubba Smith, David Graf, Marion Ramsay, Bruce Mahler and George Gaynes return. Art Metrano was the vindictive Lieutenant Mauser was great to see. Lance Kinsey stole every scene as the dimwitted and clumsy Sergeant Proctor who became a mainstay for the rest of the series and was later promoted to Lieutenant.
Police Academy 2 is a delight to watch. After the success of the first movie released in 1984, it was great to see the new rookies hit the street. Though it was a hit at the box office, critics and audiences didn't exactly agree with some stating that it wasn't as funny as the first movie and some stating that it was too goofy with a lot of the sexual references toned down compared to the first movie. Regardless of some of the negative reviews, I enjoyed it. The series continued on with 4 more sequels yearly from 1986 to 1989, followed by a hiatus with the unnecessary Police Academy: Mission to Moscow (1994) which was the worst movie of the series. There was an animated series which was popular for a few years, and a short lived live TV series that was met with indifference. There were talks for a reboot or a remake of Police Academy with a whole new cast but I don't see that happening. That idea has seemed to have been scrapped. It's unfortunate, but maybe it's for the best.
On a personal note, Police Academy 2 was an inspiration for my first choice of cosplay back in 2017. That's why I still think well of the movie and years later it's still a delight to watch.
7/10.