Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986) User Reviews (78)

Revenge of the 80's: Multiple sequels.

[Captain_Couth · 6/10 · 9 January 2005]

Police Academy 3 (1986) The inmates are now running the asylum. Mahony and company are now instructors at the place they once attend. Running out of ideas and funny situations, the film starts to repeat (ad naseum) many of the gags and punchlines from the first two films. While new characters are being added to the series, a few old one decide to leave (for good). If you notice, the bigger the star Steve Guttenberg becomes, the lesser screen time he gets. Oh well.

Slightly recommended. If the producers have thought with their heads instead of their pocket books, they should have put this series to bed instead of dragging it out and running the series until the wheels and the engine fell off.

To Save The Old Alma Mater

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 15 September 2009]

Police Academy films are a weakness of mine, they are stupid, vapid, idiotic and funny as all hell. I do so love these characters and they are in top form as the goofball graduates from the first Academy come back to save their alma mater.

It seems that budget constraints have forced Governor Ed Nelson to close one of the two Police Academies. The first one is run by clueless Commandant Lassard as played by George Gaynes. The second is a discipline factory run by the nemesis of the graduates from the second Police Academy movie, Sergeant Mauser, played with relish by Art Metrano now a commandant of that Academy.

So a contest is to be held to see which one stays open and our regulars, Steve Guttenberg, Bubba Smith, Michael Winslow, Marion Ramsey, David Graf, and Leslie Esterbrook go back to help the captain they made life hell for as cadets.

When you think about it, are the Police Academy movies any different than the classic Keystone Kops? A lot of the same gags are used and a lot more of them that could never have been got away with back in those days. But the idea is the same, an irreverence for law enforcement in the funniest way.

These are not films to write elegant tomes about, they are films to laugh whatever part of your anatomy off you want.

Basically the same thing as one and two combined.

[Aaron1375 · 4/10 · 12 April 2009]

Yes, combine the first two movies take away most of the cussing and raunchy jokes and you have the start of the very stale Police Academy sequels. I enjoyed the first two films, and I will say this one had some laughs, but way to much wrong with it to be considered even an okay film. The only redeeming factor is that once again G.W. Bailey is absent and the more funnier Mauser is in this one with his assistant Proctor. They made for most of the humor and Mauser's absence in the next film stands out to me. The story has two police academies in an area and one of them is to be shut down. Mauser is in charge of one, and granted how did he get an academy since the last movie is a rather good question. One wonders is this supposed to be a sequel and for the most part other than this strange turn it seems to be. Most of the jokes have been done, Bobcat is back and you wonder why. He was good in the last movie, in this one his presence is overkill. I thought how Mahoney in the first film got into the academy there is no way Bobcat could have. So all in all the start of very weak sequels and you will begin to know the jokes by heart.

It's Back To School

[Big Movie Fan · 20 August 2002]

(POSSIBLE SPOILERS) Police Academy 3:Back In Training is a brilliant film which returns our heroes back to the academy.

Since the second film, Mauser has been promoted to Commandant in charge of his own academy...but his job may be in jeopardy. The state decides that it cannot finance two academy's so a competition is declared between Eric Lassard's academy and Commandant Mauser's academy.

All the favourites such as Mahoney, Jones, Hooks, Hightower and Tackleberry are back to help train the new recruits which include Zed (the punk from the second film)and Sweetchuck (the little wimp from the second film). We also see the return of the sneaky Kyle Blanks and Chad Copeland. Copeland and Blanks are in cahoots with Commandant Mauser who wishes to discredit Lassard's academy.

As usual, there are some great scenes. My favourite scenes were the sneaky Sergeant Proctor ending up nude on the streets, Mauser losing his eyebrows and the ending where the new recruits chase the bad guys on speedboats.

All in all, Police Academy 3 is a damn good film.

PG time

[BandSAboutMovies · 5/10 · 6 May 2020]

A PG rated Police Academy? Well, it still made plenty of money and cost next to nothing to make, being shot in Toronto.

