Mahoney and friends have graduated from the Police Academy and are issued with their first assignments. As before, their cheerfulness and devotion to duty outweighs any shortcomings, but are even they ready to do battle wi... more »th a band graffiti daubing terrorists? DVD Features:
"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!"
The first post-graduation assignment
andy8047 | Nokomis,Florida | 05/19/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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."
A declining series, but one of the better ones
Joe Sherry | Minnesota | 08/26/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"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"
Now They're On The Streets!
Stanley Runk | Camp North Pines | 04/14/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"In Police Academy 2, Captain Lassard(Commandant Lassard's younger brother) is in charge of the worst police precinct in the city. Crime is at an all time high and the culprits are a street gang led by Zed, played by good ol' Bobcat Goldthwait. Captain Lassard is given our gang of academy screwballs to clean up the streets in 30 days or command of the precinct goes to Lt. Mauser. Mauser is pretty much the equivalent of Lt. Harris in the previous film. The usual pranks and gags are played on Mauser(body cavity search, replacing his shampoo with glue, etc.), and the academy graduates are as boneheaded as ever, but they still save the day(and Lassard's job) in the end. And lets not forget they have to break up a brawl that has broken out at the Blue Oyster Bar!! Some of the characters from the first film have dropped out of the sequel, but all the memorable ones are still there. Some new characters are introduced, some who would stick around for a long time. Proctor makes his debut as Mauser's sidekick. Zed of course, and his favorite victim, the shop owner Sweet Chuck. Also showing up is a character named Vinnie Schtulman, who is Mahoney's new partner. Obviously this guy was intended to become a permanent member of the series, but this was the only film he was in. Tackleberry's love interest, Kirkland and her wacky family are here too. This is also the debut of the whole kung fu gag that Jones is so popular for. This was the beginning of the PG-13 rating for the Police Academy films. It still has the same overall feel though. After all, the first film would pretty much be a PG-13 rated film without the podium scene and a few gratuitous topless shots. This wasn't my favorite installment, but it has it's moments."
Astonishing!!!
K. R. Szekely | charlotte | 11/10/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This movie is great!! It tells the story of a Police Captain (Howard Hessemen) who realizes that he needs some "Healthy Young Men." His brother tells him there are places he could go, bars of such. He asks "Does your wife know about this?" Then Hesseman's brother drops an entire can of fish food in his fishbowl of goldfish. Nice. This film is graced with brilliant acting performaces. Steve Guttenberg, Bobcat Goldwaitt, Bubba Smith, David Graff, Ted Kinsinskiksy, and that moron who makes stupid noises. It is a true classic. The only scene that really disturbed me was the one where the Police Commander runs around with no clothes on. Also, I didn't like how Bobcatt Goldwaitt was baised against ferris wheels!!!"