The print., April 10, 1985, Page 3, Image 3

The Arts
‘Police Academy 2’ signals seasonal fluff
By D. Dietrich
Of The Print
Once again that time of year is upon
the movie-goers of America. The ar­
rival of spring is customarily accom­
panied by adolescent skin-flicks arid
creative-hatcheting horror spoofs that
will soon saturate the market. At the
top of the money-making lists will be
what promoters would call “sure
bets.” That’s what the producers of
“Police Academy 2: Their First
Assignment” are hoping to call their
latest jaunt with America’s more
vulgar side of humor.
With a suggested ‘R’ rating,
“Academy 2” is being promoted local­
ly with a “PG-13” stamp of approval
and stands as a sign of the times that
13-year-olds are not the innocents they
used to be. The main reason for the
making of “Academy 2” is from the
notion that if the public liked it once,
and they did, why not a little more of
the same, which is what they get. With
the expotentially-rising production
costs, there is little room for creative
filmmaking from the major studios.
To be sure, “Academy 2” will make
millions. Why? For the simple fact that
“Police Academy” managed to gross
over $156 million.
Joining seven of the original cast
members are a few more partners in
cinema crime, topping the list with the
talented but ever misdirected Howard
Hesseman. In this episode (there’s sure
Officer Larvelle Jones (Michael
Winslow) adds disquieting sound ef-
fects to a nearby couple’s lunch.
Photo courtesy of Warner Bros. Inc.
to be more), he plays the desperate
police chief who has requested six of
the most promising recruits in the
academy from his brother, the head of
the academy . The chief needs help en­
forcing law with a roving band of
wayward youth and psychopaths who
are continually threathing the city and
with it, his job..
.
It takes little imagination to reälize
these recruits are going to look and
work something along the lines of a cir­
cus act. Not to be forgotten are the op­
posing forces within the system. In this
case a promotion-greedy lieutenant
named Mauser (Art Metrano) is deter­
mined to make the chief look more in­
ept than is already obvious by using the
rookie cops. Of course, his tricks are
met with a few of the same and revenge
becomes the theme of the day.
Steve Guttenberg as Carey Mahoney
is the main avenger of the academy
rookies. He’s the brightest of the
bunch who never wanted to be a cop
and it shows.
Bubba Smith as Hightower used to
be a florist but is now the brawn
behind the lack of brains. And where
would a cops and robbers show be
without the local weapons freak, here
played by David Graf as Tackelberry.
He’s a 28-year-old virgin and the au­
dience gets a chance to share the magic
moment with him when he finally
meets the gun-toting girl of his dreams.
Michael Winslow adds a little
refreshment to the incredibly tired
humor of the rest of the film with his
enviable sound-effects ability. Bruce
Mahler is Fackler, who seems to be ter­
minally stuck in the “awkward age”
with no end in sight.
To finish the list is the token female
cop, played by Marion Ramsey as
Hooks, who makes a timid entrance
but ends up with more gusto than
seemed capable. That’s about the ex­
tent of any character development.
“Adacemy 2” manages to be more
of the same used humor with little
creative flair to be seen. Even for its
genre, there is little to set it apart from
all the other fluff films coming out.
Because this film is directed by the
same mind that was responsible for the
charming hit television series “The
Dick Van Dyke Show” and seasons of
“Happy Days,” one would expect a lit­
tle better. Assisted by former Saturday
Night Live writers, “Academy 2” is a
comprehensive mix of all the skits that
should never have been allowed out of
the editing room. But rest assured, the
film will make millions.
‘Films of Crime’ series offered for credit and fun
“Films of Crime: Detec­ to the emergence of bizarre
tives, Gangsters and Spies,” is homicides and psychopaths in
the descriptive title of the the 70’s and 80’s.
Class times are at noon and
history elective class offered at
Clackamas Comipunity Col­ 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays. The class
is offered as a three credit elec­
lege spring term.
Through films dating back tive but the movies are open to
to 1934, Fred DeWolfe and all students and interested
Rick Ramsperger offer a look community members.
DeWolfe said the intentions
at the history of crime in the
U.S. as well as the social at­ for the class are twofold in
titudes and changes as that it is to be educational for
reflected through the film in­
dustry.
WEDDING
Subjects of the films during
the ten week course range
PHOTOGRAPHY
from the “crime doesn’t pay”
production code of the 1930’s
TOTAL PRICE:
students but also for plain
entertainment.
The schedule of films for
the term is as follows: April 2,
“The Godfather” (1972);
$135.00
SPECIAL
STUDENT RATES
TO TOKYO
$625 ROUNDTRIP
LIMITED SEATS
CALL FUJIKO
(206) 696-9740
**70
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17 I 18(B)
38.62
28.86
-0.18
0.54
-0.04 I 0.60
"|3I
19 I
16.19
-0.05
0.73
TfiTF
20
8.29
-0.81
0.19
14, /“The Thin Man” (1934);
May 21, “The Counterfeit
Traitor” (1962); May 28,
“North by Northwest” (1959);
June 4, “The Spy Who Came
In
C.C.C. Cafeteria Daily Specials
Wed., April 10th
Lasagna with garlic toast $1.50
Thurs., April 11th
Beef and Macaroni Casserole $1.50
Fri., April 12th
SHOTS
Pizza $1.30 Slice
“DELIVER PRINTS
NEGATIVES
“20 YEARS
EXPERIENCE
CALL: Jerry Paulsen
656-6775
(Evenings)
Wednesday, April 10, 1985
..
HI
Jungle”(1950); April 16,
“Dirty Harry” (1972); April
23, “Touch of Evil”(1958);
April 30,
“In Cold
Blood”(1968); May 7, “To
Catch a Thief” .(1955); May
centimeters
Mon., April 15th
Tacos 60 cents each
Tues., April 16th