Lt. Proctor (Lance Kinsey) and Commandant Mauser (Art Metrano) meet up with former Sergeants Chad Copeland (Scott Thomson) and Kyle Blanks (Brant van Hoffman). Because there are two police academies - how does that happen? - one must be closed. Mauser wants Commandant Lassard (George Gaynes) to fail. Lassard wants to hang out with his fish Birdie. Such are the stories that Police Academy sequels are created to tell.

Lassard gets an idea on how to win: along with Sgt. Jones (Michael Winslow) and Lt. Callahan (Leslie Easterbrook), he calls back Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), Hooks (Marion Ramsey), Hightower (Bubba Smith) and Tackleberry (David Graf) to help train the new recruits.

The new officers are Sgt. Fackler's (Bruce Mahler) wife, Violet (Debralee Scott), Karen Adams (Shawn Weatherly, Amityville: It's About Time), Tackleberry's brother-in-law Bud (Andrew Paris) and Nagata (Brian Tochi), who of course falls for Callahan.

My favorite recruits are Sweetchuck (Tim Kazurinsky) and Zed (Bobcat Goldthwait), who have come back into the story as enemies who soon become friends.

This movie brings back many of the jokes from the first, like an appearance by Georgina Spelvin and the Blue Oyster. But I didn't mind at all. Honestly, these movies are like drinking cheap beer. It's not the best beer, but you know, it's beer.

Great for a Sunday afternoon...

[jaxson-2 · 7/10 · 7 February 1999]

In this sequel, the same slapsticks that have been used in the first two movies are apparent and that's what makes it fun to watch. Michael Winslow, who plays Jones, has once again entertained me with his vocal prowess. Also Hooks' (Marion Ramsey) timidness is easily shrouded by her tough side always saying "Don't move, dirtbag!"

Steve Guttenberg (Mahoney) didn't need to stretch his role for this one. It is still fun to watch after 13 years of it's initial release. One of a perfect movies to watch on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

The third and last entertaining of them all

[EijnarAmadeus · 2/10 · 1 November 2002]

Almost boring but still pretty funny. Mahoney, Jones, Hightower, Lassard and some news...as Callahan, the big breast woman and some more pathetic policepeople.

Two years after the original. And I don't like to call this a good comedy - it's still okay.

It's the same type tough - falling into boxes, the chief's goldfish almost dies, Callahan kicks a bad-guys ass while flirting with her boobies, Mahoney makes jokes about Lassard and Jones makes sounds. There you go - the whole movie! Role dice: 3

They're "Back" and they're bad....

[Mister-6 · 7/10 · 29 September 1999]

While still suffering from the humor limitations of being rated PG, "Police Academy 3" has sight gags enough to make it worth watching a few times (at least more often than "Part II").

The gang's all here and trying to train a new line of cadets in their own image (poor cadets) while Lassard (Gaynes) tends to his goldfish and tools about in his modified golf cart.

Even Bobcat Goldthwait returns as Zed, this time training to be a force of good. His scenes breathe a lot of life into this affair, as he screams at doors until they fall down, terrorizes his fellow cadets, hot wires police cars with his teeth and sings at the most inopportune times.

Everyone else has at least one good scene, maybe two. And considering how many are in the cast, that leaves room for a lot of good scenes. Even Georgina Spelvin is back from the original and, bless her, she makes good, too (though not as hilarious as in the original).

This is about as good as the sequels get, so look no further for laughs than "Police Academy 3: Back in Training". Definitely Bubba Smith's finest hour.

Seven stars. Good job, officers.

Another Training Episode

[The-Sarkologist · 5/10 · 16 June 2019]

Well, it is quite possible that the second one didn't work all that well so it seems that the creators went back to the drawing board, and decided that maybe they would just send them all back to the Police Academy for another round of training - yeah, basically a complete rehash of the first film. Well, not quite because we do have a bunch of new recruits, and the heroes from the first movie, who have now become somewhat more competent, are actually in the trainers' shoes.

