Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985) Poster

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7/10
Worth a look, it's still funny.
Sleepin_Dragon4 February 2020
I was always surprised that we didn't get Goonies part 2, it's fair to say in the 1980's, if a film was a success, a sequel was on the way. I still love the original, and I'm also a big fan of the first sequel. They retain the cast, but also add to it, the elements that made the first very funny are still here. There are definitely some funny scenes, the shower gel being the best, the removal of weapons, and generally every scene that features Zed. It won't be for everyone, and you get the impression it was put together quickly to cash in on the first, but it is funny, and it retains the spirit of the original.

I still find it funny. 7/10
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7/10
Revenge of the 80's: The multiple sequels.
Captain_Couth9 January 2005
Police Academy 2 (1985) was quickly rushed into production to capitalize upon the surprisingly successful first film. The recruits have finally graduated from the academy and are now assigned positions throughout the city. Crime is rampant and the people are afraid to leave their homes because of a local crime wave. A group of young punks (led by Bobcat Goldwait) have recently assaulted the chief of police (Howard Hesseman). With the city in turmoil and with his job being threatened by the Chief's right hand man, he turns to the new recruits to help clean up the city.

I hate it when they franchise a movie and tone down the raunchy humor and crude manners, elements that made the first one a success. The movie is funny but it's not as good as the first film. Sadly the creativity and humor of the Police Academy films goes down the eventual slippery slope. By the fifth film the series becomes very unwatchable and extremely redundant. Even though it's a step down from the first film, it's still entertaining.

Recommend

x
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7/10
Their First Assignment, Give Us Plenty of Laughs
bkoganbing13 June 2009
After the Police Academy surviving the graduating class that these most unusual police cadets are in, the whole group is assigned by special request of Howard Hessemann brother of Academy Commandant George Gaynes to his precinct which has seen an outbreak of gang violence. Hessemann is looking for some new and idealistic recruits to help him out. Instead he gets these goofballs.

If Steve Guttenberg learned Courtesy, Professionalism, and Respect at the Academy it's all forgotten by him and his fellow graduates. They also get involved in departmental politics as second in command Art Metrano at the precinct wants this crew to foul up. And they do everything they can to oblige him.

Police Academy movies are a guilty pleasure of mine. They can be described as gross, vapid, stupid, puerile, and funny as all hell.

I'm so glad they wrote in George Gaynes into this film showing his graduates and how well they do in Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment. There is something downright lovable about the clueless Captain Lessard whom he plays. And Art Metrano is the kind of villain you just love to hate and you just love seeing how Guttenberg and the rest get back at him in their own little ways.

The regulars are all there, Bubba Smith with that 6'7" inch frame of his, showing that size does indeed matter, Michael Winslow and that uncanny ability of sound effects, David Graf as Tackleberry who finds true love in this one with Colleen Camp. My favorite however is Marion Ramsey, little Officer Hooks with the squeaky voice. You can't help but love her.

Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment may be the funniest of the series. Watch it and see if you agree.
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Great Sequel To A Brilliant Comedy
Big Movie Fan20 August 2002
Warning: Spoilers
(POSSIBLE SPOILERS) Police Academy was phenomenal. Police Academy 2:Their First Assignment was just as phenomenal.

The rookies have graduated from the academy and are about to be thrown in at the deep end; a precinct is suffering a crimewave thanks to a disgusting gang of punks led by a punk called Zed who has a really weird voice.

The precinct Captain Pete Lassard asks his brother (Commandant Eric Lassard) if he can use the services of the recently graduated rookies. Everything seems fine but there is one problem-an ambitious Lieutenant called Mauser and his idiot sidekick Sergeant Procter attempt to damage the recruits reputation, the plan being that Captain Lassard is fired and Mauser takes on his job.

At first, the rookies do well in fighting the crime but things go wrong as Mauser becomes the new Captain and decides to go to war on the criminal gang.

The dialogue and the scenes are brilliant just like the first film. Great scenes include Tackleberry finding love, Mahoney swapping shampoo with superglue causing Mauser's hands to stick to his hair and the end battle in the abandoned zoo. Art Metrano and Lance Kinsey excel as Lieutenant Mauser and Sergeant Procter who try to discredit the rookies at every opportunity.

