Combat High

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

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.

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.

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.

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