Police Academy 3: Back in Training

Police Academy 3: Back in Training
Poster by Drew Struzan
Directed by	Jerry Paris
Produced by	Paul Maslansky Donald West Anne Kopelson Arnold Kopelson
Written by	Gene Quintano
Starring	Steve Guttenberg Bubba Smith David Graf Michael Winslow Marion Ramsey Leslie Easterbrook Art Metrano Tim Kazurinsky George Gaynes
Music by	Robert Folk
Cinematography	Robert Saad
Editing by	Bud Molin
Studio	Le Studio Canal+ Regency Enterprises Alcor Films Kopelson Entertainment
Distributed by	Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date(s)	March 21, 1986 (1986-03-21)
Running time	83 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$43,579,163

Police Academy 3: Back in Training is the third film in the Police Academy film series, released on March 21, 1986.

Plot

The film begins in a large garage structure, where Lt. Proctor (Lance Kinsey) and Commandant Mauser (Art Metrano) meet up with former Police Academy cadets, (now Sgts.) Chad Copeland (Scott Thomson) and Kyle Blankes (Brant van Hoffman). It seems one of the two Police Academy schools is getting the axe, and Mauser wants Copeland and Blankes to make sure Lassard screws up.

After the governor's speech in which he will appoint a committee to evaluate which of the two schools should remain open, Mauser starts getting an edge by kissing up to the governor (offering the committee an escort, showing governor pages of useful tactics, etc.), Commandant Lassard (George Gaynes) gets an idea on how to win: along with now Sgt. Jones (Michael Winslow) and Lt. Callahan (Leslie Easterbrook), he calls back Sgt. Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), Sgt. Hightower (Bubba Smith), and Sgt. Tackleberry (David Graf) to help train the new recruits. Among the new recruits are Sgt. Fackler's wife (Debralee Scott), Sweetchuck (Tim Kazurinsky), Zed (Bobcat Goldthwait), Karen Adams (Shawn Weatherly), and Tackleberry's brother-in-law Bud Kirkland (Andrew Paris). Tomoko Nogata (Brian Tochi) is a recruit of Mauser's academy, but decides to put him in with Lassard's academy instead.

After a few weeks of recruiting, Nogata is lovestruck over Callahan, and Sweetchuck contemplates quitting after his roommate Zed drives him crazy (although Tackleberry talks him out of it). Copeland and Blankes make the recruits do stuff that would make the committee think they were hopeless. Mauser wants them out on the field soon, knowing the committee will be there. The recruits fail, and are teased by Mauser and Proctor. However, Mahoney gets back at them by taping Mauser's eyes closed while doing a taste test. Proctor succeeds in removing the tape, but the tape pulls off Mauser's eyebrows.

Both Lassard and Mahoney give a pep talk to each of the cadets before training resumes. At the policeperson's ball, Mahoney meets up with his hooker friend from the first film and has her do a favor on Proctor after he insults Mahoney and Adams. Copeland accidentally spills punch on Mrs. Hurst, and Mauser tries to inferfere. Meanwhile, the hooker tricks Proctor into removing all his clothes and then locking him out of the hotel room (much to the dismay of onlookers). He goes out and steals a car and drives to the academy. The car is out of gas, however, and Proctor enters a building. However, the building he walks into is the Blue Oyster Bar. Mauser insults Lassard in front of the recruits by telling him that he is winning (after he pestered Hurst so much that Hurst made him believe he was winning), so Mahoney gets him back by giving a speech at the ball and then putting the microphone in a pitcher of water. When Mauser grabs it, it electrocutes him.

On the final day of the cadet training/evaluation competition, one person from each school attends the governor's ball. (Proctor misunderstands and sends in two, one of whom portrayed by David James Elliott) Copeland and Blankes play with the computer system as cars are sent to wrong locations, but are caught by Hooks who punches them out cold. At the governor's party, a gang of thieves dressed as busboys kidnap Hedges and take the governor hostage but the squad arrives in time to save the day and rescue the governor.

Lassard's school stays open, and the epilogue shows Lassard making a speech on how the academy is grateful for the "many, many" recruits. The graduating class salutes to the camera before the film ends.

Cast

Main article: List of Police Academy characters

The Staff At The Academy

• Steve Guttenberg as Sgt. Carey Mahoney
• Bubba Smith as Sgt. Moses Hightower
• David Graf as Sgt. Eugene Tackleberry
• Michael Winslow as Sgt. Larvell Jones
• Leslie Easterbrook as Lt. Debbie Callahan
• Marion Ramsey as Sgt. Laverne Hooks
• Bruce Mahler as Sgt. Douglas Fackler
• George Gaynes as Cmdt. Eric Lassard

The Other Academy

• Art Metrano as Cmdt. Mauser
• Lance Kinsey as Capt. Proctor
• Scott Thomson as Sgt. Chad Copeland

The Cadets

• Debralee Scott as Cadet Fackler
• Tim Kazurinsky as Cadet Sweetchuck
• Brian Tochi as Cadet Tomoko Nogata
• Andrew Paris as Cadet Bud Kirkland
• Bobcat Goldthwait as Cadet Zed
• Shawn Weatherly as Cadet Karen Adams
• David Huband as Cadet Hedges
• Marcia Watkins as Cadet Sarah
• R. Christopher Thomas as Cadet Baxter #1
• David James Elliott as Cadet Baxter #2

Others

• George R. Robertson as Chief Henry Hurst
• Ed Nelson as Governor Neilson

Filming Locations

The film was shot at least partially in Toronto, Canada. The city skyline is clearly identifiable in the concluding 'yacht club' scenes.

Reception

The film received negative reviews.

Box office

The film debuted at number one at the box office. The film grossed $43,579,163 in the United States making it the 17th highest grossing film of 1986 in the United States. The film had competition from films such as Top Gun, Crocodile Dundee, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, The Karate Kid Part II and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. When released on VHS it grossed $21 million in the United States.

External links

• Police Academy 3: Back in Training at the Internet Movie Database
• Police Academy 3: Back in Training at AllRovi