Police Academy 2 is a brilliant follow up to the best comedy film ever. Check it out.
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6/10
What more can you expect??
Robert_duder30 October 2005
Warning: Spoilers
The original Police Academy was stupidity maxed out but brought together with a weird outlandish cast that manages to stay with you and has such become a classic. Not too mention that it grossed over 100 million dollars so a sequel is a must do for Hollywood. Let's face it, there was enough characters and ideas in this franchise to do a sequel, or six sequels as the case turned out to be. Nonetheless it made sense after showing all the cadets make it to graduation that we would get to see them on the job.

Thus continues Police Academy: Their First Assignment. Most of the original cast returns...Steve Guttenberg as Carey Mahoney, Bubba Smith, David Graf, Michael Winslow, Bruce Mahler, Marion Ramsey, and even George Gaynes in a more cameo type role as Cmdt. Eric Lassard. Guttenberg's Mahoney seems toned down in this sequel which is unfortunate. He doesn't show a lot of the smart-ass, prank playing personality that made the original so great. Everyone else plays their roles similar to that of the original so the jokes when it comes to the characters haven't changed a lot...just perhaps more of them. Michael Winslow as the noise making Larvell Jones is used far more in this one than in the original. Also at the forefront is Eugene Tackleberry who is a great character and he's a lot of fun and a great hero to watch. Sadly the film is noticeably missing G.W. Bailey, who plays Mahoney's perfect adversary Lt. Thaddeus Harris. He's replaced by Art Metrano who plays Lt. Hauser, the wanna-be Captain who will stop at nothing to see the force fail so that he can take over. He's good and it's fun to watch him get pranked by Mahoney but he doesn't have the seriousness/comedic timing that G.W. Bailey had as Harris. The late Jerry Paris takes over on the directing helm and seems to keep the Police Academy recipe in full force. As mostly a TV Director but a seasoned actor Paris should know all about comedy. Also to keep things fresh that added some new faces to the cast. Bob 'Bobcat' Goldthwait stars as the leader of the gang that is ruining the neighborhood that the Academy cadets are trying to clean up. Granted the first few moments of Goldthwait played Zed or playing himself are funny. The voice and the nervous little tics are humorous but then they just aren't funny anymore. And he's far from believable as the leader of any gang. Tim Kazurinsky plays Sweetchuck, the innocent, scared little store owner being harassed by Zed and his goons. And Howard Hesseman as Captain Lassard, little brother of Eric Lassard. Hesseman is good as their leader but the story isn't strong enough so everyone kinda falters because of it.

Just like the first, Police Academy 2 is STUPID!! But that is exactly what Police Academy is and meant to be. It doesn't try to be anything but. All the characters are funny and have their own little quirks and it's a revisiting that was to be expected and done in an okay style. It's still even not as good as the original, but it is a sequel. The plot and story isn't quite as interesting as the original. Everything else is practically the same, and more of it!! There are still several silly little spots that you'll find yourself laughing out loud about. It's slapstick and still low budget and just fun. Rent this one with the original and you'll have a good laugh. Don't take it too seriously!! 6/10
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6/10
Not bad
safenoe28 October 2021
I remember seeing Police Academy 2 ages ago, and hard to believe it was released in 1985. Anyway, the fun is still there, and whilst not as hilarious as the original, it still has its moments for sure.

Perhaps a reboot is in order with British actors, such as the acclaimed actor Danny Dyer.
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5/10
Their First Assignment
Smells_Like_Cheese13 July 2008
Police Academy is such a classic, it has some of the best laughs and is just such a great time to watch it wither it's by yourself or with a group of friends. So I couldn't resist, I had to see the sequels, but I was really nervous when I kept checking all the ratings for the sequels, they're all pretty low and below average. So I was expecting Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment to be absolutely bad, but actually I did laugh quite a bit. I admit this was below what the first one was with the laughs and the story, but I felt like it was a decent follow up with the first Police Academy movie. It was cool to see the old gang back together and just having fun like they did in the first film. The story is a little weak but it's still a lot of fun to watch and has some great laughs.

