Combat High

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.

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.

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.

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.

After a recent thread, I decided George Clooney's movie would be the subject of my next filmography review

Up first is 1986's Combat Academy.

I already owned this one on dvd, as I have a real soft spot for it. According to IMDB this is a tv movie, but I rented this on VHS around 1987/88. I know I was still in Junior School.

Despite Kieth David (Jaws 2 and Christine) and Wallace Langham both being too old to be playing High School students (David was 25 and Langham was a young looking 20 years old) I really like them, here. They both play their roles well. Dana Hill (National Lampoon's European Vacation) and Tina Caspary play their respective love interests well enough. Caspry would film the pilot episode of Married With Children, but would be replaced by Christina Applegate.

I like Clooney in this, you'd have never guessed this was his first movie.

It's well directed by Neal Israel (Batchelor Party) who also wrote all of the Police Academy movies and Look Who Is Talking Too, so you know what type of humour you are getting here.

It has some awful ADR and is predictable, but it's a fun movie that always makes me smile. I like it.

Jamie Farr, Sherman Hemsley, John Ratzenberger, Richard Moll and Bernie Kopell all have small roles.

The full movie is currently on YouTube if anyone wants to watch it.