Because I liked
← Back to search
Film1987

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol

Directed by Jim Drake

  • comedy
  • crime

The story

A new batch of recruits arrives at Police Academy, this time a group of civilian volunteers who have joined Commandant Lassard's new Citizens on Patrol program. Although the community relations project has strong governmental support, a disgusted Captain Harris is determined to see it fail.

What it’s like

Bright, flat studio light and broad, bustling compositions of a 1980s city precinct, with the usual slapstick staging: wide frames holding a crowd of gags, sudden zooms on a pratfall, and cheap synth stings punctuating each set piece. The palette is primary and unfussy, all blue uniforms, beige corridors and sunny Warner-era exteriors, with the grainy, slightly soft look of late-eighties film stock. Sound is the real attraction: Michael Winslow's vocal mimicry of sirens, gunfire and machinery turns the soundtrack into a comic instrument, layered over bouncy pop-funk cues. The vibe is brash, goofy and warm, the kind of easy background comedy that suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a family movie night, or a comfort rewatch with friends. Pacing is brisk and episodic, with scenes cutting quickly from one bit to the next, and the emotional register stays light: the arc follows a band of well-meaning amateurs slowly winning over a stern, sceptical captain. Violence is cartoonish and minimal, mostly pratfalls, chases and rough-housing, with no gore and no sexual content. It is for people who want undemanding, silly, gently rowdy comedy with nothing to unsettle them.

More films like Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol

Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol and we’ll explain which ones fit you.