Police Academy 3: Back in Training Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Police Academy 3: Back in Training Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 8, 2023

1985’s “Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment” was a quickie production, meant to cash-in on the raging success of 1984’s “Police Academy,” giving fans another shot of slapstick while they were still digesting the original endeavor. For producer Paul Maslansky, speed helped, and while “Their First Assignment” wasn’t as big a hit as the first film, it managed to make a substantial amount of money on a limited budget, proving that quickness was preferable to quality. Once again, Maslansky slaps together a new adventure for the Class of ’84 in 1986’s “Police Academy 3: Back in Training,” which was released 51 weeks after the first sequel, cementing a marketplace plan that would carry on for nearly the rest of the series. Recognizing that urban adventuring probably wasn’t the true way to go with the premise, Maslansky, screenwriter Gene Quintano, and director Jerry Paris return to the essentials of tomfoolery with “Back in Training,” which makes a noticeable effort to reinstate original characters and revive the “institution” atmosphere for the comedy, once again pushing weirdos through the law enforcement educational system.

Looking to cut costs, the governor seeks to shut down one of the two operating Police Academies in the city, putting Commandant Lassard (George Gaynes) on edge as he fears the end has come for this institution. Looking for help, Lassard calls in his old graduates, bringing Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), Tackleberry (David Graf), Hightower (Bubba Smith), Lt. Callahan (Leslie Easterbrook), Jones (Michael Winslow), and Hooks (Marion Ramsay) back to help instruct a new wave of students. Competition comes in the form of Commandant Mauser (Art Metrano), who runs a military- type academy with his assistant, Lt. Proctor (Lance Kinsey), and he’s not about to lose his position. Secretly acquiring help from Sgt. Copeland (Scott Thomson) and Sgt. Blankes (Brant von Hoffman), Mauser looks to sabotage Lassard’s program, killing it off permanently. Mahoney isn’t interested in losing the battle, working to build up cadets Sweetchuck (Tim Kazurinsky), Violet (Debralee Scott), Nogata (Brian Tochi), Hedges (David Huband), Sarah (Marcia Watkins), Zed (Bobcat Goldthwait), Kirkland (Andrew Paris), and Adams (Shawn Weatherly), turning them into viable cops.

There’s a story worth developing in “Back in Training,” which opens on Mauser and Proctor’s secretive plans to connect with Blankes and Copeland, who weren’t around for “Their First Assignment.” They’re back, and ready to help Mauser ruin Lassard’s academy, concocting a plan of disruption to maintain authority, sensing a chance to claim ultimate power. The sequel soon shifts into a semi-rehash of “Police Academy,” with Lassard’s school open to all, and all are coming, including Sweetchuck, a diminutive shop owner ready to fight back. He’s joined by Zed, the gang leader from “Their First Assignment,” and one of the many inspired choices made by the production is time spent with Kazurinsky and Goldthwait, who are the highlights of the picture, doing a lot with craziness and nervousness as the oddballs are turned into tough cops. Fackler’s wife, Sarah, is also around, basically erasing her husband from the endeavor, which isn’t a bad thing. Karen is introduced as Mahoney’s latest sexual target, but nothing is really cemented between them, with the editing of “Back in Training” prone to wandering, never quite sticking to the development of subplots.

Training sequences worked before, and “Back in Training” gets something going with the new recruits, who are sent through the system, learning to shoot guns, deal with animal threats, experience martial arts (which permits Winslow a chance to repeat his badly dubbed kung fu cinema bit), and there’s even a boxing match. Putting the characters to the test is where the franchise shines the brightest, and the second sequel has its highlights with these tests of strength and courage, and for Zed, a chance to experience a refreshing tear gas bath. However, fun with physical movement is eventually traded for prank time, with Mahoney cooking up ways to torment Mauser, which includes the removal of his eyebrows with tape. It’s not exactly uproarious, but “Back in Training” is a PG-rated movie, and Paris keeps things mostly family friendly, with the exception of Proctor’s time with the hooker from the first film, which brings just a little sauciness to the feature. Even a moment in the Blue Oyster Bar seems extra friendly this time around.

Police Academy 3: Back in Training Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation is sourced from a 2K scan of the interpositive. "Back in Training" is one of the brighter "Police Academy" sequels, with much of its action taking place during daylight hours. Natural colors are found throughout the viewing experience, picking up on the blueness of Academy sweats and the redness of tracksuits. Period fashion is also explored, along with evening wear, bringing out sharp primaries. Greenery is distinct. Skin tones are natural. Detail offers an acceptable view of skin particulars, and costuming is decently fibrous. Interiors retain a look at decorative additions, and exteriors remain dimensional with aquatic action and party happenings. Delineation is satisfactory. Grain is adequately resolved. Source is in good condition.

Police Academy 3: Back in Training Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix offers a clear understanding of dialogue exchanges, capturing performance intensity from a few of the actors, including the screaming ways of Bobcat Goldthwait. Scoring supports with authority, offering a sharp sense of instrumentation and a dramatic support with plenty of energy from the main march. Sound effects are active, bringing a lively presence to action scenes.

Police Academy 3: Back in Training Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "All Washed Up: Floating Memories" (8:13, SD) is a 2004 look at the making of "Police Academy 3: Back in Training," featuring interviews with producer Paul Maslansky, stunt actors Wink Roberts and Alan Oliney, and actors Bubba Smith, Steve Guttenberg, Michael Winslow, Lance Kinsey, Leslie Easterbrook, and Marion Ramsey. Maslansky opens with an appreciation of the brand name recognition for "Police Academy," making it easy to launch sequels. Casting is explored, finding Smith hesitant to wear a dress, while Easterbrook played a mother to Brian Tochi's character in a play, complicating their sexual tension. Trying to make an action comedy, Maslansky discusses the stunt work in the picture, and Roberts's history of doubling actors is spotlighted.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:24, SD) is included.

Police Academy 3: Back in Training Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Back in Training" has some usual "Police Academy" ugliness (scenes with Nogata are surprisingly hostile) and no real sense of dramatic aim, but there are laughs, mostly from the supporting cast, who do steal screen time from the regulars, including Mahoney. And Paris gets to play with some stunt action, as the feature climaxes with a jet ski pursuit, offering a little aquatic activity to what's usually, up to this point, a land-based adventure. There's refreshed confidence in "Police Academy 3: Back in Training," with the material moving the series back to familiar ground, correcting a few of the mistakes the previous chapter made. Nothing's going to touch the surprising charms of "Police Academy," but this installment gets the closest of the bunch, returning to the high jinks of warring personalities, training blunders, and the nuttiness of the participants and their broadly comedic ways.