Smartorhypo
Highly Overrated But Still Good
Humaira Grant
It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
Paynbob
It’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
TheLittleSongbird
As was said in my review for 'Police Academy 3', The best of the 'Police Academy' films will always be the original by quite some way. It isn't great and will never be a favourite comedy or overall film of mine, but it clearly knew what it wanted to be so it was easy to take it for what it was and what it set out to do.It was followed by six sequels, and none of them were as good or even on the same level as the first, though admittedly some are worse than others. Most of them are actually being pretty bad or worse and lose what was enjoyable about the original in the first place. Worse was to follow in the series than 'Police Academy 4', but it was from this point in particular when the 'Police Academy' series felt stale.'Police Academy 4' is not entirely irredeemable, it has its moments. It is enlivened by the welcome and much needed presences of George Gaynes and returning (and much missed in the previous two sequels) G.W. Bailey. Bobcat Goldthwait also tries his best and doesn't try as too hard as in the third film.These two also have the best very sporadic moments, the most coming from Gaynes while Bailey's Harris' deodorant/mace gag being the funniest the film got, mean-spirited of course but it was one of the few moments that were actually funny. The music is infectious enough, with the exception of the god awful "Let's Go to Heaven in My Car" (which got a deserved Razzie nomination, losing out to "I Want Your Sex" from 'Beverly Hills Cop II').Most of the humour really doesn't work. A lot of it feels laboured, and much of it was an uncomfortable mix of gross smut and juvenile immaturity. Am aware this is 'Police Academy' we're talking about, where one shouldn't expect too much and not take it seriously, but this was intelligence-insulting dumbness without an ounce of energy to make it slightly more tolerable.Story is even thinner than the previous three films and with the pacing being so leaden it was difficult to forgive. Too many of the subplots are not interesting at all and not that well paced or resolved.Apart from Gaynes, Bailey and to a lesser extent Goldthwait, the rest of the cast are not worth mentioning. Steve Guttenberg completely goes through the motions and it was clear that he didn't want to do another film in the series. David Spade has been much funnier and better since in a poorly written role, and Sharon Stone is lifeless as a character that couldn't have been more thankless. Jim Drake's direction is not as inept as that of the previous film but it does lack momentum and it does nothing with making the incredibly cheap-looking production values look more appealing.Overall, pretty weak and the series was showing signs of being particularly stale at this point, but worse was to follow. 3/10 Bethany Cox
Harriet Deltubbo
This one and part three are the best ones in the series that I've seen. Harris macing his armpits is one is one of the more memorable gags in the series. The cinematography is stark and bare, with only the soundtrack adding some effect. It's not a good movie, but it is a good Police Academy movie. The acting is very effective. From an artistic standpoint, there were some plot elements and character developments I didn't think were totally needed. They do however drive the story, which seemed to be their purpose, so I can accept them. We watch here a deep study of the rural countryside of the deep America. Great performances help to enhance this amazing story.
Petri Pelkonen
Commandant Eric Lassard comes up with an idea to recruit civilian volunteers to the police force.The program is called Citizens on Patrol (COP).Captain Harris is very much against the idea and wants to see it fail.Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987) is directed by Jim Drake.This is the last part where Steve Guttenberg stars as Mahoney.Of course we can't tell yet if he will be seen in one more part in the future.Then there are those familiar faces Bubba Smith, Michael Winslow, David Graf, Tim Kazurinsky, Leslie Easterbrook, Marion Ramsey, Brian Tochi, Lance Kinsey and George Gaynes.G. W. Bailey makes a return as Capt. Thaddeus Harris again.George R. Robertson is Hurst.Bobcat Goldthwait does his crazy Zed again.Corinne Bohrer plays his love interest Laura.Sharon Stone, before her bigger stardom, plays Claire Mattson.Derek McGrath plays Butterworth.Scott Thomson plays Chad Copeland.Billie Bird plays the tough old lady Mrs. Lois Feldman.David Spade is seen on a skateboard playing Kyle Ault.Backer, remembered from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, is his buddy Arnie.Also Tony Hawk does a cameo.The late Tab Thacker plays Tommy "House" Conklin.Randall 'Tex' Cobb is Zack.The Kirkland family is there again with Colleen Camp, Andrew Paris, Arthur Batanides and Jackie Joseph.The movie has a lot of fun stuff, even though not all of the jokes work.But I really liked Zed getting all romantic with that cute chick.And Jones doing some ninja action.And all the action including hot air balloons and airplanes in the end.The rap song by Michael Winslow and the L.A. Dream Team is really neat.
gcd70
Argh! How bad is this!? From director Jim Drake and writer Gene Quintano, the typical decline of the movie series finished with this film, "Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol". "Police Academy" went from very funny to indescribably woeful in just four tries. They were still churning these out at the rate of one a year back then.No wonder Steve Gutenberg bailed after this one. I guess none of the others could find alternate work. Michael Winslow, David Graf, Leslie Easterbrook, Bubba Smith and even G.W. Bailey all returned. Also starred Sharon Stone!Sunday, January 9, 2000 - Video
