Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Lassard’s gang trains civilians, Harris tries to sabotage, and somehow a hot air balloon chase ensues…because why not?

🍿 Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Lassard’s New Initiative: Citizens on Patrol

Commandant Lassard, believing his force is overworked, proposes a ‘Citizens On Patrol’ (COP) program, recruiting civilians to aid the police. Captain Harris, always scheming, aims to sabotage the program, hoping to usurp Lassard’s position. Mahoney and the gang are tasked with training these unconventional recruits.

Training the New Recruits

The COP recruits include a diverse group: Tommy ‘House’ Conklin, a large man; Lois Feldman, a feisty senior citizen; and Kyle and Arnie, two skateboarding delinquents. Mahoney and his colleagues employ their signature unorthodox methods, often clashing with the rigid Harris, who sees the COP program as an insult to professional policing.

Harris’s Attempts at Sabotage

Harris tries various tactics to discredit the COP program, from undermining training exercises to exploiting minor mishaps. He aims to prove that civilians are unfit for police work. These attempts backfire spectacularly, often resulting in humorous situations where Harris himself becomes the victim of slapstick comedy.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg): The mischievous and charismatic officer leads the charge in training the civilian recruits while pulling pranks.
• Hightower (Bubba Smith): The gentle giant and strong officer uses his size and strength for both comedic effect and crime-fighting.
• Jones (Michael Winslow): The sound effects wizard of the police force uses his talents for both humor and tactical advantage.
• Tackleberry (David Graf): The overly enthusiastic and heavily armed officer is always ready for action, sometimes a bit too much.
• Capt. Harris (G.W. Bailey): The scheming and power-hungry captain attempts to sabotage the Citizens on Patrol program to advance his career.
• Zed (Bobcat Goldthwait): The former gang leader and current officer brings his unique brand of chaos and humor to the police force and even finds love.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Captain Harris: “Don’t touch those! Don’t you ever touch my balls without asking!” – Captain Harris angrily shouts after someone touches his juggling balls during a presentation.
• Zed: “Okay, jerk!” – Zed confronts Captain Harris after Harris insults him and his love interest.
• Jones: “(Imitating machine gun fire) Rat-tat-tat-tat!” – Jones uses his sound effects skills to provide cover fire during a training exercise.
• Mahoney: “I’m thinking salad bar.” – Mahoney mischievously directs Captain Harris to the Blue Oyster bar as a prank.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $14,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $28,061,343
• Worldwide Gross: $28,061,343

💥 Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, look, it’s not Citizen Kane, but I grew up loving these movies! The first three were classics, but this one…it’s still fun! Mahoney’s pranks on Harris are always hilarious, and Bobcat Goldthwait as Zed is just pure chaos. Sure, the plot is ridiculous, but who cares? It’s a comfort movie, a nostalgic trip back to the 80s. I always laugh when they end up in the Blue Oyster bar, I’d recommend it for a good laugh.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of the original Police Academy movies”
  • “Viewers who enjoy slapstick comedy”
  • “Those looking for lighthearted, undemanding entertainment”
  • “Fans of 80s comedies”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Crude humor”
  • “Slapstick violence”
  • “Mild sexual innuendo”

Professional Reviews

• The Hollywood Reporter: “While the film attempts to recapture the charm of the original Police Academy, it falls short with repetitive gags and a predictable plot. The ensemble cast tries their best, but the humor feels forced and lacks originality. Only G.W. Bailey’s return as Captain Harris provides some much-needed energy.
• Variety: “Police Academy 4 feels like a tired rehash of previous installments, relying too heavily on slapstick and juvenile humor. Though Sharon Stone and David Spade make appearances, their roles are underdeveloped. The film’s predictable storyline and lack of fresh ideas make it a forgettable entry in the series.

Audience Reactions

Captain Harris’s exaggerated reactions and schemes steal every scene.: G.W. Bailey’s performance as Captain Harris is a highlight.

The hot air balloon chase at the end is a ridiculous but memorable spectacle.: The film is filled with over-the-top slapstick comedy that’s fun if you don’t take it seriously.

Overall Consensus: Police Academy 4 is a goofy and predictable comedy that is entertaining if you are already a fan of the series and don’t mind the repetitive humor.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Sharon Stone has stated that she took the role in ‘Police Academy 4’ because she wanted to have fun after a difficult period in her personal life, describing it as ‘the best therapy.'”
• “Tony Hawk, the legendary skateboarder, makes an early appearance in this movie, performing skateboarding stunts.”
• “This was Steve Guttenberg’s last appearance as Mahoney in the ‘Police Academy’ series until a cameo in a later TV series.”

🖥️ How to Watch Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol?

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol is available for rent or purchase on various platforms, including Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and Google Play Movies. Check your preferred streaming service for availability, as offerings may vary by region. You can also find the film for sale on DVD and Blu-ray at major retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol, you might like these similar films:

• Police Academy (1984): The original ‘Police Academy’ sets the tone for the series, with similar humor and character dynamics.
• Stripes (1981): Features a similar comedic take on military training with a group of misfits.
• Cannonball Run (1981): An ensemble cast, a cross-country race, and madcap antics make this movie similar in tone.
• 21 Jump Street (2012): A modern action-comedy with a similar premise of unconventional cops going undercover.

🛒 Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol Related Products

• Police Academy: The Complete Collection: Own all seven Police Academy movies in this digital collection, providing hours of slapstick comedy and nostalgic entertainment.
• Funko Pop! Movies: Police Academy – Mahoney: A Funko Pop! figure of the mischievous Carey Mahoney, the central character of the Police Academy series, capturing his iconic grin and uniform.
• Police Academy T-Shirt: A retro-style t-shirt featuring the Police Academy logo, perfect for showing off your love for the classic comedy series.
• Police Academy – Video Game (Fan-Made): A fan-made action-adventure game where you play as one of the misfit cadets, completing missions and pranks around the academy.

🎧 Soundtrack

Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Citizens On Patrol” – performed by Michael Winslow and The L.A. Dream Team

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Larvell Jones • Best Bits • Police Academy • Michael Winslow

Remember Larvell Jones, the human sound machine? This video is a hilarious compilation of his best bits from the Police Academy movies. Seriously, Michael Winslow’s talent is mind-blowing!

Police Academy

Remember that crazy beatboxer from Police Academy? Check out this quick clip of his amazing skills! Honestly, I could watch him all day. A true master of sound

police academy 4 skateboarding

Remember the skateboarding scene in Police Academy 4? It’s the perfect mix of 80s cheese and pure fun. Check it out here—makes you wanna grab a board and hit the streets…or maybe just watch the movie again!

✨ Rate