A violent, well, um, if that's the right word, a violent gang has moved in on the town and are just making it into a havoc for anyone to live in. They are also making a mockery of the police, well, that's not too hard to do since they're pretty incompetent, so the chief wants a new team. He is given the class of '84, who haven't had any good jobs since they graduated, but now they are back together to get this gang out of town. At first they just end up screwing just as badly, but come together to be the best police force in town.

Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment in my opinion is a fun movie, I think the 4.8 rating is a little harsh, I understand the low 5's, but I think the reason why is because it is a little less than the first Police Academy movie, now of course I would say to stick with the original for right now, but I wouldn't shy you away from the sequel. Anyone who says they didn't laugh once during this movie must be lying, because the scene where they put super glue in their Sergent's shampoo was beyond hilarious, it's a classic. So just go ahead and have fun with this movie, I think you'll enjoy it.

5/10
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6/10
More Mahoney
BandSAboutMovies5 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The Police Academy cadets have graduated and have now been assigned to the worst precinct in town, where they have to help Captain Pete Lassard (Howard Hesseman) fight Zed (Bobcat Goldthwait) and the Scullions gang.

Let me tell you - a 13-yer-old Sam definitely watched this at the Spotlight 88 drive-in outside Beaver Falls, PA and laughed like a lunatic. Nothing has changed for 47-year-old Sam, except he watched this on Netflix, even though he owns two different Police Academy box sets.

Chief Henry Hurst (George R. Robertson) gives Lassard thirty days to turn around the 16th precinct or the job will go to Lieutenant Mauser (Art Metrano) and Sgt. Proctor (Lance Kinsey). This leads to Lassard calling up his older brother Eric (George Gaynes) and getting six new officers: Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), Larvell Jones (Michael Winslow), Eugene Tackleberry (David Graf), Douglas Fackler (Bruce Mahler), Moses Hightower (Bubba Smith) and Laverne Hooks (Marion Ramsey).

This is when Tackleberrt falls for Sgt. Kathleen Kirkland (Colleen Camp, Clue, Wicked Stepmother). And we're introduced to the adversarial and soon friendly relationship between Zed and Carl Sweetchuck (Tim Kazurinsky).

Bill Paxton was offered the role of Zed, but turned it down as he didn't want to sign to be in any sequels. How strange would that have been?

You can make fun of these movies all you want, but they made peoples' careers. For example, Bubba Smith went on record saying that he made more money from this movie than playing NFL football for a decade. That's because he asked for 2% of the film's profits instead of a higher salary. Smart guy.
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4/10
The only decent sequel to the original
Maziun11 October 2014
The first "Police academy" wasn't exactly the most intellectual or most endearing of films. It did however provide a good fun and was a box office success. It grossed over 100 million dollars , so a sequel wasn't really a surprise. I don't really think that there was any potential to make a good comedy series here , but that's Hollywood. They should stop with this one. The rest movies of the series are just embarrassing.

"Police academy 2: Their first assignment" takes the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach. It was quickly rushed into production to capitalize on the successful first film. This movie is rated PG-13 and it's kinda sad that they toned down the raunchy humor and crude manners. It's obviously not as fresh or funny as the original , but it has it's moments.

Jerry Paris replaces Hugh Wilson as the director and there are new writers Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield. The score is once again by Robert Folk. The old characters are back - Mahoney, Tackleberry, Hightower, Hooks, Fackler, Jones, and Commandant Lassard. We are introduced to an array of new characters such as Lt. Mauser , Proctor , Pete Lassard , Sweetchuck , Zed , Vinnie and Kirkland. The filmmakers sure had the knack for creating memorable funny characters. Bobcat Goldthwait is sometimes funny and sometimes annoying with his nervous voice and ticks. Peter Van Norden shines as the gross-out cop who eats anything and Tim Kazurinsky is just adorable as the unlucky merchant. Other characters both old and new are also entertaining.

The best jokes ? The opening of this film having a guy locking up his store , Michael Winslow's Bruce Lee impersonation , forced anal inspection , Sweetchuck constantly terrorized by Zed, the subplot with Tackleberry finding the girl of his dreams. If you liked the first one you should have some fun with this one too. Everything else is practically the same, and more of it.