The thing is that we have Sweetchuck come back this time wanting to be a police officer, and we also have Zed. Of course this is ridiculous because Sweetchuck would never, ever be able to pass the exam, and well Zed is a convicted criminal. However, what we do know is that the police academy is open to everybody so these silly things sort of add to the whole fun of the series. Mind you, it does seem that the original cast is being whittled down somewhat, particularly since Fackler has dropped from the cast, only to be replaced by his wife (who now wants to become a cop). Also, we do have to throw in the potential love interest for Mahony (because, for some reason, the others just don't seem to hang around).

Anyway, it turns out that this town isn't big enough for two police academies, so one has to go, and the governor will decide at the end of this particular class. Mind you, it turns out that Mauser is running the other academy, and is basically running it like some sort of military grade facility. How Mauser actually managed to go from being a sergeant to running a police academy is beyond me, but then again all of our original cast have now attained the rank of sergeant.

Yeah, this movie isn't all that bad, though of course it is pretty much a rerun of the first, expect we have Mauser, with Copeland and Blankes on the payroll, trying to undermine Lesard's academy. Personally, I didn't find it as good, though of course seeing the police computer being a Commodore 64 is always a bit of a laugh.

"It's a matter of the mind being mightier than the bosom."

[Anonymous_Maxine · 6/10 · 2 April 2009]

I gotta admit, ladies and gentlemen, I don't really find this stuff amusing anymore, but for some reason the Police Academy movies are still their own brand of fun. I was just reading through some of the message boards about the movies on the IMDb about what peoples' favorite scenes were from part 3 and from the series as a whole, and not one of the scenes mentioned was genuinely funny to me anymore. I remember when I was a kid I loved the movies unconditionally and used to drive my brother insane because I always wanted to watch them, but I can't really remember if I just found the movies fun or if I actually got some good belly laughs out of them. Regardless, the vast majority of the comedy has not dated well, but they are still an amusing romp through the hilarious clothing and comedy styles of the 80s!

This time around, Commandant Lassard finds himself in a bit of a moment of crisis as the governor decides that it is no longer financially reasonable to maintain two police academies (the other one headed by the beloved Lieutenant Mauser from part 2), and so one of them will have to be closed. Which academy will be closed depends on performances during a period of observation by an evaluation team.

Needless to say, Mauser employs the help of the hilariously idiotic Proctor and the same two goon cadets, Copeland and Blanks, who have been employed by both Mauser and Harris to create problems for our cast of heroes since the first movie. In order to save Lassard's academy, and their own beloved alma mater, from being closed, all of our favorite Police Academy cast members have been brought back from Their First Assignment to become instructors at the academy and ensure that the place looks good.

So there you have the setup and the basic plot, and other than that it's essentially exactly the same movie as the first two. The characters are the same, the music's the same, the good guys and bad guys are the same, just the skits are different and this time we have the addition of a few negligible characters, the token geek (Sweetchuck), the token Japanese guy (who really serves no other purpose than to grin like an imbecile and become mesmerized by Callahan's prodigious bosoms), and also the ridiculous additions to the force of Fackler's nutty wife and Tackleberry's nutty brother-in-law. You know, the guy who is always trading punches with his own father. Can you imagine putting a police uniform on such a man? Only in a Police Academy movie!

There is not really anything of special note that happens during the movie, although it is a little revealing that this is arguably the funniest installment in the entire series. In keeping with the two preceding movies, we are introduced to the characters in the same way, by glimpsing them in their current lives before the needs of a new movie call them back to the Police Academy world. Hightower is dressing up as an old woman in order to catch purse snatchers in the park, Tackleberry is playing safari in the backyard with his brother-in-law, Fackler is trying to prevent his wife from joining the force (in a scene eerily reminiscent of his first scene in the original movie), and Mahoney is a…women's basketball coach?

Whatever, it doesn't matter what they're doing, their current occupations or pastimes or whatever are just little jokes as they're introduced into the movie. Unfortunately, it's hard to imagine a time when Mahoney's constant flirtations were not as purely creepy as they are now. And that mischievous grin he gets when he's about to play a trick on someone. I need a lot of beers before that's funny, although I would be lying if I said the Police Academies aren't a lot of fun after the beer count enters the double digits.

