Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.

Greenes Please don't spend money on this.

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

Eric Stevenson This is the first of many "Police Academy" movies and it seems like everyone agrees this is the best. I was really shocked to find that each one had a lower rating than the last one. It's like in exact order. This is the only "Police Academy" movie to be rated R. It's mostly because there's lots of topless women. No wonder the sequels were so hated.They needed boobies! Anyway, this is nothing but hit and miss. The best joke is probably when the one guy is beating people up only to find they were just taking stuff out of their own apartment. The worst joke was when the guy went in the horse's butt. The guy who does the sounds is really very entertaining. He's so good at it. **1/2

daddysarm I guess seeing parts of one or two of the sequels had soured me on the franchise. But, this original is hilarious. And did I mention that it is about the most NON-POLITICALLY-CORRECT movie ever. Did I mention that I an giving it an extra star for driving today's politically-correct fools crazy. Can you imagine how many blood vessels pop whenever one of today's politically-correct fools dares to watch this? Countless. I recommend all of today's colleges show Police Academy & Animal House non-stop in all their official "safe spaces". I'm giving another star for Bubba Smith. Beyond that, well, good speech.

Uriah43 Due to a severe shortage of police officers, the mayor of an undisclosed city decides to issue new guidelines for the local police academy which essentially abolishes all normal standards. As expected this results in a large response for applications but when all is said and done those finally accepted aren't exactly the cream of the crop by any reasonable standard. Consequently, the chief of police orders the man in charge of the police academy, "Commandant Lassard" (George Gaynes) to weed them out. However, since he has been prohibited from firing them he has to make them quit instead. Yet even then this goes against his temperament and knowing this the chief of police turns to two of the meanest police cadre by the names of "Lieutenant Harris" (G. W. Bailey) and "Sergeant Callahan" (Leslie Easterbrook) to essentially get the job done. But none of them fully comprehend what they are up against. Now rather than reveal any more of this movie I will just say that this was a decent comedy for the most part and from what I understand it has garnered more than $100 million and spawned at least 6 sequels. So it has been quite successful in that regard. That said, about the only criticism I have of it is that some of the humor tended to be a bit on the crude side which I thought was completely unnecessary. But that is just my opinion. In any case, there is some good humor here as well and because of that I have rated this movie accordingly. Slightly above average.

videorama-759-859391 I guess something you never so coming, was Ebert's review of this. May'be he missed the point. The 1984 hit, was pure slapstick, meant to take digs at the police academy. It's as entertainingly addictive as 1985's Night Patrol. Of course, nearly in all cases, the original's the best: same case here. We're introduced to a bunch of richly written characters, delinquents, wannabes, who we grow to love over the next chain of sequels, each character, totally different from the next. Sadly most of the actors, and they are good, didn't go very far after this. Of course, the chief character or the main dude of our story, is the delinquent Mahoney, who as a valet driver rightfully drives an abusive customer's car sideways. He's arrested (not the first time) and forced to do community service, via a police academy program, which for Mahoney, is what you could call hard time. He butts heads with a nemesis lieutenant, Harris (G.W. Bailey- Major Crimes) and this is where the real fun lies, but also we have a little revenge, a liked for two kiss arse students, who like to be pain in the arse martyrs, where Mahoney and them square off in one scene. I loved Bubba Smith in this too, as Hightop. I could spend hours going on about the wonderfully meaty formed characters and the gags, but P.A. is a see for yourself comedy, another reason that just made the eighties great. For those who have never seen it, and there wouldn't be many around, let me tell ya, it's not too late to watch, as it will have the same infectious impression on you now, as if you watched it back in 1984.