User reviews

This 1986 made for TV movie never intended to be a classic, but there are plenty of funny bits. An all star cast (basically old TV show stars) support this film in which 2 misfits are sent off to military school after a prank pulled on city workers. There they are taught discipline and it is funny how these two try to defy authority with their old hi-jinks. Ladies, George Clooney gives a decent performance as an army major, in a subplot with his father. There are many laughs and there are some serious tones as well. Not for everyone, but a good film for a laugh. Underrated in my opinion.

I used to watch this quite a bit during school holidays after I'd taped it, probably one quiet mid-week afternoon. The theme - Be Cruel To Your School - still sticks in my head decades later!

Released in the UK as 'Combat Academy', this follows 'Wacky' Max Mendelson (Keith Gordon in a poor man's Carey Mahoney) and his socially awkward pal (especially around girls) Perry Bennett played by Wally Ward. When one 'crazy' prank too many sees them bounced out of school, into court and then into the arms of 'Combat Academy' (although It might have been easier if their absentee parents has packed them off themselves).

This is pretty much a moderate, family friendly clone of Police Academy or Stripes, with a few laughs, but nowhere near the raucous, caustic, adult humour. You could set your watch on its predictability, but George Clooney pops up in his debut role, and Dana Hill is a hard bitten squad leader with a soft centre.

Wouldn't go out of my way, but catch it one afternoon like I did all those years ago.

PS. Strange to relate but I did actually know a chap called Max Perry - God Rest his soul.

Combat Academy was quite a good film. It was obviously inspired by the funny Police Academy films but to it's credit it didn't try to emulate Police Academy too much; it tried to carve out it's own niche. It was almost as entertaining as the film Stripes (1981) starring Bill Murray.

Keith Gordon and Wallace Langham play two jokers who are sent to the military academy to learn a bit of discipline. At first they seem uninterested in adapting to military life; this leads to some comical scenes. The Russian Army are visiting the Academy to engage in War Games and this too leads to some comical scenes. I won't spoil the end scenes but lessons are learnt by the recruits.

There's quite a few subplots in the movie. George Clooney plays Major Woods who is the son of the commandant of the academy-General Woods. Again,I won't spoil the plot but it is interesting.

All in all, a great film. Highly recommended.

George Clooney appearing in his first movie role. This wasn't something people saw on the big screen as that would be a few years later. This is a Made-for-TV movie that was shown on NBC during his time on the television series The Facts Of Life. Pretty dumb but features small roles by Dick Van Patten (Eight Is Enough,) Sherman Hemsley (The Jeffersons,) Bernie Kopell (The Love Boat,) Richard Moll (Night Court,) John Ratzenberger (Cheers) and Jamie Farr (MASH.) Also with Robert Culp, Keith Gordon and Dana Hill (National Lampoon's European Vacation.) Worth it if you're a Clooney fanatic otherwise forget it.

5.0 / 10 stars

--Zoooma, a Kat Pirate Screener

I'm a big fan of the original Police Academy movie and was excited when Combat High was announced for the NBC movie of the week. Of course Police Academy creator Neal Isreal had to tone it down for a TV broadcast, but he delivered for audiences.

Similar to Cary Mahoney being "sentenced" to the local Police Academy, pranksters Max Mendelsson and Perry Barnett get a similar punishment after their antics take it to local authorities ordering them to a military school.

Pranksters in a rigid military school setting made for another great story of buffoonery clashing with authority.

A good mix of veteran actors with future stars made this a worthwhile event.

Obviously, it didn't make the same waves as Police Academy, but it was funny enough in my opinion. Isreal ended the tele-movie with the possibility of more, but it was not to be.

Take it or leave it, this was a decent TV movie.

I'm glad to make a review on Combat Academy, which I was rented it on first time in 1990 on VHS, the producers don't had any shame to cover the Police Academy concept, although the results weren't the same, having in the main character Keith Gordon, they have been betted all your chips at once, certainly it was a mistakes, apart from him, there no other funny character, instead on Police Academy had a dozen them.

Also the plot is weak, all those fake combat over American against Russian is too boring, the highlight was the well-timed introduction of the promising star George Clooney, also a glaring miscasting of romantic pair of Gordon Sgt. Andrea (Dana Hill) she was enable to the role, she hadn't any sexy appeal properly speaking.

Gordon was gifted however after good movies disappeared from the large screen, whatever happens l don't know, overall Combat Academy is just watchable and never was released on DVD format in Brazil!!

Resume:

First watch: 1990 / How many: 3 / Source: VHS-DVD-R / Rating: 5.5.

A mix of Stripes and Police Academy, and very much TV movie quality. Most of the jokes fall flat as it runs through its standard formula. There's even room for those pesky Russians (it is the 80s remember). The lead character takes a while to warm up to, and his prematurely receding hairline could be a distraction. His wingman passively tags along for most of the time, aside from a cut and paste romance subplot. If you've exhausted all that Police Academy has to offer then perhaps give this a try.

This movie was directed very well and had a plausible and interesting story line. They also threw in comedians from every which direction. The pranks that were pulled will have you laughing every time.

Two young students, who are well known for playing practical jokes, end up taking a prank too far and get sent to military school. There they try to prank their way out and find out there's a bit more in store for them as they realize there's more to life than pranking. And the learn it the hard way.

This movie set the way for a lot of young actors just starting out. Other's were somewhat established, yet showed they were a bit more versatile than people knew of. The combined effort of this movie was probably good enough to make it in theaters, but landed as 'Made for TV'. Very difficult to find on DVD, but is an excellent addition to any collection.

This movie is truly amazing, the cast went to great lengths to make this film into a movie

tina caspary (wow) - is a love interest in the movie

max mandelson and his partner in crime get up to no good and end up in the combat academy, while one of the duo tries to get thrown out the other attempts to get recognised and loved.

In my humble opinion this movie is too long and slow moving but well worth the patience.

The battle at the end with the russians and the conclusion is the icing on the cake.

Recommended

George Clooney was so sexy in that film, (still is, actually) I'm an army fanatic, and it was great seeing him in army uniform, also his friend Kevin, i liked him a lot, didn't like Sgt Pritchett much, though. I liked Percival Barnet, (perry) and his friend, Maxwell, is it? It was good when Perry got with Mary Beth, that bit was nice,and he stopped stuttering. Anyway, I have the film on DVD, and I watched it OVER, AND OVER AGAIN, i think its fantastic. I would definitely recommend it to everyone. It's well good. And you get so see George Clooney topless, thats got to be worth it, don't you think? He has great muscles, and you also feel sorry for him, when he confides in Maxwell about his mum, saying he misses her. Anyways, you should like it, its not for everyone, but...give it a try