Police Academy (Exclusive Series) (HBO Max)

Initial release date: March 23, 1984

Studios: Warner Brothers/ The Ladd Company

Tagline: The new police recruits. Call them slobs. Call them jerks. Call them gross … Just don’t call them when you’re in trouble.

Plot: When the mayor of a crime-ridden city loosens the restrictions on entering the police academy in order to get more cops on the street, all manner of oddball characters enlist to join the force. Among the cadets are suave Casey Mahoney, hulking Moses Hightower, beautiful Karen Thompson and sound effects generating Larvell Jones, who all have to show initiative and courage when they are faced with tough situations out on patrol.

Cast

Steve Guttenberg - Casey Mahoney

Kim Cattrall - Karen Thompson

G.W. Bailey - Lt. Harris

Bubba Smith - Moses Hightower

Donavon Scott - Leslie Barbara

George Gaynes - Commandant Lassard

Andrew Rubin - George Martin

David Graf - Tackleberry

Leslie Easterbrook - Sgt. Callahan

Michael Winslow - Larvell Jones

Marion Ramsey - Laverne Hooks

Writer(s): Neal Israel (Bachelor Party; Bachelor Party 2)

Pat Proft (Scary Movie 3-5; Wrongly Accused; Mr. Magoo)

Hugh Wilson (Dudley Do-Right; Blast From the Past)

Director: Hugh Wilson (Dudley Do-Right; Blast from the Past; The First Wives Club)

Rated R (96 minutes)

The ‘Police Academy’ series is one of the longest-running comedy franchises out there, totaling seven movies. Over time, each movie has gotten less and less memorable and less humorous. But, none of the “meh” sequels could compare to the very hilarious 1984 classic ‘Police Academy.’

This 1984 comedy classic features a lot of great laughs and loads of fun. There are also quite a few memorable characters that do an amazing job keeping you entertained. Some of the jokes and humor may not have aged well over the years. Yet, it still can be a fun watch.

A lot of the actors have their memorable bits and ‘80s star Steve Guttenberg did a great job as a slacker who has no choice but to go to the academy. I believe this movie helped get his career started. Also, some of the extremely funny moments come from actor Michael Winslow (Larvell Jones)( and his awesome sound effects. Winslow also did the same thing in Mel Brooks’ ‘Spaceballs.’

So, if you haven’t seen this comedy yet. Make sure you do!!! ‘Police Academy’ is currently being streamed on HBO Max.

Here are some interesting tidbits for ‘Police Academy’:

• After early test audiences responded most positively to Hightower out of all the characters, Bubba Smith was moved to second billing, just behind Guttenberg.

• The only ‘Police Academy’ movie that was given an R-rating and also the most successful of the series at the box office.

• When attending his audition, Gutenberg wore an old police shirt belonging to his father who was a NYC police officer.

• The producers considered Michael Keaton, Tom Hanks and Judge Rinehold for the role of Mahoney.

• ‘Police Academy’ opened in the No. 1 spot in 1,587 US theaters on March 23, 1984 to a first weekend gross of $8.6 million. The movie went on to gross $81.2 million, becoming the sixth highest grossing American film of 1984.

• Made a profit of $35 million.

• Spawned a total of six sequels throughout the entire franchise - with a potential remake/reboot in development.

https://youtu.be/4NT4C1F_HZE