Combat High

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.

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.

After a recent thread, I decided George Clooney's movie would be the subject of my next filmography review

Up first is 1986's Combat Academy.

I already owned this one on dvd, as I have a real soft spot for it. According to IMDB this is a tv movie, but I rented this on VHS around 1987/88. I know I was still in Junior School.

Despite Kieth David (Jaws 2 and Christine) and Wallace Langham both being too old to be playing High School students (David was 25 and Langham was a young looking 20 years old) I really like them, here. They both play their roles well. Dana Hill (National Lampoon's European Vacation) and Tina Caspary play their respective love interests well enough. Caspry would film the pilot episode of Married With Children, but would be replaced by Christina Applegate.

I like Clooney in this, you'd have never guessed this was his first movie.

It's well directed by Neal Israel (Batchelor Party) who also wrote all of the Police Academy movies and Look Who Is Talking Too, so you know what type of humour you are getting here.

It has some awful ADR and is predictable, but it's a fun movie that always makes me smile. I like it.

Jamie Farr, Sherman Hemsley, John Ratzenberger, Richard Moll and Bernie Kopell all have small roles.

The full movie is currently on YouTube if anyone wants to watch it.

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.

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.