Unfortunately, there is also a definite feeling that in this installment the movie has turned into even more of a series of goofy jokes. Of course, the whole series is a bunch of goofy jokes, but I think that the second sequel is the first time when the characters that we know are used to throw in some moronic sight gags in order to get a cheap laugh, like when Tackleberry pulls out his gun and shoots a payphone because the operator refuses to relinquish her quarter, or Proctor getting locked out in the hallway ass-naked by a prostitute. On the other hand, my beer count was getting up there by this point, so I found both scenes to be pretty funny.

It is important to realize that director Jerry Paris developed most of his directing experience on television comedy series, which may have something to do with the, ah, conspicuous lack of subtlety in a lot of the sight gags in Police Academy 2 and 3. It's interesting to consider the impact that his personal directing experience before coming into the Police Academy series may have shaped the series as a whole, which moved in that direction and then never managed to get away from it. Ad now it seems that Steve Guttenberg is attempting to put a Police Academy 8 in motion, in which case I can only hope that he doesn't try to reinvent the series, although I have a feeling that it would take nothing less than a total reinvention to make yet another sequel worthwhile

Run-of-the-mill sequel with ordinary trappings , jokes , antics , chases and funny scenes .

[ma-cortes · 5/10 · 24 May 2023]

Routine follow-up with usual ingredients , mayhem, giggles , entertainment and lots of fun. From the beginning, they were a breed apart. They were raw, inept, blunderheaded civilians who signed up for the Police Academy. And they became raw, inept, blunderheaded cops. The misfit Police Academy is already graduated creating a special but bumbling team to accomplish a training for new recruits . Then, the bumblers in blue took to the streets to confront a crime wave . And somehow refrained from waving back. Now the lovable lunkheads with the fun-track minds are at it again. Determined to save their alma mater from getting the ax during a state-wide budget slash are the gifted, goofy original Police Academy grads: Mahoney, Hightower, Tackleberry, Jones, Hooks and Callahan, all led by the befuddled but unbowed Cmdt. Lassard. Also in the arresting cast are several returnees from the school's second adventure, including meddling Cmdt. Mauser. Now that's the kind of school people can trust, the kind of school whose grads fight crime with slapstick instead of nightsticks. Those goofy oddballs in blue are going to tangle with the pinhead punkers. The Police Academy regulars, from meathead Mahoney to the others impeccably inept cops are back again to answer law enforcement's most uproarious role call. Take off with the original cast... and some new recruits as they take to the streets and the skies to fight crime . On land, on sea, or in the air, no place is safe from them! Assignment: new recruits . Objective: Laughs. Hold everything! The cadets are training for an all new adventure ! The alumni of Commandant Lassard's Police Academy (1984) return to the school to train new recruits and prevent its closure. The Law Enfarcement Saga Continues!. Run for cover!. A Completely Arresting Comedy Hit!. An open-and-shut case of nonstop laughter !.

Police Academy 3 has the most dangerous assignments and in this second sequel to original Police Academy (1984) , there's humor , thrills , pursuits , action and abundant diversion . Funny and very cheerful film filled with action-packed , thrills , hilarious set-pieces, tongue-in-cheek , amusement and lots of humor . The premise is simple and plain , as a misfit , botcher squadron from the known police force is assigned to train rookie cops and subsequently to undertake a confrontation to a dangerous gang . Director delivers a professional work but with no much interest , his knack of getting the most out of characters and situations without ever going over the top making for some very big laughs . This production pays tribute to previous film , taking parts here and there , and repeating former sketches. The jokes and frolics come as thick and fast , hit and miss as usual and it is done in good spirit if not always in good taste . Fun picture with accent on sight gags , and humour that stems from the diverting roles established in other movies . The sympathetic cast formed by the motley band of misfits giving charming interpretation causing confusion , laughs and chaos . Showing up habitual actors in the popular series, such as : Seve Guttenberg as the constant prankster Mahoney, Bubba Smith as the hunk Sgt Hightower , David Graf as gun-lover Sgt. Tackleberry , Michael Winslow as Sgt. Jones , Marion Ramsey as Sgt. Hooks , Leslie Easterbrook as busty Lt. Callahan , Art Metrano as Comdt. Mause and adding a newcomer cadets : Tim Kazurinsky , Bobcat Goldthwait and Shawn Weatherly . While G. W. Bailey had hoped to return as Lieutenant Harris, but was passed over in favor of Art Metrano as the antagonist in this film , but he appeared in Police Academy 4 and others sequels . In addition, David James Elliott's film debut ; Doug Lennox and porn-actress Georgina Spelvin reprised their roles from the first film Police Academy (1984) as the main bad guy and the hooker. However, original cast members had allegedly complained about losing screentime to the new cast members. It contains an attractive and lively score by Robert Folk , series' regular , including the classic leitmotif . As well as atmospheric and appropriate cinematography . The motion picture was uneven and professionally directed by Jerry Paris , but with no originality . This was Jerry Paris' final film. It had originally been the intention that this film and Police Academy 4 (1987) would be shot back-to-back, but Paris was too sick during production for this to work, and so Jim Drake was hired to direct the next film .