The thing about this movie as compared to the sequels is that this one is funny (at least sometimes). After this one the movies went completely downhill. I give it 4/10.
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7/10
Occasionally funny
jhaggardjr15 May 2000
"Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment" is the occasionally funny first sequel to the hilarious 1984 box office hit "Police Academy". Even though "Police Academy 2" isn't as funny as its predecessor, its much funnier than the other sequels in this series (with the possible exception of "Police Academy 3"). Worth a look.

*** (out of four)
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5/10
Routine sequel with usual ingredients , mayhem, entertainment and lots of fun
ma-cortes13 April 2023
Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment is a run-of-the-mill sequel with ordinary trappings , jokes , antics , confusion and mayhem . The misfit Police Academy is now graduated creating a special but bumbling team to accomplish the most dangerous assignments and in this sequel to the first Police Academy movie, a nerdish storefront owner named Mr. Sweetchuck, is attacked and robbed of $8. By a local street gang known as "The Scullions" whom are led by the infantile Zed (Bobcat Goldthwait). After hearing about the incident, Chief Henry Hurst (George Robertson) arrives at the 16th precinct and notifies its captain, Pete Lassard (Howard Hesseman) that the precinct is the worst in the city for even old ladies throw things and spit at passing policemen on the street outside the station. Nevertheless, Hurst gives him 30 days or else Lassard is out. Before he leaves, the conniving Officer Mauser (Art Metrano) schemes his way into talking to Hurst. Hurst promises him the rank of captain should Lassard fail. Pete calls his brother, who happens to be Commandant Eric Lassard (George Gaynes) and asks him for six new recruits, as was promised by Hurst. Throughout the movie, Mauser is seen scheming with his dim-witted partner Sgt. Proctor (Lance Kinsey) as he attempts to take control of the precinct. The recently graduated Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), Larvell Jones (Michael Winslow), Eugene Tackleberry (David Graf), Moses Hightower (Bubba Smith), Laverne Hooks (Marion Ramsey), and Douglas Fackler (Bruce Mahler) join the 16th precinct, and some are assigned a veteran officer partner since they're rookies: Fackler has Dooley (Ed Herihly), Mahoney has the overweight Vinnie Schtulman (Peter van Norden), and Tackleberry has Sgt. Kathleen Kirkland (Colleen Camp). As the more bumbling team formed by the police officer friends (Steve Guttenberg : Mahoney, Bubba Smith : Hightower , Michael Winslow : Jones , David Graf : Tackleberry ) are assigned the first assignment to fight crime once again plaguing the streets. A wacky wizard of Ozzy and his leathered and studded band of punky pranksters are on the prowl, spray-painting the town red and emptying the pockets of anyone sharing the sidewalk. In the wake of the new crime wave, people might be wondering where the educational system has gone wrong. But relax, America. Think of the academy. Now that's the kind of school people can trust, the kind of school whose grads fight crime with slapstick instead of nightsticks. Those goofy oddballs in blue are going to tangle with the pinhead punkers. The Police Academy regulars, from meathead Mahoney to the impeccably inept Cmdt. Lassard, are back again to answer law enforcement's most uproarious role call. Take off with the original cast... and some new recruits as they take to the streets and the skies to fight crime . On land, on sea, or in the air, no place is safe from them! Assignment: new recruits . Objective: Laughs. Hold everything! The cadets are training for an all new adventure !

Amusing , funny and very cheerful film filled with action-packed , thrills , hilarious set-pieces, tongue-in-cheek and lots of humor .The premise is simple and plain , as a misfit , botcher squadron from the known police force is assigned the first mission and subsequently to undertake a confrontation to a dangerous gang . Director delivers a professional work but with no much interest , his knack of getting the most out of characters and situations without ever going over the top making for some very big laughs . This production pays tribute to previous film , taking parts here and there , and repeating former sketches. The jokes and frolics come as thick and fast , hit and miss as usual and it is done in good spirit if not always in good taste . Nice picture with accent on sight gags , and humour that stems from the diverting roles established in other movies . The sympathetic cast formed by the motley band of misfits gives fun interpretation creating confusion , laughs and mayhem. Showing up habitual actors in the popular series, such as Seve Guttenberg as Mahoney, Bubba Smith as Hightower , Michael Winslow , David Graf , Tim Kazurinsky and adding a newcomer : Colleen Camp. While G. W. Bailey had hoped to return as Lieutenant Harris, but was passed over in favor of Art Metrano as the antagonist in this film , but he appeared in Police Academy 4 and others sequels . However, original cast members had allegedly complained about losing screentime to the new cast members. It contains an attractive and lively score by Robert Folk , series' regular , including the classic leitmotif . As well as atmospheric and appropriate cinematography by James Crabe . The motion picture was regular but professionally directed by Jerry Paris and James Signorelli , but with no originality .

