This 1986 made for TV movie never intended to be a classic, but there are plenty of funny bits. An all star cast (basically old TV show stars) support this film in which 2 misfits are sent off to military school after a prank pulled on city workers. There they are taught discipline and it is funny how these two try to defy authority with their old hi-jinks. Ladies, George Clooney gives a decent performance as an army major, in a subplot with his father. There are many laughs and there are some serious tones as well. Not for everyone, but a good film for a laugh. Underrated in my opinion.
15 Reviews
Not terrible, exactly, just predictable and unfunny
gridoon202418 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This alleged comedy - double rip-off of "Stripes" and "Police Academy" - isn't painful to watch, but it has almost no laughs. An undistinguished early credit for George Clooney (whose career was really heading for oblivion before "E.R" rescued it), and a big comedown for Keith Gordon (who plays an overage prankster) after his classic paranoid turn in "Christine". In fact, a look at Gordon's IMDb profile reveals that this was probably the movie that turned him from acting to directing! *1/2 out of 4.
A curiosity for George Clowney fans
Zoooma14 August 2014
George Clooney appearing in his first movie role. This wasn't something people saw on the big screen as that would be a few years later. This is a Made-for-TV movie that was shown on NBC during his time on the television series The Facts Of Life. Pretty dumb but features small roles by Dick Van Patten (Eight Is Enough,) Sherman Hemsley (The Jeffersons,) Bernie Kopell (The Love Boat,) Richard Moll (Night Court,) John Ratzenberger (Cheers) and Jamie Farr (MASH.) Also with Robert Culp, Keith Gordon and Dana Hill (National Lampoon's European Vacation.) Worth it if you're a Clooney fanatic otherwise forget it.
5.0 / 10 stars
--Zoooma, a Kat Pirate Screener
5.0 / 10 stars
--Zoooma, a Kat Pirate Screener
Standard Fare
Big Movie Fan25 May 2002
Combat Academy was quite a good film. It was obviously inspired by the funny Police Academy films but to it's credit it didn't try to emulate Police Academy too much; it tried to carve out it's own niche. It was almost as entertaining as the film Stripes (1981) starring Bill Murray.
Keith Gordon and Wallace Langham play two jokers who are sent to the military academy to learn a bit of discipline. At first they seem uninterested in adapting to military life; this leads to some comical scenes. The Russian Army are visiting the Academy to engage in War Games and this too leads to some comical scenes. I won't spoil the end scenes but lessons are learnt by the recruits.
There's quite a few subplots in the movie. George Clooney plays Major Woods who is the son of the commandant of the academy-General Woods. Again,I won't spoil the plot but it is interesting.
All in all, a great film. Highly recommended.
Keith Gordon and Wallace Langham play two jokers who are sent to the military academy to learn a bit of discipline. At first they seem uninterested in adapting to military life; this leads to some comical scenes. The Russian Army are visiting the Academy to engage in War Games and this too leads to some comical scenes. I won't spoil the end scenes but lessons are learnt by the recruits.
There's quite a few subplots in the movie. George Clooney plays Major Woods who is the son of the commandant of the academy-General Woods. Again,I won't spoil the plot but it is interesting.
All in all, a great film. Highly recommended.
The Diet Version of Stripes (or Police Academy).
wilsonstuart-3234611 October 2018
I used to watch this quite a bit during school holidays after I'd taped it, probably one quiet mid-week afternoon. The theme - Be Cruel To Your School - still sticks in my head decades later!
Released in the UK as 'Combat Academy', this follows 'Wacky' Max Mendelson (Keith Gordon in a poor man's Carey Mahoney) and his socially awkward pal (especially around girls) Perry Bennett played by Wally Ward. When one 'crazy' prank too many sees them bounced out of school, into court and then into the arms of 'Combat Academy' (although It might have been easier if their absentee parents has packed them off themselves).