The series produced by Paul Maslansky , being based on the characters written by Neal Israel and Pat Proft , they focused on a storyline involving those roles the audiences were most responsive to in the previous films , the episodes of the Police Academy is as follows : Police Academy 1984 by Hugh Wilson . Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment 1985 by Jerry Paris , James Signorelli . Police Academy 3: Back in Training 1987 by Jerry Paris . Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol 1987 by Jim Drake . Police Academy : Assignment Miami Beach 1988 by Alan Myerson. Police Academy 6: City Under Siege 1989 by Peter Bornerz . Police Academy: Mission to Moscow 1994 by Alan Metter . And Police Academy the series 1997/1998 , 26 episodes by Neal Israel, Paul Maslansky, Pat Proft .

quick reviews!

[malkane316 · 8/10 · 26 May 2004]

Here we go…I don't care what anyone says, this is funny. Yes the series gets worse with each film, but any of the first 4 are better than any American Pie, or any teen comedy ever. The characters have already been established, with the main additions being Bobcat Goldthwaite as Zed, who is endlessly funny, and Mauser as the rival Cmndt. Plot? There are two Police Academies; one must close so a series of competitions are set up to see which is better. Mauser recruits Copeland and Banks from Lassard's school as traitors, but Mahoney and crew eventually prove the better. But these movies are not about plot. Some would say they're not about comedy, or anything else, but as a kid, nothing made me laugh more than these films. And they still do. Jones makes loads of noises, Tackleberry watches his in laws punch each other, Mahoney makes his usual comments, but Zed and Procter are my favourites here. The Blue Oyster Bar is back, and other scenes that keep me laughing are the arrival of Sweetchuck to the Academy, crashing into the car, and Zed singing to make a door fall. I see why people find these completely irritating, but I'm pis*ing myself thinking about them. While I was reading some of the (mostly negative) reviews of this, where people were slagging off the parts they didn't find funny, I was in stitches. May say something about me-but that's something I'm not ashamed of.

8 out of 10

The best of the series

[departed07 · 7/10 · 10 May 2004]

Police Academy has made over seven films plus a toy lineup and a dumb TV show. But from all of the Police Academy movies, this one had more laughs than the original and the rest of the sequels. The whole premise of Police Academy 3 is that Lazard's squad is being challange by former Academy member Mouser for best cadet school, its up to Lazard and his gang of misfits from Mahoney, Hooks, Jones, Hightower and Tackleberry along with Zed and Sweetchuck and that Japanese guy from Revenge of the Nerds to win the game and proved that they are better than Mouser's school. Yes, it has its flaws, but the laughs keep on coming and that's what i liked about this one.

Three out of Four stars.

Why? Oh, why did they keep making more?

[MovieAddict2016 · 1/10 · 19 August 2002]

Police Academy should've stopped after the second film. But nope. They decided to make 7 or 8 films, and two series. What kind of dopes ran these films? Anyway, MAYBE watch this on a saturday or sunday afternoon like I did when you've got nothing left to do. Other than that, don't waste your money on it. I stopped watching these films after the 4th. I'm sad to say I even saw that many. Once again, only Bob Goldthwait make this worth watching. Even then, it's hard to bear. 2/5 STARS-only because compared to the later sequels, this isn't even bad!