The series based on the chracters written by Neal Israel and Pat Proft are the following ones : Police Academy 1984 by Hugh Wilson . Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment 1985 by Jerry Paris , James Signorelli . Police Academy 3: Back in Training 1987 by Jerry Paris . Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol 1987 by Jim Drake . Police Academy : Assignment Miami Beach 1988 by Alan Myerson. Police Academy 6: City Under Siege 1989 by Peter Bornerz . Police Academy: Mission to Moscow 1994 by Alan Metter . And Police Academy the series 1997/1998 , 26 episodes by Neal Israel, Paul Maslansky, Pat Proft .
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9/10
The best of the bunch!
s-woodier2 October 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Police Academy 2 is a joy from beginning to end. It's faster moving than the original and above all else, funnier. Director Jerry Paris ensures that the audience are going to have a good time with this picture. No blow jobs this time, instead we have forced anal inspection, which is probably less embarrassing to watch and much more hilarious.We also have more sight gags: Tackleberry's sweaty sock sticking to a door, Sweetchuck inadvertently punching a gang member,goldfish boiling on hotplates.We get our first glimpse at psycho gang leader, Zed. We meet the lunatic Kirkland family.Police Academy 2 has it all! This is the best of the series.It was downhill from here, I'm afraid.
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7/10
Giggle afoot
adamjohns-4257522 September 2021
There really isn't much to say about this one that is different from the first. It's the same humour, which is still good today, although there were also a few bits that you wouldn't get away with in the more 'Politically Correct' 2020's, just as there were in the Police Academy (1984).

Mauser was introduced as the antagonist character replacing Harris, but most of the original cast made it through to do their thing again and they did it well.

We also got our first introductions to Sweetchuck, Zed, Proctor and the Kirkland family who feature a lot more later on.

Admittedly the script is a little weaker and the story is not quite so on track, but it's easy viewing and good fun.

A typical 80's simple comedy, don't expect anything else. If you were there, it will take you back.

659.15/1000.
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2/10
The debut of the Bobcat...
mentalcritic25 August 2004
Ask most people who felt that Police Academy 5 fell flat on its face, and they will tell you that the franchise couldn't cope without its top-billed star, Steve Guttenberg. This is only part of the truth. The fact is that after Police Academy 2, the series had two top-billing stars. The other one was Bobcat Goldthwait, he with the amazing power to convince audiences that screaming and nervous tics constitutes a comedy act. Together, these two could have made any B-grade comedy film a masterpiece, but they soon decided they had better things to do.

Bobcat's performance here is fairly standard stuff for him. Simply act like a brutish thug who obviously took too much acid during the 1970s, and let nature take its course. Given that he only appears in the film's final act after some fairly hilarious shenanigans from the rest of the cast, the fact that his is the most memorable performance in the entire film should tell you a lot.

The rest of the film is all about the original cast, as well as several new faces obviously intended as substitutes for the old that weren't brought back, acting out a situation where they're no longer misfits looking for a new path in life, but still trying to make the grade where their superiors are concerned. Never mind that recruits like Tackleberry would never get within shouting distance of passing the Academy's psych screening, it's what they did after the fact that this film covers.

This episode also marks the debut of Michael Winslow's Bruce Lee schtick, which remains a poignant example of how much easier it was to laugh in a world without political correctness. However, instead of a main player, Winslow is relegated to a sideline act for this episode. Which is hardly surprising. In spite of numerous players being excised from the original cast, this sequel looks and feels overcrowded. As a result, each of the Police Academy sequels sees the characters taking turns at development.

