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Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment

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Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment
Theatrical release poster by Drew Struzan
Directed byJerry Paris
Written byBarry W. Blaustein
David Sheffield
Based on
Characters
by
Produced byPaul Maslansky
Starring
CinematographyJames Crabe
Edited byBob Wyman
Music byRobert Folk
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • March 29, 1985 (1985-03-29)
Running time
87 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$7.5 million[1][2]
Box office$115 million[3]

Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment is a 1985 American comedy film directed by Jerry Paris. It is the second installment in the Police Academy franchise and the sequel to Police Academy.

Many actors who were in the first film return to reprise their roles. Steve Guttenberg, as Officer Carey Mahoney, the class clown; former American football player Bubba Smith returns as the colossal Moses Hightower; Marion Ramsey is featured again as Laverne Hooks; David Graf returns as gun-crazy Officer Eugene Tackleberry; Michael Winslow returns as sound effects master Officer Larvell Jones, and veteran actor George Gaynes returns as Commandant Eric Lassard. This is the only film in the franchise that Leslie Easterbrook didn't appear as Callahan.

New faces in Police Academy 2 include Howard Hesseman as Captain Pete Lassard (the brother of Police Academy commandant Eric Lassard); Bobcat Goldthwait as Zed, the leader of "The Scullions", an obnoxious gang; Art Metrano as Lt. Mauser; Peter Van Norden as slobbish police dog Officer Vinnie Schtulman; Tim Kazurinsky as hapless business owner Carl Sweetchuck; and Lance Kinsey as Sgt. Proctor. In the film, the Police Academy cadets have graduated and are assigned to the worst precinct in town, where they have to help Captain Pete Lassard fight Zed's gang.

Plot

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In an unnamed city, serious crime is increasing, particularly in the 16th precinct, which is beset by erratic criminal Zed McGlunk and his violent gang, the Scullions. With the citizens turning against the ineffective, outnumbered, and aging Metropolitan Police, chief Henry Hurst orders precinct Captain, Pete Lassard, to get the situation under control within 30 days or be replaced, granting him six new officers from the police academy graduating class of 1984: laidback Carey Mahoney, prankster Larvell Jones, gun-fanatic Eugene Tackleberry, gentle giant Moses Hightower, soft-spoken Laverne Hooks, and bumbling Douglas Fackler. Seeing an opportunity to take Lassard's position, his Lieutenant, Mauser, plots to undermine his efforts and the new recruits, alongside his dim-witted partner, Sergeant Proctor.

The recruits are partnered with veteran officers. Tackleberry is reluctantly partnered with female officer, Sergeant Kathleen Kirkland, but quickly falls in love with her after realizing they share a passion for firearms. While on patrol, Mahoney and his new partner, the slobby Vinnie Schtulman, respond to an armed robbery at a lamp store owned by businessman Carl Sweetchuck. Chaos ensues when additional officers arrive and mistakenly open fire on each other, allowing the robbers to escape. The confusion leaves the store in ruins, causing $76,813 in damages. Mauser attempts to suspend the officers, but Mahoney's impassioned plea convinces Lassard to give them another chance, to Mauser's ire. Mauser punishes Mahoney by assigning him and Schtulman to patrolling a smog-filled road tunnel. In return, Mahoney swaps Mauser's shampoo for an epoxy resin, which glues his hands to his head and leaves him wandering the station naked and pleading for help.

Meanwhile, Zed's gang continues to vandalise and loot the area. Lassard confronts some of Zed's men but ends up outnumbered, spray-painted, and humiliated. Afterward, he gives his officers an inspiring speech, ordering them to take the gang down once and for all. The officers arrest forty-two gang members, sometimes inadvertently, including several members at the Blue Oyster Bar, aided by the gay biker patrons. Mauser, seeking to undermine their progress, releases the prisoners, citing improper arrest procedures and excessive force. Mahoney retaliates by arranging for Mauser to undergo a forced body cavity search. Later, Tackleberry and Kirkland go on a date, before professing their love for each other and having sex, after removing their numerous concealed weapons.