This is pretty much a moderate, family friendly clone of Police Academy or Stripes, with a few laughs, but nowhere near the raucous, caustic, adult humour. You could set your watch on its predictability, but George Clooney pops up in his debut role, and Dana Hill is a hard bitten squad leader with a soft centre.
Wouldn't go out of my way, but catch it one afternoon like I did all those years ago.
PS. Strange to relate but I did actually know a chap called Max Perry - God Rest his soul.
Released in the UK as 'Combat Academy', this follows 'Wacky' Max Mendelson (Keith Gordon in a poor man's Carey Mahoney) and his socially awkward pal (especially around girls) Perry Bennett played by Wally Ward. When one 'crazy' prank too many sees them bounced out of school, into court and then into the arms of 'Combat Academy' (although It might have been easier if their absentee parents has packed them off themselves).
This is pretty much a moderate, family friendly clone of Police Academy or Stripes, with a few laughs, but nowhere near the raucous, caustic, adult humour. You could set your watch on its predictability, but George Clooney pops up in his debut role, and Dana Hill is a hard bitten squad leader with a soft centre.
Wouldn't go out of my way, but catch it one afternoon like I did all those years ago.
PS. Strange to relate but I did actually know a chap called Max Perry - God Rest his soul.
Great cast!
BandSAboutMovies8 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
When it comes to the youth against authority genre, you really can't go wrong with Neal Israel. Just look at his resume. Beyond directing Bachelor Party, he wrote Police Academy, Moving Violations and Real Genius. Here's a weird fact: he was once married to Amy Heckerling, but they divorced after making Look Who's Talking Too together. You know what else helped? Israel believed their daughter, Mollie, was his until a DNA test proved that she was really the daughter of Harold Ramis.
Originally airing on NBC on November 23, 1986, this movie is all about Max Mendelsson (Keith Gordon, who seemingly was in everything) and Perry Barnett (Wally Ward), two pranksters who cause so much damage that a judge (Sherman Hemsley) sends them to Kirkland Military School.
There, they run afoul of Cadet Major Biff Woods (George Clooney!), who is trying to prove himself to his father, General Edward "Ed" Woods (Robert Culp) who runs the school along with Colonel Frierick (Jamie Farr).
I can hear you asking so let me answer. Yes, as this movie was made in 1986, Richard Moll is definitely in it. He and Keith Gordon being in the same movie, well...if Michael Caine had been there as well, the world would have ended. We got close with Dressed to Kill. This would be the other time that the world skirted so close to oblivion, with these multi-movie stars all so close to aligning and unleashing the end of all things.
It also has the late Dana Hill from National Lampoon's European Vacation, Bernie Kopell (Doc from Love Boat), Dick Van Patten, Tina Caspary (Mac and Me, Teen Witch), John Ratzenberger and Marc Price (Ragman from Trick or Treat).
Before Neal Israel's connection with Police Academy, you may have seen this movie as Combat High. It was renamed in syndication.
Originally airing on NBC on November 23, 1986, this movie is all about Max Mendelsson (Keith Gordon, who seemingly was in everything) and Perry Barnett (Wally Ward), two pranksters who cause so much damage that a judge (Sherman Hemsley) sends them to Kirkland Military School.
There, they run afoul of Cadet Major Biff Woods (George Clooney!), who is trying to prove himself to his father, General Edward "Ed" Woods (Robert Culp) who runs the school along with Colonel Frierick (Jamie Farr).
I can hear you asking so let me answer. Yes, as this movie was made in 1986, Richard Moll is definitely in it. He and Keith Gordon being in the same movie, well...if Michael Caine had been there as well, the world would have ended. We got close with Dressed to Kill. This would be the other time that the world skirted so close to oblivion, with these multi-movie stars all so close to aligning and unleashing the end of all things.
It also has the late Dana Hill from National Lampoon's European Vacation, Bernie Kopell (Doc from Love Boat), Dick Van Patten, Tina Caspary (Mac and Me, Teen Witch), John Ratzenberger and Marc Price (Ragman from Trick or Treat).
Before Neal Israel's connection with Police Academy, you may have seen this movie as Combat High. It was renamed in syndication.