JOHN ULMER

Still goin' strong

[mcfly-31 · 16 July 1999]

It's back to where it all started for the gang as they assist trainees who are as inept as they were. Squealing Goldthwait is now a wannabe cop and in a perfect idea by the screenwriter is roommated with meek little Mr. Sweetchuck, whom he terrorized throughout part 2. The most notable newcomer is Brian Tochi as the Japanese youngster obsessed with Easterbrook's breasts (who wouldnt be?). The climax is a little more exciting than in the recent films (a jet-ski chase) and is filmed very nicely. And it's odd how with each film the running time gets shorter, only 83 minutes here. But still enjoyable the third time around.

Running on, and affected by, fumes

[TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews · 2/10 · 18 September 2010]

New recruits, the old ones running the place. Yeah, that's about it for the plot. They need to impress blah blah blah. Do you even care? I don't. We've heard it a million times before. It's nothing but an excuse for the terrible jokes and gags, which, I might add, are mostly(when this is actually trying to be funny, and it actually doesn't seem to be doing any such thing for half of it) repeated ad nauseum from the second(I didn't think it could get worse than that one... they managed it) and, I hear, the first. It all culminates in a pretty unconvincing chase. The obnoxious stuff is multiplied. This is racist and disgusting. And the guy who's driving that suddenly speaks English, from one moment to another. Characters we've seen before are made cadets, for no reason. Smith can't act. In fact, the performances here are awful. Bobcat Goldthwait is himself more in this(why are people laughing at it? Let's be honest, he probably suffers from serious mental problems). No one would behave like the people in this do. At least there is a hot chick, and a little proper, if very basic, martial arts in this. There is strong language in this. I recommend it only to those who refuse to heed the warnings. 2/10

Nearly as funny as PA2; not as funny as PA1

[jhaggardjr · 7/10 · 15 May 2000]

"Police Academy 3: Back in Training", the third movie in the comedy series, is a funny second sequel to "Police Academy". "Police Academy 3" has almost the same amount of laughs as "Police Academy 2". It's just a tad below the second movie. However, both movies can't top the original. But like "Police Academy 2", "Police Academy 3" is much better than some of the other sequels that followed.

*** (out of four)

Worst of the bunch?

[TheOtherFool · 3/10 · 8 July 2004]

So it's yet another Police Academy... who knew this wouldn't even be the half of it? In this one the well-known recruits of the first Police Academy has to learn the tricks to the new batch, including Sweetchuck and Zed, who we saw in Police Academy 2.

Too bad this one doesn't have a story in it, or it should be that Lassards Police Academy is rivalling Hausers (but aren't they always?) because one of them has to close down. And that's about it... now this is wearing thin!

The last scenes include an old-fashioned but hardly entertaining chase scene but overall this movie doesn't bring anything new to the concept. Even a bit boring at times. Loved Zed in this one though...

3/10.

Good

[manitobaman81 · 7/10 · 22 August 2014]

And then there were three. Steve Guttenberg said "no" to being in this or any other sequels that may follow, a good choice. Quickly rushed into production to capitalize on the successful first films. From an artistic standpoint, there were some plot elements and character developments I didn't think were totally needed. They do however drive the story, which seemed to be their purpose, so I can accept them. This is probably the worst of the sequels, with nothing to laugh at. By this film the series became even more unwatchable and somehow even more redundant. It's the kind of film that tries to show that a small story can be much more meaningful than a larger one -- and fails.

Alright it's true, it should have ended long ago!!

[Robert_duder · 4/10 · 28 November 2005]

Police Academy III is a resounding example of why some people ridicule franchises and shudder against sequels. This whole series is based on stupidity, funny, small minded, unintelligent fun. To squeeze two story lines out of that was plausible but three...and eventually a WHOPPING SEVEN seems unforgivable. However I will say that the plots are there and perhaps as a slapstick, silly comedy TV Series (ie: The Cartoon series) Police Academy may have won people over. Number three in the series tries to really go back to the roots that made the original charming but it's too late to try that. We've been there, we've done that and although moments of it are reminiscent of that silly stupidity, it's definitely lacking and part of the character charm of the original and even the second cast is lost with a mish mash of so many characters, it's too much to follow.