On the advice of his brother, Eric, Lassard hosts a street fair to regain public support, which is attended by the mayor. Zed's men attend, however, and mayhem ensues as the officers are unable to maintain control. The following day, Lassard is removed from the precinct and Mauser is promoted to captain. Mauser suspends Mahoney for the epoxy prank, and Schtulman for defending him. The pair meet with Lassard and plan to investigate the gang themselves, sending Mahoney undercover as Jughead, a former member of The Archies gang. Lassard and Schtulman listen in using a Mr. Microphone hidden on Mahoney, as he is taken to the gang's lair in the old abandoned zoo, but he is discovered when the microphone broadcasts a radio advertisement, leading to a knife fight between him and Zed. Lassard summons every available officer to the zoo, but, hoping to take credit for the arrest, Mauser attempts to infiltrate it himself, resulting in him being trapped hanging upside down. The other officers raid the zoo, leading the gang to panic and attempt to flee, while Lassard, Mahoney, and Laverne confront and arrest Zed.

Sometime later, the officers, including the reinstated Lassard, Mahoney, and Schtulman, attend the wedding of Tackleberry and Kirkland.

Cast

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Main article: List of Police Academy characters

The six new 16th Precinct officers

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The rest of the 16th Precinct

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Other

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The Scullions

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  • Bobcat Goldthwait as Zed McGlunk (billed as Bob Goldthwait)
  • Christopher Jackson as "Mojo"
  • Church Ortiz as "Flacko"

Production

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The first film had cost $4.8 million but the second was $7.5 million. Producer Paul Maslansky said the difference was due to filming in Los Angeles rather than Toronto, as in the original. "Shooting in Los Angeles is expensive," he said. "Not because of the city officials; they provide every cooperation. It's the merchants and the property owners who can really hit you. There's so much filming going on that they ask a lot of money for location sites, parking, etc." Maslansky also said "Naturally the actors wanted more money to do the sequel. The above-the- line (principal talent) costs are about a million and a half, and that includes my own fee." He added "We lost some time because I had to change directors after a couple of weeks. But Jerry Paris... has done a great job of catching up."[2]

"I wasn't too sold on doing the sequel," said Guttenberg. "I didn't think the script was as good as the first one. But it has been improved, and after I talked with Paul, I decided to give it another try."[2]

Reception

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Box office

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Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment opened on 1,613 screens, grossing $10,675,896 in its opening weekend, setting a record for March.[4] It was the 11th highest-grossing film in the United States in 1985 with a total of $55.6 million.[5] The film grossed $115 million worldwide and made a profit of $20.5 million.[3]

Critical response

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The film received negative reviews.[6] On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 28% based on 18 reviews.[7] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 39 out of 100 based on reviews from 8 critics, indicating "Generally unfavorable reviews".[8]

Variety wrote: "Follow-up features much of the original's cast but none of its key behind-the-scenes creative talent, save producer Paul Maslansky. Only actor to get any mileage out of this one is series newcomer Art Metrano, as an ambitious lieutenant bent upon taking over the department." Variety had little praise for the film, except "Metrano somehow manages to shine in these murkiest of circumstances, and Michael Winslow has a couple of good moments".[9] Film critic Leonard Maltin gave the movie a BOMB rating (the first of 5 for the series), saying, "There are Dragnet episodes that are funnier than this movie."[citation needed] Siskel & Ebert included it on a 1985 episode of their TV show that focused entirely on terrible sequels, though Gene noted it had two more laughs in it than the 1984 first film did (thereby meaning the sequel had exactly two laughs).

References

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  1. ^ "'Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment". The Wrap Powergrid. Retrieved 27 February 2017.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ a b c Thomas, Bob (11 January 1985). "IF YOU ENJOYED 'POLICE ACADEMY,' GET READY FOR ANOTHER". Chicago Tribune. p. E.
  3. ^ a b Block, Alex Ben; Wilson, Lucy Autrey, eds. (2010). George Lucas's Blockbusting: A Decade-by-Decade Survey of Timeless Movies Including Untold Secrets of Their Financial and Cultural Success. HarperCollins. p. 631. ISBN 9780061778896.
  4. ^ Greenberg, James (April 2, 1985). "'Police Academy 2' Scores Best Opening Figures Nationally in 1985". Daily Variety. p. 6.
  5. ^ Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment at Box Office Mojo
  6. ^ Thomas, Kevin (1985-04-01). "MOVIE REVIEW NO PLEA BARGAINING: AN F-GRADE FOR 'POLICE 2'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
  7. ^ "Police Academy 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  8. ^ "Police Academy 2". Metacritic. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
  9. ^ Variety Staff (1 January 1985). "Police Academy 2 – Their First Assignment". Variety.
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