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Okay, it didn't have much of a script, but its array of performers,
largely the amiable Steve Guttenberg and master-of-noises
Michael Winslow, more than made up for any inadequacies there.
Once it was pretty clear that the first film was going to
make some bank, the studio then got a sequel off the ground.
It too, had its moments, but even by the first sequel it was
pretty clear that there wasn't much of a movie sans those
headliners.
Which probably explains why by the time the series clocked
up sequel number four, Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami
Beach, said franchise was really running on fumes.
Steve Guttenberg, the series star, had jumped ship at the
end of the last instalment (flew off in a balloon with a then-unknown
Sharon Stone, playing a reporter), and smartly so - the jokes
were all but gone, the cast looked about as enthused as a
dog whose been forced to jump hurdles all day, and the plot…well,
there wasn't one.
Let's not even start on Police Academy 6 or, dare
I make you summon up, Police Academy: Mission to Moscow,
a sequel so scary they left the '7' off the title.
Regardless of how awful those latter sequels were, the first
couple were quite good, and if only for that reason, the newly
released "Police Academy: The Complete Collection"
is an advisable buy.
The first film comes with some grand extras too. A lot of
the cast are there for a humorous and honest commentary, and
there's a reunion documentary too. The only guy that seems
to be missing is David Graf, who played Tackleberry, who sadly
passed away a few years back.
Audio and Video quality differs from film to film, but overall,
there's no big probs here - and frankly, those that are hungry
to snap up the set probably won't be caring too much about
whether the 'Da Da Da Da da da-da" theme is in 5.1 anyway.
Conclusion: Movie 70% Extras 85%
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