Lead actor Steve Guttenberg sadly returns to the dying series as Sgt. Carey Mahoney. All his laughs, and pranks, and witty sarcasm is left behind and Mahoney is barely used as anything more than just a figure head. The rest of the original cast, and a lot of the characters from the second film return as well and they are all so severely downplayed that each character loses his charm. Even the insane Eugene Tackleberry who still has some great scenes (played by David Graf) is way underplayed and the unexplained absence of his true love who was played by Colleen Camp in the second film was unfortunate. Then they added some new characters and brought over some of the second film characters including the incredibly annoying Bobcat Goldthwait as Zed. This guy is not funny in any capacity and he made an alright villain but the idea of bringing him on as a regular cast member was not a good decision and the attempt at making him an odd couple partner to Sweetchuck was a disaster and didn't work. However the character Sweetchuck was the one redeemable new character as he had a slapstick, funny physical character who was annoyingly cute at times.

I won't say there is NOTHING redeemable about Police Academy 3. It was good to see the zany Cmndt. Eric Lassard played by George Gaynes back as more of a full time character. Also it was good that the film was set back at the Academy and the roles of Cmndt. Mauser, and Capt. Proctor (from Police Academy 2) were still fun to watch screw up and see the cadets get the better of them. Also the last fifteen minutes of the film are actually some of the better scenes in the entire series featuring an intense almost action packed chase scene on Jetskis. If you saw the first two, you might as well do as I did and check out this third installment but otherwise it probably won't please you much. They're losing steam with poor writing and bad decisions and I think there is some hope here and even some promise but overall...it's a flop!! I can't imagine the next 4 getting any better. 4/10

There should be more of Michael Winslow

[Bored_Dragon · 6/10 · 15 January 2019]

The third film sticks to the recipe established by the previous two, but why change the winning combination. The same cast in the same roles once more performs the same jokes in a slightly changed environment. The movie does not bring anything new, but the old stuff did not become boring just yet. Pouring sand in the desert will not be able to drag people to the theater forever, but for now it still works just fine. You will not be thrilled, but you will relax and have a good time.

6/10

I just LOVE a man who eats shrimp that way!

[Karl Self · 5/10 · 3 January 2009]

I have a lot of sympathy for the Police Academy venture, and the third episode does still pack quite a few memorable scenes, but especially in its second half (starting with the party), it does run out of steam and becomes formulaic. I didn't like the megaknockers-meets-Chinaman affair between lieutenant Callahan and cadet Nogata, and the denouement (academy staff and cadets prove their worth by riding around on speedboats) is total hogwash.

This third part got a lot of exposure, and many people assume that, because it's somewhat bit shoddy, the previous episodes must have been just as lacklustre or even worse, which really isn't the case.

It still works as brainless fun, especially if you fast-forward through that final marina chase segment.

An ensemble cast that beats "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World"!

[james_cocos-snowboots · 9/10 · 30 June 2005]

Mahoney is the ultimate lady-killer! Hightower shines in his element; drag! Sgt. Jones is the ultimate human beat-box! Police Academy 3 is the best of the series. The main characters have been established and are now free to indulge in the astonishing comedic interplay that is the triumphant hallmark of the Police Academy series. With the addition of the always gut-busting Bobcat Goldthwait as Cadet Zed this marks the finest moment in 80's comedy history. The only thing that would improve this movie is the addition of Gilbert Gottfried to the cast. It is difficult to pinpoint any highlights of this movie because there are so many, but if you like Police Academy, you will adore "Back in Training". Spencer Tracy, Milton Berle, Sid Caesar, Buddy Hackett, Ethel Merman, and Mickey Rooney need to take a backseat to the new American Comedic Heroes: Steve Guttenberg, Bubba Smith, David Graf, Michael Winslow, Marion Ramsey, and Leslie Easterbrook.

