Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Police Academy 6: City Under Siege Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf December 8, 2023

1989’s “Police Academy 6: City Under Siege” returns the franchise to an urban setting after spending time in education (1986’s “Back in Training,” 1987’s “Citizens on Patrol”) and making its way to Florida (1988’s “Assignment Miami Beach”). Perhaps producer Paul Maslansky is looking to cut costs for the fifth sequel of the series, as the picture largely remains smaller in scale while dealing with a more defined enemy. Screenwriter Stephen Curwick brings a mystery of sorts to the “Police Academy” saga, with “City Under Siege” pitting the cops against an unknown kingpin looking to do harm to the community. As with the last chapter, plot helps the cause, and director Peter Bonerz definitely has something approaching a vision for the feature, which has a beginning, middle, and end, and attempts to make some noise with physical comedy gags. Actual laughs are in short supply, but some effort is there to keep viewers interested in another round of policing mishaps and broad antics.

Crime has plagued the big city, with Captain Harris (G.W. Bailey) determined to put an end to it, targeting the ways of the Wilson Heights Gang, who’ve been making trouble for weeks. Joined by Lt. Proctor (Lance Kinsey), Harris can’t get the job done, with the governor ordering Commandant Lassard’s (George Gaynes) Police Academy team to help with the investigation. Such a reunion roils Harris, who sets out to solve the case before the competition, which includes Nick (Matt McCoy), Lt. Callahan (Leslie Easterbrook), Jones (Michael Winslow), Hightower (Bubba Smith), Hooks (Marion Ramsay), and Tackleberry (David Graf), and the core team is soon joined by Fackler (Bruce Mahler), working their way around town to figure out what’s going on. Ace (Gerrit Graham), Ox (Darwyn Swalve), and Flash (Brian Seeman) make up the Wilson Heights Gang, with their criminal activity overseen by the mysterious Mastermind, a secretive kingpin looking to do real damage to the community, aiming to avoid police interests as he works on a grand plan of urban disruption.

“City Under Siege” is attentive to the Wilson Heights Gang story, keeping the crooks in the mix for the entire feature, building on the idea in “Assignment Miami Beach” that storytelling is actually worth pursuing. At this point, jokes are frequently flatlining in the series, and “City Under Siege” is no different, with most of the humor remaining with Harris and his daily battle with police pranks, with this picture weirdly obsessed with chair-based torment for the character. Harris is often joined by Proctor, with their comedy duo shtick turned up to 11 here, including time spent flailing off a window washer elevator. Bailey commits to everything, but at this point, it's all DOA material. Also strange is the return of Fackler, arguably the least interesting member of the squad, who brings his accident-prone ways with him for a fresh round of scene destruction. There’s really nothing to this addition, and he only takes time away from the rest of the crew.

Offered a boost in screentime is Hightower, with Smith handling more than a few lines while the picture uses his character’s size and strength for several sequences. Jones is also more involved here. Yes, Winslow once again does the badly dubbed martial arts movie bit (this really must’ve killed in test screenings), but he’s also allowed to showcase more range with his impressions, including a funny take on Jimi Hendrix, and potential defeat in a street fight transforms him into a robot. It’s good use of the actor.

Material with Mastermind and the gang is acceptable, creating a pressure point on the police, inspiring them to arrange a sting operation to make arrests. When that fails, more adventurous means are utilized, reaching a conclusion that makes use of a monster truck, a city bus, and a construction crane. Maslansky loves his action-based climaxes, and “City Under Siege” is no different, offering a nice blast of stunts to keep viewers interested. What’s different here is the presence of Mastermind, who’s hidden from view, setting up a hunt for his true identity. It’s not exactly a powerful reveal, but it’s different for a “Police Academy” offering, with the saga never showing interest in working a story to the very end.

Police Academy 6: City Under Siege Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85:1 aspect ratio) presentation for "City Under Siege" deals with a movie that largely takes place indoors and at night. Delineation is secure throughout the viewing experience, preserving evening action and frame information. Detail is healthy, exploring office decoration and fibrous uniforms and suits. Skin particulars are present. City exploration is dimensional. Colors are strong, with a rich sense of blues and blacks on police gear. Primaries do well with period style and signage, and greenery is distinct. Grain is capably resolved. Source is in good condition.

Police Academy 6: City Under Siege Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix provides clear dialogue exchanges, preserving performance choices and the strangeness of Jones's sound effects, which dip into robotics and a Jimi Hendrix impression. Scoring supports with authority, offering crisp instrumentation and dramatic support. Sound effects are defined throughout the listening event.

Police Academy 6: City Under Siege Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Undercover Blues: Making 'Police Academy 6'" (12:34, HD) is an interview with director Peter Bonerz, who recalls his boredom on the set of "The Bob Newhart Show," eventually learning how to direct to pass the time. Bonerz was hired for "Police Academy 6: City Under Siege," only taking the job on the condition he could downplay gun violence. Locations are discussed, making use of Los Angeles, and characterization is highlighted, with the helmer trying to assign different sight gags to the personalities. The interviewee also identifies B-movie inspiration, with Bonerz aiming to keep things silly, working with a game cast.

• "Unholy Alliance: A Retrospective" (7:56, SD) is a 2004 look at the making of "Police Academy 6: City Under Siege," featuring interviews with director Peter Bonerz, and actors Leslie Easterbrook, Marion Ramsey, and G.W. Bailey. Bonerz describes his creative challenges, trying to find a fresh approach to the "Police Academy" series without making severe changes. Casting is explored, finding the helmer aiming to play to the strengths of the actors, often staying out of their way. The rap sequence is detailed, and Bonerz shares his cinematic inspirations in the picture, including references to "The Third Man" and "The Manchurian Candidate."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:27, SD) is included.

Police Academy 6: City Under Siege Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"City Under Siege" is far from great. What Bonerz does here is show his ability to stage comedy sequences, never rising above painfully lame material, but there's a pulse to such active encounters. There are decent performances to enjoy, with the ensemble delivering their best work since the original installment, again rising above painfully lame material (at one point, the writing introduces a knock-knock joke to trigger laughs). It's also shot well for a low-budget film, and scoring by Robert Folk seems unusually invested in lifting the movie up when it needs a hit of musical support. Tie goes to the runner at this point, with "Police Academy 6: City Under Siege" one of the better chapters in this franchise, with the potential to become one of the best ones if there was a screenplay that actually put in the work to generate sharp funny business.