Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985)

**Superior to the first movie**

This movie has so many great moments. All of the original gang return - except Harris and Callahan. Lt. Mauser ( Art Metrano) is the new slimy adversary here along with his braindead sidekick, Proctor.

Highlights include the hilarious Kirkland family and their _bouts_ of affection, an overly sticky black sock, a gang of moronic street thugs led by the cretinous Zed (Bob Goldthwait) and a hilarious scene in a sushi bar.

The last of the truly funny Academy movies.

**An honorable sequel.**

This film is a sequel that came out the year after the release of its predecessor, making the best use of the box office success achieved. Although many may not even agree with me, I believe it managed to reasonably match the initial film, and helped to consolidate the nascent franchise and give it popularity, which TV later took advantage of.

The script continues the story told in the first film, with the newly graduated police officers taking on their first and thorny mission: to reinforce the weakened and demoralized contingent of a police station in a troubled neighborhood, headed by the brother of the Academy Commander. Of course, one of the bosses is keen to take his place, and will do whatever he can to get in the way. The script continues not to be particularly inspired, and to demonstrate several weaknesses, but it does the essential and reasonably sustains the film. It is not, however, as effective in this task as the first film. On a positive note: the nudity we saw in the initial film has all been stripped away here, making this film reasonably more suited to the family context.

The cast is almost entirely inherited from the previous film and the more familiar and solid faces will be the ones that will sustain the bulk of the action here. Once again, Steve Guttenberg once again stands out and has an unmistakable role. Still, Art Metrano manages to steal our attention every time he appears on the scene, and he's really funny and good at what he does. David Graf, Bubba Smith, Lance Kinsey and especially Bob Goldthwait are actors who deserve praise for a job really well done. I really liked Goldthwait and the way he gave his character a touch of unpredictable madness. Marion Ramsey is in a more low-key position here, but she does what she can with what little she's been given. The film has good sets and costumes, and the cinematography is regular, but it works well. The soundtrack brings back the main theme we already know, but it doesn't present anything that is really interesting anymore. The film has a very good pace and is not tiring.

Inoffensive sequel provided a few laughs but isn't as good as the first. Still, fine as a quick viewing given it's only 80-minutes long. **3.25/5**

<em>'Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment'</em> does improve upon the original, which is a plus as I did find the first film underwhelming. With that said, it's still not anything good. I didn't properly get into/get laughs from the story, while the cast are kinda meh.

As for those on the screen, it's a reverse of last time out for me. Steve Guttenberg is actually better, though Michael Winslow - my standout from the prior release - is very underutilised; his (still cool) sound effects aren't as amusing and/or as fitting. The support cast are better, though.

To be honest, it is close to being something I'd consider as passable. I just don't quite have that needed positive feeling about it. Given I have five more of these movies to see, it is at least a good sign that this is an improvement. An upward curve, perhaps? Fingers crossed.