Aye Carumba! This movie sucks. (spoilers)
vertigo_1421 September 2004
Warning: Spoilers
I love Keith Gordon as a director (I highly recommend his films: 'The Chocolate War' and 'A Midnight Clear'), but as an actor, he just fails to engage, with the exception of his role in 'The Legend of Billie Jean.' He always comes off as this smart-ass, hopeless doofus and one that, at least in this movie, was already too old to play a high school teenager. This is not the kind of comedy on line with the Police Academy series, but more in gear with the unfunny 80s comedy, Bachelor Party. Sure, a few things here and there can belt you a laugh, but overall, when does the good stuff start happening? Well, never really. And this certainly isn't Keith Gordon's fault. There just weren't enough significant details in the story to make you care what happens.
The story goes like this: Keith Gordon is prankster and underachiever (except in the pranks department), Max. His buddy is stuttering, soft-spoken sidekick Perry (Wally Ward, who, by the way was great as Archie in 'The Chocolate War'). Both Max and Perry, who have pulled one prank too many, are shipped off to an uptight military school. Perry may be willing to succumb to the rules in order to avoid trouble, but Max isn't about to endure the punishment, and blows it off any order given to him. Superior officers have no meaning to Max. What's worse is, Max is going to have to work solo on this pranks project, since Perry gets interested in a girl (Tina Casparay from 'Can't Hardly Wait'), who likewise shows a similar interest and starts climbing the military ladder in order to impress her.
You've probably noticed George Clooney's name in the credits. He plays Max's bunkmate, Biff, who's father runs the school. Biff is the tough guy, but is more interested in getting his father to show some real affection towards him. You know, stop calling him 'Major' and start calling him 'Son.'
The ending, of course, is your typical 80s teen lesson in self-esteem, both for Perry and Biff, and even lonely Andrea (Dana Hill from 'National Lampoon's Vacation'), who has her eye on a rude schoolmate who doesn't care much about her. It has to do with a school wide game of capture the flag with the Russians. But neither of these sequences are fart-warming, let alone funny. Even the series of pranks aren't that funny. It's more like watching a movie from the makers of 'Police Academy' and waiting for Police Academy humor, but get nothing more than 'Ski Patrol' humor (a turkey movie by the same makers, although still much funnier than this). This one is just as big a turkey with your only laughs coming from Richard Moll who plays the seriously deranged science teacher.
The story goes like this: Keith Gordon is prankster and underachiever (except in the pranks department), Max. His buddy is stuttering, soft-spoken sidekick Perry (Wally Ward, who, by the way was great as Archie in 'The Chocolate War'). Both Max and Perry, who have pulled one prank too many, are shipped off to an uptight military school. Perry may be willing to succumb to the rules in order to avoid trouble, but Max isn't about to endure the punishment, and blows it off any order given to him. Superior officers have no meaning to Max. What's worse is, Max is going to have to work solo on this pranks project, since Perry gets interested in a girl (Tina Casparay from 'Can't Hardly Wait'), who likewise shows a similar interest and starts climbing the military ladder in order to impress her.
You've probably noticed George Clooney's name in the credits. He plays Max's bunkmate, Biff, who's father runs the school. Biff is the tough guy, but is more interested in getting his father to show some real affection towards him. You know, stop calling him 'Major' and start calling him 'Son.'
The ending, of course, is your typical 80s teen lesson in self-esteem, both for Perry and Biff, and even lonely Andrea (Dana Hill from 'National Lampoon's Vacation'), who has her eye on a rude schoolmate who doesn't care much about her. It has to do with a school wide game of capture the flag with the Russians. But neither of these sequences are fart-warming, let alone funny. Even the series of pranks aren't that funny. It's more like watching a movie from the makers of 'Police Academy' and waiting for Police Academy humor, but get nothing more than 'Ski Patrol' humor (a turkey movie by the same makers, although still much funnier than this). This one is just as big a turkey with your only laughs coming from Richard Moll who plays the seriously deranged science teacher.
