MovieChat Forums > Police Academy (1984) Discussion > Terrible Film...What am I missing?

Terrible Film...What am I missing?


I'm English, but watch plenty of American TV. I've seen this film parodied so many times, and it seems such a classic out there. So I finally watched it, and hated it. SO unfunny, has not stood the test of time one bit. Only highlight was Kim Cattrall. Why is it so popular? Do you have to be american? Or around in the 80's?

reply

It was popular at the time of its release, a lot of it has to do with nostalgia for the '80's.

reply

It's got nothing to do with nostalgia. It's still funny today, too.

reply

I don't find them terribly funny, but like them because they're bright and cheerful movies.

You get the feeling the cast are having a blast, a bit like with Cannonball Run etc. and it rubs off on you and makes you hapy.

reply

Sex comedies aren't for everyone I guess. This one is technically sex comedy I think. I really like this one. Not nostalgia, because I wasn't even born when this came out.


http://www.freewebs.com/demonictoys/

reply

Q: What am I missing?

A: A sense of humo(u)r.

reply

Well they do say humor can be an acquired taste, too. But anyone with a sense of humor should be able to see why Police Academy is regarded as funny even if it's not your brand of humor.

reply

You don't have to be american, but it really helps if you were a kid or a teenager when they made these movies, because the humor is very juvenile. If you didn't like the first one, skip the rest, it only gets progressively worse.

______________________________________________________

My ratings:
http://www.imdb.com/user/ur5531916/ratings

reply

I'm English and I've really liked this film for 25 years! The original poster should stick to Ant & Dec (UK presenters as funny as diarrhea during a marathon)

THE BIGGEST PODCAST ON THE INTERNEThttp://fegundez.podhoster.com/index.php?sid=3145

reply

It is not a masterpiece, I'll admit it. I guess you have to like the humor or something.

reply

It's not an American thing as the movie has done well in other non-English speaking countries.

Straightedge means I'm better than you.

reply

if you are young then it is probabaly not for you.. you are in a different day and age now.

I LIVE for 80's Horror!

Long live October 31st
So sayeth, the Kings of Halloween

reply

What are you missing? A sense of humour, but then again, if you have to ask someone what is funny about a comedy, there's just no point. Comedy is subjective and not something to be analyzed and dissected as you're attempting to do. You didn't like it. Just move on.

BTW, the original poster never came back, so it's obvious that he just wanted to complain about the movie and not have a real open-minded discussion.

reply

This movie is more than just 'comedy'.

Sure, it's also that, but now that I am rewatching this movie, I am realizing one interesting thing;

this movie has an uptempo energy, so much of it. I guess that's what people mean when they say 'cheerful'.

So many movies, especially these days, are gloomy, dark, depressing, grey, colorless, slow, boring and horrifying. Movies are horror, they're designed to tear your soul apart, they have some kind of dark streak at least, or 'filtered colors'.

But Police Academy is just 'pep' all the way - lots of energy, fanfaric uptempo, uplifting fun, even during those times when it's not particularly funny. There's always this 'uplifting energy' in the air.

It's very hard to explain, but you can easily see what I mean by watching this movie.

Movies can be enjoyed in so many different levels - it doesn't always have to be the 'comedy' or 'story', there are other things you can experience as well. Plus, the music of this movie is just fantastic. What's more epic in a heroic and uplifting way than "Police Academy March"?

reply

The age of open-minded discourse on the internet ended shortly after the time you made your post,

reply