In Police Academy 2, Tackleberry gets his turn to be developed, and boy what a turn it is. The concept of this nutter finding a woman, who in turn has an entire family, that shares his enthusiasm for firearms, is one that wouldn't go amiss in a horror film. David Graf was probably one of the most underrated performers in the franchise, making it all the more disappointing that he is not with us to be part of Police Academy 8.

Interestingly, the people in Police Academy films who are set up as the true villain are always those who actively seek advancement, be it by fair means or foul. The heroes, by contrast, are content to remain where they are, and advance quietly from sequel to sequel. Perhaps this is a subtle social commentary? If so, I'd say it came about purely by accident. The idea that a Police Academy writer could do something so clever on purpose is pretty laughable.

In all, Police Academy 2 gets a two out of ten from me. It's not nearly as horrible as those that came after, but it does show that the makers were running out of ideas already.
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7/10
Funny quick comedy
welhof14 March 2020
I thought this was pretty funny it didn't have much substance to it but that was expected. There were a few scenes where I chuckled at. The best part of these police academy movies are the characters. All are pretty funny and unique. Definitely worth a watch if you are looking for a quick 80 minute comedy.
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7/10
.....and Introducing the slowpoke Proctor !!!
elo-equipamentos19 January 2021
This comic franchise is silly, shallow, watever, however nobody can denies that is outrageous funny, mainly the pranks carry out against the slicker Lt. Mauser (Art Metrano) who had replaced his forerunner Captain Harris on the first one, all original main members were casting in this sequel, the Captain Pete Lassard (Howard Hesseman) are in trouble and has been pressure for best results at his precinct at bad area, then decides asking help to his old brother Commandant Lassard (George Gaynes), at once the unwary Commander send their best six rookies to be allocated there to solve those several assaults, raids and physical abuses enforced by a violent punk gang, the frolicsome Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), the Spartan Hightower (Smith), Tackleberry (Graf), the copycat (Michael Winslow), the sexy Kirkland (Colleen Camp) and the tuneless Laverne Hooks (Marion Ramsey) to fill out the odd team, nonetheless the best stays to newcomer and slowpoke Proctor (Lance Kinsey) unexpected best performance, the highlights are when Mahoney switch the Lt. Mauser's shampoo for a strong clue of epoxy, that hardens in few seconds, the naked Lt. Mauser walking thru all over the bathroom reaching a main entrance that has many aghast women, better impossible, Proctor tries repair the damages and cut all Lt. Mauser's hair, that afterwards has to wear a hideous wig, Mahoney also provides an another adverse event, when appears a nurse looking for him about a rectal checking, then the whole team take the naïve Lt. Mauser who is just wrapped in a towel receiving the check-up forthwith, aside these odd mischiefs seemingly the Lt. Mauser has no hard feelings at all, he strikes back at own way, don't miss at any circumstances this movie!!

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 1994 / How many: 3 / Source: TV-Cable TV-DVD / Rating: 7.25
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2/10
A Bomb
gbheron8 December 2001
"Police Academy 2" was produced right of the heels of the original, which wasn't all that bad a movie. Unfortunately, in their rush to print, the producers omitted the best features, i.e., good-natured humor, that buoyed the original. In "Police Academy 2", the recruits are now on the beat in a gang-infested neighborhood. How funny can mugging and robbery be? Not very, although the recruits give it a try...…and fail miserably. Avoid this bomb.
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7/10
Part 2: Good sequel
SkullScreamerReturns16 September 2021
The second Police Academy film might not be quite as great as the first one but it's still a very good sequel. It has most of the classic characters from the first film, with the addition of some new people. For me the screaming punk Zed is an essential part of Police Academy character gallery, so I feel like this film has something important to offer that wasn't in the first film. Also the scooter driving lamp salesman Sweetchuck, and Kirkland who likes big guns, are memorable. The old cast has new tricks in their sleeve. Tackleberry falls in love, Jones showcases his secret kung fu skills, and Mahoney infiltrates the punk gang. The movie is relatively short and it never gets boring. I higly recommend it to fans of the first film.
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4/10
Not as good as the others
peet733813 May 2010
I must say, I am a fan of the Police Academy series. No, they aren't movies that are going to win awards or anything like that, but for light hearted entertainment I think they are great! Having said that, I rate this installment of the series as one of the worst of the movies. It doesn't have many moments that make you chuckle like some of the other ones, and to me doesn't seem to have the same energy.

