Unforgettable characters, wonderful acting, great script, funny lines - it's all there. As a child in the 1980s, I used to watch this film dozens of times. And I still enjoy it. The sequels are pointless. You don't need them. Simply have a couple of hours and open your heart for this one. You will love it for a lifetime!

Police Academy is easily the best movie of the entire series which seemed to decline steadily in quality. Made up of a cast of mostly unknowns who would later become well known for this 1984 classic, Police Academy is still a delightful comedy 33 years on.In an unnamed city (actually filmed in Toronto), the city mayor decides to solve the problem of the shortage of police officers by removing all restrictions for the police academy and no longer will cadets be discriminated against sex, weight, height, orientation, intelligence and fitness. As the gates have been thrown open, men and women of all shapes and sizes apply for the police academy. The cadets include Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), Jones (Michael Winslow), Hightower (Bubba Smith), Tackleberry (David Graf), Hooks (Marion Ramsey), Thompson (Kim Cattrall), Fackler (Bruce Mahler), Barbara (Donovan Scott), Martin (Andrew Rubin), Blankes (Brant Von Hoffman), and Copeland Scott Thomson). While the good hearted Commandant Lassard (George Gaynes) is more than willing to give all the cadets a chance, Lieutenant Harris (G.W. Bailey) is strongly opposed to the standards being lowered and is more than willing to wash a majority of the cadets out of the academy by making their lives hell. Sergeant Callahan (Leslie Easterbrook) is also one of the instructors of the academy however more than one of the male cadets have a sexual interest in her.Although Steve Guttenberg had small roles beforehand including Diner (1982), he became a household name throughout the 1980's with the first four Police Academy movies as well as movies such as Cocoon (1985), Short Circuit (1986), and Three Men and a Baby (1987). Unfortunately he was barely sighted in the 1990's and his star power that he one had was lost. Kim Cattrall also earned a number of leading lady roles in movies such as Big Trouble in Little China (1986) and Mannequin (1987), and also hit the big time with TV series Sex and the City. The rest of the cast such as Michael Winslow, David Graf, Bubba Smith and G.W. Bailey continued to appear in the Police Academy series and had a variety of small roles in other movies, however most of the cast have since developed a cult following. Sadly David Graf died in 2001 after a heart attack, former NFL star turned actor Bubba Smith died in 2011, and George Gaynes passed away in 2016.Despite its adult humour, Police Academy was a movie I enjoyed watching as a young child (though I had hired the movie out on video and had watched it numerous times, my mother forbid me to watch the first movie upon discovering a number of infamous scenes) as well as the rest of the movies and the animated series (which got me hooked originally).Police Academy is still a time pleasing classic comedy that is still enjoyable as time goes on. The same can't be said for the rest of the series with its over reliance of unsophisticated humour, sex-related jokes and physical comedy which did become repetitive. That aside, the first movie still remains as the most memorable of the series.7/10.

1984's Police Academy was great in it's day and 32 years later the movie still feels fresh and full of vitality. Sadly it's ONLY the first entry in the series that has held up over the years and that's largely due to the films risqué sense of humour, being more adult or "mature" in nature. I've seen this film dozens of times over the years and always get a kick out it.It's funny to think that this movies success (or the entire series for that matter) largely hinges upon the presence of a perennial B-Lister like Steve Guttenberg, but it's true - it just doesn't seem like a Police Academy movie without Officer Mahoney. For the uninitiated Police Academy is a rousing comedy, that comes loaded with many funny and memorable characters and it was the starting point for a long-running and prolific series of movies throughout the 80's and into the early 90's. But it's this one, the first one, if memory serves me correctly, is the only one that's actually true to it's title - it being the only one that takes place largely at a "police academy". And it's here, at the beginning, where the comedy is most focused and is at it's most effective.Centering largely around Cadet/Officer Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg) who plays a good-for-nothing punk that's constantly in trouble with the law, as he drifts from one low-paying job to another. Eventually he's pressured into going to the police academy or prison, unenthused by either choice, he chooses the academy, once there he's intent on getting thrown out later that very same day "Be out of here by three". He proceeds to cause mischief where ever he goes and with every chance he gets - and there are many. Because after all, that's really half the show - Mahnoney's shenanigans on campus. In fact his handiwork becomes so well known to others, that you hear lines like "Mahoney... it's gotta be Mahoney". He's constantly at odds with his superiors's and one in particular: Lituentant Harris, who is by far the most combustible and vocal of the academy's training core and it's between them that many of the movies funniest exchanges happen. I'd say the best of which would have to be the accident involving the dirt-bike and horse's ass - Riotous! Truly a classic film moment - or better yet the scene that immediately follows, which is a hilarious continuation of that scene.Having recently seen it yet again, I can attest to the films seemingly timeless quality and it's irrepressible comedic charm. Director Hugh Wilson did a great job with getting the most out of his cast and the films comic sensibilities still manage to shine brightly after all these years. Police Academy, the first in the series, the one that literally "started it all" remains a top-tier comedy and one of the very best of the 80's - a decade that easily had more notable comedies than any other (I could make a list but don't feel that it's necessary).Sadly it's -only- with the first Police Academy movie that the magic is alive and vital - the rest were obviously tamed-down for younger audiences - and it's a real shame they went with that direction.I can't help but think how awesome it would have been for Eddie Deezen to have been one of the new cadet's, definitely a missed opportunity..... but anyway's - Long Live The Great Mahoney!

This a not a good movie. It is very boring and not funny. Police academy 2 is better. And is pretty bad movie. It is badly written. Some idiots train to be cops. This movie is nothing but stupid jokes and seen with some naked girls. Don't wast your money. And do not wast your time. Do not see this awful movie. It is boring. I can't believe people like this movie. I need more lines and I am running out of things to say. This movie is pooh pooh. Pooh pooh, pooh pooh, pooh pooh, pooh, pooh pooh. I'don't see it don't see it don't see it. The acting in this movie is mediocre. Steve G.u.t.t.e.n.b.e.r.g is not a good actor. Kim C.a.t.t.r.a.l.l is a good actor but she wasted her talent being in this awful movie. Do not see it.