Probably better than Police Academy 2

[kevin_robbins · 6/10 · 14 May 2023]

Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986) is a childhood favorite that I recently rewatched on Tubi. The storyline follows the police academy preparing to cut back on budget and courses offered the following year. To decide which programs and classes are cut, the two commandants that oversee the school will have a competition to see whose program stays. Commandant Lassard will bring back some old students to help his current students prepare for the competition.

This movie is directed by Jerry Paris (Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment) and stars Steve Guttenberg (Short Circuit), Bobcat Goldthwait (Scrooged), Michael Winslow (Spaceballs), Leslie Easterbrook (The Devil's Rejects), George Gaynes (Tootsie) and Bubba Smith (Gremlins 2).

I always adore how many original cast members always return for these sequels. Seeing an update on where they are and what they're doing is always fun. Tackleberry and Hightower remained two of my favorites and Bobcat was awesome in this film as well. Easterbrook was absolutely gorgeous and the scenarios, especially the training scenes were awesome. I also really liked the ending with the boats and jet skis. The movie does a really good job with the hijinks and was probably better than Police Academy 2.

Overall, this was a great installment in the series that's absolutely worth your time. I would score this a solid 6/10 and strongly recommend it.

The title is a giveaway...

[mentalcritic · 1/10 · 25 August 2004]

The Police Academy concept always worked best when the action was set in the titular environment, ie when a new bunch of misfits are being trained. Which is ironic, because of the seven (with an eighth apparently on the way) films, only this and the original stick to the formula. While stagnation is never a good thing, a franchise like Police Academy should be encouraged at every turn to do what works best.

The title also sums up the entire plot, although a little effort also goes into the setup. Essentially, there have been two police academies in this town for a while now, and the city's administration has decided that it cannot afford to keep both open. The decision as to which will be closed at the end of the current graduating class is to be made on the basis of which class performs better in the eyes of an evaluation committee. The winner is never established in a manner that would put it beyond a shadow of doubt, at least to a completely cynical viewer, but the whole film is about the journey, not the result.

A major plot hole exists in the shape of the two types of recruit the academies display. The Mauser academy looks more like a front for the Aryan Union or the like, and the Lassard academy remains a haven for the usual mob of misfits, only this time without any stoolies among the recruits. Correct me if I am wrong, but if the mayor has decided that none of the usual discriminatory factors used to screen the intake of each police academy no longer apply, shouldn't that decision apply to both academies? Or indeed every academy that the city (or state) has?

That aside, this was the last film Art Metrano appeared in before an accident left him unable to walk. Like Street Fighter did for Raul Julia, this is the kind of memorial you wouldn't wish upon any actor's career, regardless of their output. Not that he is particularly noticed in this episode. While Harris isn't present to make him redundant, the overcrowding of the cast doesn't leave him with a lot of things to do. He is unmemorable enough that nobody really noticed his absence from future PA films, or films of any kind for that matter.

A more skilled actor such as George Gaynes, for example, is able to use the minimal screen time he gets in order to make his character memorable. As the near-senile commandant who is supposed to be the focus of sympathy, he makes his mark well. Why he's never been in anything more substantial in the past twenty years, I will never know. For the rest of the cast, hitting the one note they are capable of is perfectly sufficient, and considering the proliferation of so-called a-list stars who cannot even achieve that much these days, I think some cast members deserve more credit than they get.

This is truly Bobcat Goldthwait's film. As the latest recruit at the Lassard academy, he goes into a literal overdrive of screaming and nervous tics. It is an odd testament to the man's talent that he can literally make this work as a comedy act. What made Mahoney so loveable and funny in the first film, Zed exploits to greater heights. When Steve Guttenberg refused to come back for episode five, they should have offered Bobcat the sky to take his place. The results of them not doing so are now a matter of historical record.

I gave Police Academy 3 a one out of ten. On a purely intellectual level, it is less than zero, but in terms of pure fun, it scores a few points. Those who have to follow a series should be advised that this is the last of the PA films that this could be said of.