Moving Violations Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.0

Moving Violations Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 17, 2016

I suppose 1984’s “Police Academy” is the gift that keeps on giving. While offering its own legion of sequels and television shows, the unexpected hit also spawned a series of imitators. And who better to rip off “Police Academy” than the men that co-wrote it. Enter Neal Israel and Pat Proft, who collaborate once again on 1985’s “Moving Violations,” reviving formula that pits the smart alecks versus police department squares, only here the emphasis is on the ways of driving school, with its tests of skill and memorization. After experiencing a degree of success with 1984’s raunchy “Bachelor Party,” Proft and Israel (who directs) go the PG-13 route, trying to find a balance between the comic architecture of their youth and the needs of a modern audience used to bawdy humor and dumb guy antics. To its credit, “Moving Violations” is never boring, always on the prowl for a sight gag or a one-liner, but the screenplay doesn’t reach very far, remaining weirdly conventional when their previous efforts enjoyed a wilder sense of humor to help attract attention.

Deputy Hank (James Keach) is a traffic cop desperate for a promotion, hoping to charm his boss, Sheriff Fromm (Robert Conrad). Costing him a chance at a bright future is Dana (John Murray), a wiseacre landscaper who doesn’t appreciate a slew of driving tickets from Hank, tricking him into public humiliation. With his truck impounded, Dana is sent to traffic school with a group of rejects, including elderly woman Houk (Nedra Volz), hypochondriac Joan (Wendie Jo Sperber), maniac Wink (Ned Eisenberg), and puppeteer Scott (Brian Backer). Forced to teach the class is Hank who, joined by lover Morris (Lisa Hart Carroll), sets out to make sure Dana pays a heavy price for his tomfoolery. Finding love with NASA scientist Amy (Jennifer Tilly), Dana is certainly getting something out of the punishment, while escalating his war with Hank, engaging in pranks and tricks to best his instructor. However, Judge Henderson (Sally Kellerman) has a better idea for revenge, seducing Hank into a plan to keep all the violators’ cars, selling them off for easy money.

Israel doesn’t waste any time reminding viewers of 1985, with one of the first faces displayed in “Moving Violations” belonging to Clara Peller, the Wendy’s commercial actress who famously asked, “Where’s the beef?” Such stunt casting reveals the creative depth of the picture, with Israel trying to keep things interesting in the oddest ways, soon embarking on a quest for premiere slapstick as characters are introduced, with Peller joining Volz as Houk, watching the older ladies struggle with sight issues, which soon finds them on an airport runway believing themselves to be in heavy freeway traffic. “Moving Violations” is the type of movie that catches up with Joan as she’s dealing with the transport of multiple bowling balls, getting into a car accident that sends one of the heavy orbs into a crowd of onlookers, who are knocked down like pins, complete with sound effect. It’s the type of movie that can’t afford Bill Murray, so Israel hires his sibling, John Murray, working to shape the performance as close to the comedy icon as possible, stroking every DNA strand to create this eerie replication of Bill’s partyhound persona.

Jokes are generally hoary in “Moving Violations,” and most can be seen coming from a mile away. The production imagines itself as a next generation Buster Keaton extravaganza, with enormous amounts of slapstick to display, most of it car-based. Israel is certainly energized to construct a snowballing, sarcastic comedy, and stunt work is passable, laboring to launch a smash-em-up tone to compliment the war of insults waged between slacker king Dana and uptight cop Hank, who always seems to be one step behind the proud goofball. It’s a classic match of temperaments, but rarely does it trigger smiles. “Moving Violations” is better off with supporting characters and weird jokes, including Wink’s obsession with the graphic content of horror movies, making a viewing a bloody road safety film in class a highlight for the weirdo. Other asides include Scott’s sexual awakening with a punk rock girl and Joan’s astonishingly extended misunderstanding of Doc’s (Fred Willard) automobile repair shop services (double entendres are beloved by Proft and Israel).

“Moving Violations” includes a basic us vs. them plot, and training montages are plentiful, including a moment where the gang learns traffic safety from playing the video game “Pole Position.” Better are more bizarre adventures, including Amy’s seduction of Dana while locked inside a zero gravity chamber at NASA headquarters, floating through the air as they slowly undress, with their clothes also enjoying intimacy. Filling the picture with lead is the plot, which finds the wicked Judge Henderson managing a scam that steals cars from traffic school students, trying to bed Hank in the process. A film like this doesn’t need a story, and keeping to a narrative tends to confuse Israel, who showed more skill with narrative disregard in “Bachelor Party,” though he did have the luxury of an R-rating for that effort. “Moving Violations” is cheery, but it’s also bland.

Moving Violations Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Making its Blu-ray debut, "Moving Violations" arrives with an AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation. Grain periodically looks noisy and filtering is present, diluting natural frame detail. The effort is softly shot, but textures lack presence, though a few close-ups handle fine. Primaries are secure, best with signage and urban visits, while more outlandish punk-inspired hues register as intended. Skintones are natural. Delineation is steady, helping with evening shenanigans. Source is in terrific shape, with only a few blasts of speckling and scratches.

Moving Violations Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix doesn't supply a rousing listening experience, but this is not a sonically ambitious picture. The track seems appropriate, though a little on a quiet side, emphasizing dialogue exchanges, which are never buried or distorted, maintaining comedic delivery. Scoring is satisfactory, but cues are more about support than dominance, handling the movie's limited needs. Soundtrack cuts are more insistent, offering a deeper musical vibe. Atmospherics are adequate, preserving the group dynamic, which enters classrooms and outdoor testing areas.

Moving Violations Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features co-writer/director Neal Israel.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:28, SD) is included.

Moving Violations Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Keeping the circus going until the final reel, "Moving Violations" ends with parade, a police convention, and a car chase where one of the automobiles only drives in reverse. The madcap antics of the picture rarely cease, which is an accomplishment, watching Proft and Israel maintain the funny business from start to finish. But it's not particularly agreeable funny business, often whiffing with simple ideas and the casting of the wrong Murray. Again, "Moving Violations" is never boring, but it's rarely inspired.