Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach

Name: Police Academy 5: Assignment: Miami Beach
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Released: March 18, 1988
Duration: 90 min
Rating: 18
Cast: Bubba Smith, David Graf, G.W. Bailey, George Gaynes, Janet Jones

1988

METASCORE

Overwhelming dislike based on 10 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

See All

6.5

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6.5	Your Score
6.5	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 17 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach

Now Playing: Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach

Movie Details & Credits

Warner Bros. | Release Date: March 18, 1988 | TV-PG

Starring: Bubba Smith, David Graf, G.W. Bailey, George Gaynes, Janet Jones, Lance Kinsey, Leslie Easterbrook, Marion Ramsey, Matt McCoy, Michael Winslow

Summary: Commandant Lassard, leader of the Police Academy (1984), flies to Florida to receive an award. In the city he meets the cynical Captain Harris who wants to take Lassard's job. Harris wants to put himself in a favourable light in front of the high military hierarchy but, at the airport, Lassard exchanges his bag with another one...Hilarity ensues.

Director: Alan Myerson

Genre(s): Comedy, Crime

Rating: TV-PG

Runtime: 90 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Michael Wilmington

Despite the final escape of star Steve Guttenberg, and the loss, long since, of the original director and writers, this is almost a good movie. It's an incremental, heavily qualified success, but "PA 5" is an improvement on the elephantine, witless "2," "3" and "4." Read full review

Caryn James

But the formula is pretty long in the tooth by now, and all the extra turns of plot can't disguise that. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Miami field trip only brings a pastel backdrop to the insipid infighting of the boobs in blue. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

The Apocalypse Now-style Wagnerian soundtrack that accompanies the air boat chase across the Everglades almost raises a smile. Otherwise it's business as usual: fart jokes. Read full review

Empire William Thomas

Pretty terrible sequel in every respect. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

POLICE ACADEMY 5 presents a patchwork of ideas borrowed from a score of wittier and better-done comedies, not to mention earlier entries in the series. In short, it's exactly what you would expect it to be. Read full review

Gene Siskel

I didn't laugh once during the entire film-not at the slapstick, not at the humor, all of which is pitched at the preschool level. [25 March 1988, p.A]

SEE ALL 10 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Kai82

May 12, 2021

Even as fan of the franchise I must (painfully) admit that this is a weak entry. It is a decline and feels a bit out of touch with the other movies. Maybe the fact that many actors did not return had an impact (Especially Steve Guttenberg is deeply missed). On the surface it looks not thatEven as fan of the franchise I must (painfully) admit that this is a weak entry. It is a decline and feels a bit out of touch with the other movies. Maybe the fact that many actors did not return had an impact (Especially Steve Guttenberg is deeply missed). On the surface it looks not that different from the previous movies. It is still a comedy that uses stereotypes, slapstick, pranks, work puns, parody and character quirks. However it works not that well as before. I cant use the word soulless as the movie is still not bad enough for that labeling. In the end I say it is too silly, cheesy for the formula of the franchise. Clarification: The other movies had also cheesiness and silliness but it fits perfect and made them enjoyable. Here they miss the right amount. Humor wise I say it misses as much as it hits. Some scenes are a bit awkward like Nick Lassards introduction scene for example. It might sound to negative as I also say this movie has its good moments and despite all is not a truly awful experience. The story stars with Captain Harris triumph. He finally found something to force Commandant Lassard out of the police academy and it was quite simple. He was already past his (mandatory) retirement date. However a man like Lassard deserves a great celebration event for his retirement and so he will be awarded as police officer of the decade in a big celebration in Miami. Of cause he takes his favorite former cadets with him and of cause there will be another event that spices up the movie. I stop here with the set up. The story itself works well. It is not amazing but delivers a good set up to work with. It is the kind I can retell in a way that it sounds awesome but the actual experience does not reach the levels of the better movies in the franchise. The cast is similar. While there are still a lot of my favorites like Larvell Jones (Michael Winslow), Moses Hightower (Bubba Smith), Laverne Hooks (Marion Ramsey), Captain Harris (G. W. Bailey), Carl Protor (Lance Kinsey), Eric Lassard (George Gaynes) or Eugene Tackleberry (David Graf) the overall cast is weakened. Matt McCoy does a solid performance but cant fill the shoes of Steve Guttenberg. I dont blame him and he deserved no criticism. Also they downgraded Captain Harris. Now he is just a laughingstock but before he was somehow a better schemer and clever. It took them more effort to stop him and his plans were not that silly. I still enjoyed him being fooled and pranked ;-). Overall I am hating to give this movie a low rating as it has some appeal and good moments. However it is the weakest in the franchise so far. It is by no means garbage but not that rememberable either.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 1 REVIEWS