A new batch of recruits arrives at Police Academy, this time a group of civilian volunteers who have joined Commandant Lassard's new Citizens on Patrol program. Although the community relations project has strong governmental support, a disgusted Captain Harris is determined to see it fail.
Steve Guttenberg
Mahoney
Bubba Smith
Hightower
Michael Winslow
Jones
David Graf
Tackleberry
Tim Kazurinsky
Sweetchuck
Sharon Stone
Claire Mattson
Leslie Easterbrook
Callahan
Marion Ramsey
Hooks
Lance Kinsey
Proctor
G.W. Bailey
Captain Harris
Bobcat Goldthwait
Zed
George Gaynes
Commandant Lassard
Derek McGrath
Butterworth
Scott Thomson
Copeland
Billie Bird
Mrs. Feldman
George R. Robertson
Commissioner Hurst
Brian Tochi
Nogata
Brian Backer
Arnie
David Spade
Kyle
Tab Thacker
House
Corinne Bohrer
Laura
Randall "Tex" Cobb
Zack
Michael McManus
Todd
Colleen Camp
Mrs. Kirkland-Tackleberry
Andrew Paris
Bud Kirkland
Arthur Batanides
Mr. Kirkland
Jackie Joseph
Mrs. Kirkland
Arnie Hardt
German Police Official
Frank Canino
Italian Police Official
Bob Lem
Chinese Police Official
François Klanfer
French Police Official
Denis De Laviolette
German Translator
Joey Pomanti
Italian Translator
Harvey Chao
Chinese Translator
Michelle Duquet
French Translator
Jack Creley
Judge
Ted Simonett
Copeland's Partner
Kay Hawtrey
Poetess
Sid Gould
Man with Harmonica
Megan Smith-Harris
Couple at Elevator
Don Ritchie
Couple at Elevator
Rummy Bishop
Party Man
Carolyn Scott
Nurse
Marc Leger
Headquarters Cop
Larry Schwartz
Warehouse Cop
James Carroll
Warehouse Supplier
Brent Myers
Bank Robber
Michael Rhoades
Hood in Balloon
Diane Fabian
Purse Snatching Victim
Glenn Preston
Blue Oyster Patron
Steve Caballero
Skateboarder
Tommy Guerrero
Skateboarder
Tony Hawk
Skateboarder
Mike McGill
Skateboarder
Chris Miller
Skateboarder
Lance Mountain
Skateboarder
Wayne Charbrol
Ninja
Jean Frenette
Ninja
Ed Hsing
Ninja
Marc Kubota
Ninja
Wilson Khoa
Ninja
Harold Kojima
Ninja
Glenn Kwann
Ninja
Brian Sakamoto
Ninja
Jim Wong
Ninja
Director
Jim Drake
Characters
Pat Proft
Characters
Neal Israel
Writer
Gene Quintano
October 10, 2022
6
**An honorable sequence where the script sounds better, although some comic material seems a little worn out.**
This is the fourth film in the prolific “Police Academy” franchise, which visibly marked the 80s and 90s, and which still brings good memories to many people today. I can say that it was one of the comic franchises that I enjoyed during my childhood and adolescence, and that I still see it from time to time.
In this fourth film, I felt that the production learned from the flaws of the previous films, especially when it comes to script writing. If the older films had in their weak scripts the biggest problem to overcome, this film responds with a more careful writing and the creation of a more logical story, capable of sustaining all sorts of jokes and comic situations created later. As a result, the film feels more like a cohesive work of cinema. However, it is undeniable that the comic material presented begins to show wear and tear and is not enough to make us laugh, even if it manages to do it several times.
For the last time, the film brings together all the main names of the cast and crew from the previous films, and the replacement of Jerry Parris by Jim Drake in the director's chair is barely perceptible: the new director has really managed to capture the spirit of the franchise and give it an honorable following. Steve Guttenberg says goodbye to his character, Mahoney, who will live for the last time, walking out the big door with a job well done. Michael Winslow and Bob Goldthwait were also in excellent shape and seem to have a lot of fun with their characters, along with the excellent Tim Kazurinsky. Sharon Stone was a surprising addition, but it works well thanks to the actress' physical beauty.
Technically, the film is very much on par with its predecessors, and the final aerial sequence really deserves a round of applause for the execution and the way it was done. Good sets, the costumes we already know, the soundtrack without major demerits or surprises and a decent cinematography make up the scenario of a film that, if it is not capable of enchanting, manages to convince most fans of the franchise.