The film is good in that it introduces new characters such as Zed, Mr Sweetchuk (can't spell his name) and Proctor, but the absence of Harris and Callihan is felt. Mouser is alright as the guy that everyone hates, but the reason he isn't liked is because he is just a tool, whereas Harris was a tool who thought he was good at his job but kept making really horrible mistakes and blaming it on others.

So I give this a 4/10. Watch it to get an understanding of the new characters, but thats about the only reason.
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7/10
Better than the original
Hysteria2815 November 2010
Warning: Spoilers
It is quiet rare for a comedy franchise to make a sequel that can turn out better than it's predecessor. I can recall 'Caddyshack' failed to follow up to it's original. The outcome to the sequel was terrible. However Police Academy 2 is a highly enjoyable sequel which succeeds in many departments. The main characters return to the screen again for a fun filled adventure. However Callahan was not in the cast and the introduction of Zed and sweet chuck was hilarious. In fact Zed is the main highlight in the movie and brings a smile to the face whenever he comes on screen. His presence is hysterical. His involvement was an integral part to the movie. His acting and comic timing was on target.

Spoiler After completing the training at Lassard's academy the misfit's put their ability and skills to the test on the streets. Lasard's brother is experiencing difficulty managing the worst precinct in the town and demands new recruits. Mahoney and the team are assigned to rid the streets of a gang syndicate that are wrecking havoc. However captain Moser is persistent to make their attempts fail so that he can get senior position. Eventually Mahoney goes undercover to integrate in to the gang so they can redeem themselves. END OF SPOILER

The movie had a shorter running time than the original but this does take away any quality aspects. The comedy portions are more funnier and moser's shower scene is a highlight. The element of senior level corruption is still the main factor in the movie as it was in the original. There is also a plot and the characters had something to do. I could not understand why the character of captain Harris could not be present. But his replacement of moser was not disappointing. He came as a surprise. Takleberry's character had a love interest in the form of Collen Camp which was interesting to watch as a sub plot. In comparison to the first movie this had a more gritty and downtown atmosphere to it. If you're a fan of the franchise, this should be in your collection.
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4/10
"Never fool with a fuzz ball."
Anonymous_Maxine29 March 2009
The first of the more than half a dozen Police Academy sequels took a huge step downwards. It's amazing to think that so many sequels were made when the original wasn't even very good and the sequels were immediately crappy. Then again, with a tagline like "Their First Assignment," it's impossible to think that they might have stopped making sequels at part 2. I watched the first two movies a couple days ago and my immediate reaction was to wonder what the original audiences thought of the movies. The comedy is now so dated and goofy that I can't imagine it ever being genuinely funny, except in the way that it's funny to see the things that people wore in the 80s.

Times have definitely changed, and one way that they seem to have changed more than anything else, in this movie and countless others, is the way that the outcasts of society dressed. Watch any 80s movie that has gangsters or rappers or punk or any of the above in it, and I challenge you not to laugh out loud at the styles that were 'cool' back then. Some choice selections in the Friday the 13th series are classic for this kind of comedy, as are the Police Academy sequels.

But at any rate, it's important to notice that this kind of thing makes re-watching these old movies more fun, not less. You will find yourself laughing at things completely different from what was originally meant to be funny, but it's still a good time nonetheless. However, the problem with the original movie was the bad jokes that went on for too long. There is a place for tasteless jokes in the movies, but not when they keep going and going until you just feel uncomfortable. When Commandant Lassard was up at that podium attempting to give a speech while the prostitute was behind the curtain, I was trying to imagine someone still laughing by the time it finally stopped and I just couldn't picture it, and part 2 has the same problem.

All of the relevant cast are back and they are all graduates now working in the real world. Mahoney is riding a three-wheeler on what looks like the northern part of Santa Monica beach while Tackleberry has managed to secure the top position of a school crossing guard, something that I thought was reserved for elderly citizens looking for volunteer work.