Kinda like Police Academy goes to Boot Camp
nieciebear25 March 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This was one of my favorite made for TV movies of the 1980's. The plot revolves around two pranksters who have the choice of going to jail or to military school. The pranks they pull at the beginning of the film, which get them sent to the military school, are priceless. My personal favorite is where they switch the signs on the bathrooms so that a guy inadvertently goes into the girls' bathroom and then has a shocked look on his face. (Incidentally, this scene is my favorite because my cousin was an extra in this movie and he was the one who went into the "ladies room". He said it was actually the teachers' lounge.) Overall, I thought it was incredibly funny.
Following the same steps of Police Academy!!
elo-equipamentos2 January 2020
I'm glad to make a review on Combat Academy, which I was rented it on first time in 1990 on VHS, the producers don't had any shame to cover the Police Academy concept, although the results weren't the same, having in the main character Keith Gordon, they have been betted all your chips at once, certainly it was a mistakes, apart from him, there no other funny character, instead on Police Academy had a dozen them, also the plot is weak, all those fake combat over American against Russian is too boring, the highlight was the well-timed introduction of the promising star George Clooney, also a glaring miscasting of romantic pair of Gordon Sgt. Andrea (Dana Hill) she was enable to the role, she hadn't any sexy appeal properly speaking, Gordon was gifted however after good movies disappeared from the large screen, whatever happens l don't know, overall Combat Academy is just watchable and never was released on DVD format in Brazil!!
Resume:
First watch: 1990 / How many: 3 / Source: VHS-DVD-R / Rating: 5.5
Resume:
First watch: 1990 / How many: 3 / Source: VHS-DVD-R / Rating: 5.5
Not a bad TV entry for Neal Isreal
MovieBuffMarine5 March 2024
I'm a big fan of the original Police Academy movie and was excited when Combat High was announced for the NBC movie of the week. Of course Police Academy creator Neal Isreal had to tone it down for a TV broadcast, but he delivered for audiences.
Similar to Cary Mahoney being "sentenced" to the local Police Academy, pranksters Max Mendelsson and Perry Barnett get a similar punishment after their antics take it to local authorities ordering them to a military school.
Pranksters in a rigid military school setting made for another great story of buffoonery clashing with authority.
A good mix of veteran actors with future stars made this a worthwhile event.
Obviously, it didn't make the same waves as Police Academy, but it was funny enough in my opinion. Isreal ended the tele-movie with the possibility of more, but it was not to be.
Take it or leave it, this was a decent TV movie.
Similar to Cary Mahoney being "sentenced" to the local Police Academy, pranksters Max Mendelsson and Perry Barnett get a similar punishment after their antics take it to local authorities ordering them to a military school.
Pranksters in a rigid military school setting made for another great story of buffoonery clashing with authority.
A good mix of veteran actors with future stars made this a worthwhile event.
Obviously, it didn't make the same waves as Police Academy, but it was funny enough in my opinion. Isreal ended the tele-movie with the possibility of more, but it was not to be.
Take it or leave it, this was a decent TV movie.
Mahoney's love child perhaps?
DEPRESSEDcherry7 March 2021
A mix of Stripes and Police Academy, and very much TV movie quality. Most of the jokes fall flat as it runs through its standard formula. There's even room for those pesky Russians (it is the 80s remember). The lead character takes a while to warm up to, and his prematurely receding hairline could be a distraction. His wingman passively tags along for most of the time, aside from a cut and paste romance subplot.
If you've exhausted all that Police Academy has to offer then perhaps give this a try.
Hilarious Comedy Belongs to the Cult Classic Vault
Doramius128 November 2004
This movie was directed very well and had a plausible and interesting story line. They also threw in comedians from every which direction. The pranks that were pulled will have you laughing every time.
Two young students, who are well known for playing practical jokes, end up taking a prank too far and get sent to military school. There they try to prank their way out and find out there's a bit more in store for them as they realize there's more to life than pranking. And the learn it the hard way.
