Recruits (1986)

Don't listen to the negative reviews

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

The acting in this movie is really good.

The acting in this movie is really good.

another fan favourite franchise can't escape of cheap imitations made by other countries by using cliché plots and characters of varied stereotypes like an butch horny female lieutenant an scheming captain with an hapless staff sergeant along with the racial stereotype comedic black man and others including an romantic slacker an drunken buffoon an horny nerd an heavy metal airhead an comic relief that all these stereotypes has being done to death in the 80's no matter on what they are spoofing it gets rather tired this is an fine demonstration that Hollywood can't come up with anything new instead of these lazy cash grabs by low budget film companies but Jon Mykl Thor feels like filming an hour and an half rock video but I only give this an 8 out of 10 FRANKIE CROFT SMALES

Canada's answer to the successful low-brow comedy "Police Academy" is this particularly tactless outing "Recruits". While an obvious low-budget rip, it's still just as stupid, sleazy and infantile (maybe more so) meaning a lot of brainless fun. Can't have it any other way. These types of features aren't meant to be polished art, but instead no-nonsense escapism even if its trash at heart. All I can say there, at least it has heart! Mayor Bagley is preparing for the Governor to pay a visit to his town with the hope that the agreed highway is approved. To make an impression he gets Police chief McGruder to hire a temporary traffic patrol unit from its local citizens. However McGruder see this as chance to set a plan in motion of screwing everything up, by sabotaging this request by signing up a group of misfits which will surely cause nothing but trouble and shine a bad light on Mayor Bagley on the big day. Why this… well McGruder wants Bagley's job.It reads very similar to "Police Academy", but while the gags are familiar and fairly lame it's still deliriously charming. Director Rafal (Screwballs 1, 2 & 3) Zielinski (who I just watched his enjoyable comedy "State Park" two weeks back) keeps this fluff buoyantly brash and always on the move with chaotic situations tailored by endless topless nudity or sardonic dialogues. You can't have these type of films without a bouncy soundtrack, and it covers the bases with a rocking title song too. But it's the characters that stand-out, even though the performances are enthusiastically forced. Some recognizable faces stream through; like the delightful Lolita Davidovich, Colleen Passard and a convincing Mike MacDonald as the smarmy McGruder. Outside Tony Travis riot turn as Sergeant Stonewell with his uptight shtick, I found the minor characters of the ragtag group to be the most amusing; Mark Bluntman as Clint… Eastwood… yeah moments involving some sort of identity crisis were rib-tickling. Herb Field as the drunken cop, while subtle it seemed to work and Annie McAuley is transfixing as the lusty blonde nymph… the mayor's daughter. There are able lead turns from Doug Annear, John Canada Terrell, Stephen Osmond and Alan Deveau (who would be known for his roles in the two "Screwballs" films.Ridiculously entertaining and raunchy goof-ball b-picture.

Despite the obvious restrictions in low-budget commercial film-making, the numerous funny, stupid, gritty and sexy ideas in this 'Police Academy' take-off, spring out at every turn, due in most part to the creativity of Canadian producer Maurice Smith of Maurice Smith Productions. Kudos to lovely Lolita Davidovich riding around nude in a mayor's limo during a big-city parade; the gorgeous Elizabeth Harden and her sweet turn as a yacht owner's wife; 6-year old Sasha Dolgy challenging a Harley-riding cop to a drag race; the absolutely wild motorcycle stunts; and a great theme-song "Recruits - Ride Hard Live Free" by Michael Stevens and Curtis Lee (ideal for any number of motorcycle/car commercials).There are some good ideas here ...

This was clearly made to cash in on the Police Academy films which were popular at the time. It's about a bunch of dopes who are recruited to join the police force in a small town and the predictable comedic problems which ensue. The comedy is about as desperate as you can get and there is lots of footage of people on motorbikes. It makes you wonder if the producers were trying to make a biker film. Stick with the Police Academy films instead!