Commandant Lassard's brother Pete is introduced as the captain of police precinct 16, which has finally been awarded the official title of worst precinct in the city, and our dear old police chief Henry Hurst is fed up with all the riffraff. He is giving Pete Lassard 30 days to turn the precinct around before he throws him out and awards his job to Part 2's funniest cast addition Lieutenant Mouser, who easily surpasses the missing Lieutenant Harris from the first movie in oily creepiness and sheer, unapologetic ass-kissing.

Pete Lassard thus sets about on a mission to turn his precinct from an embarrassment to a success using the six new recruits awarded to him by his brother, while Mouser sets about on a mission to ensure their failure. So the new recruits are Mahoney, Tackleberry, Hightower, Brooks (the one with the voice that truly lives up to Mouser's name, which is probably why he picks on her so much), Larvell Jones, the guy with the sounds, and Fackler, the geeky, accident-prone white guy with the nutty wife.

While it's true that the plot of Police Academy 2 is as thin and see-through as grandma's underpants, I would be lying if I said it was without its amusing moments. Sadly, most of the ones that were meant to be amusing are not. Larvell Jones' first scene, where he makes bodily noises in a restaurant and ruins the date between some uppity tool and his even more uppity date, is about as un-funny as any failed slapstick skit I've ever seen, but I imagine that at least the epoxy-shampoo gag was once a mildly entertaining joke.

But while much of the original comedy has completely disappeared along with Bobcat Goldthwait's bizarre screamy tantrums and Steve Guttenberg's career, there are some other things that remain a bit of fun. Tackleberry's obsession with guns is tied to a total lack of sexual experience in a development of psychological depth that I would never have expected from a Police Academy movie, and while Mahoney's slovenly partner, now better known as the "gas man" from Dumb & Dumber, plays the greasy sloppiness of his character through the roof, you can't help but admire his effort.

But that whole third act with Mahoney undercover can just be tossed to the wolves. WOW. Bobcat Goldthwait's entire performance in this movie is ridiculous in the extreme, but at least he was SUPPOSED to look foolish and nuts. Mahoney's undercover act was just stupid, and this is not a term that I use lightly.

I've seen all of the Police Academy movies, but before a couple days ago I hadn't seen any of them in at least ten years, and so don't remember anything about any of the other sequels. I can only hope that they get better or at least don't get worse, although it is not very discouraging that my limited perusal of various online reviews names this as one of the "better sequels." Wish me luck
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10/10
How good is police academy
bevo-1367828 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This was one was really good I think. The second one of many.
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7/10
We need more comedies like this
jklein87876 November 2003
Easily the best in the series, Police Academy 2 is the funniest and probably most offensive of the series. I laugh still to this day at some of the jokes and just the whole 80's feel to it. I also like the brief shot of boobies that you never see in PG-13 movies anymore. It was also great because this is the first film to have Zed and SweetSuess.
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5/10
Acceptable sequel, although it's not as good as the first
Leofwine_draca29 December 2015
The first POLICE ACADEMY sequel is already a step down in quality from the first film. Gone is the slightly crude, cutting humour, the level of wit you'd expect from a successful '80s comedy, to be replaced by straightforward slapstick and exaggerated character humour. It's still a fun film, but only in a mildly amusing kind of way, and more than a little childish.

There's virtually no plotting here to speak of, other than having most of the characters return to set up base in a run-down precinct where they get up to the usual hijinks. It's notable that many of the original cast members have little to do other than play on expectation, with the exception being Michael Winslow who continues to delight as always. The newcomers are the ones who really steal the show: Bobcat Goldthwait is unforgettable (and not necessarily in a good way) as the gang leader, but it's Art Metrano who really shines as the new adversary. I even preferred him to G. W. Bailey in the first film, and that shower gag is the movie's highlight for me.
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A Fair Sequel Which Is About Like the First
tfrizzell2 August 2000
"Police Academy 2" brings back the core cast from the original to wreak more havoc. This film is not quite as good as the first one, but it comes very close. Overall this is another hit-and-miss comedy that delivers a few times, but also falls flat on its face. 2.5 out of 5 stars.
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