This movie set the way for a lot of young actors just starting out. Other's were somewhat established, yet showed they were a bit more versatile than people knew of. The combined effort of this movie was probably good enough to make it in theaters, but landed as 'Made for TV'. Very difficult to find on DVD, but is an excellent addition to any collection.
Two young students, who are well known for playing practical jokes, end up taking a prank too far and get sent to military school. There they try to prank their way out and find out there's a bit more in store for them as they realize there's more to life than pranking. And the learn it the hard way.
This movie set the way for a lot of young actors just starting out. Other's were somewhat established, yet showed they were a bit more versatile than people knew of. The combined effort of this movie was probably good enough to make it in theaters, but landed as 'Made for TV'. Very difficult to find on DVD, but is an excellent addition to any collection.
Definitely a curiosity, if nothing more.
mark.waltz6 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Two high school kids (Keith Gordon and Wally Ward) have absolutely no discipline, no direction and apparently no ambition, so principal Dick Van Patten sends them to a military school where they basically do the same kinds of childish pranks, seemingly worse ones. Of interest there is the presence of a young George Clooney, very handsome certainly, yet playing the type of Mr. Perfect with an attitude, the character who normally comes off as the heavy. But Gordon and Ward are far too clownish in the first place and don't deserve anyone's respect, yet they're the leads. A montage of their pranks is funny but unbelievable, and certainly they'd end up being expelled immediately and possibly brought up on charges.
Cameos by adult actors like Van Patten, Jamie Farr, Richard Moll and Sherman Hemsley is supposed to entice older viewers into being interested in this, but I didn't find any reason to mark this as just another 80's slob comedy where there was no real motivation (or even caring for one) for the two leads. Dana Hill as the female cadet is the only one who gets a detailed back story. I can see why this ended up being tossed to TV (having been made for the big screen it appears), and why it's faded from memory, perhaps giving Clooney a sigh of relief.
Cameos by adult actors like Van Patten, Jamie Farr, Richard Moll and Sherman Hemsley is supposed to entice older viewers into being interested in this, but I didn't find any reason to mark this as just another 80's slob comedy where there was no real motivation (or even caring for one) for the two leads. Dana Hill as the female cadet is the only one who gets a detailed back story. I can see why this ended up being tossed to TV (having been made for the big screen it appears), and why it's faded from memory, perhaps giving Clooney a sigh of relief.
good movie
zubairhobbiest23 May 2015
This movie is truly amazing, the cast went to great lengths to make this film into a movie
tina caspary (wow) - is a love interest in the movie
max mandelson and his partner in crime get up to no good and end up in the combat academy, while one of the duo tries to get thrown out the other attempts to get recognised and loved.
In my humble opinion this movie is too long and slow moving but well worth the patience.
The battle at the end with the russians and the conclusion is the icing on the cake.
Recommended
tina caspary (wow) - is a love interest in the movie
max mandelson and his partner in crime get up to no good and end up in the combat academy, while one of the duo tries to get thrown out the other attempts to get recognised and loved.
In my humble opinion this movie is too long and slow moving but well worth the patience.
The battle at the end with the russians and the conclusion is the icing on the cake.
Recommended
I just liked the gorgeous George Clooney
lisa333-11 November 2005
George Clooney was so sexy in that film, (still is, actually) I'm an army fanatic, and it was great seeing him in army uniform, also his friend Kevin, i liked him a lot, didn't like Sgt Pritchett much, though. I liked Percival Barnet, (perry) and his friend, Maxwell, is it? It was good when Perry got with Mary Beth, that bit was nice,and he stopped stuttering. Anyway, I have the film on DVD, and I watched it OVER, AND OVER AGAIN, i think its fantastic. I would definitely recommend it to everyone. It's well good. And you get so see George Clooney topless, thats got to be worth it, don't you think? He has great muscles, and you also feel sorry for him, when he confides in Maxwell about his mum, saying he misses her. Anyways, you should like it, its not for everyone, but...give it a try
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