Police Academy 3: Back in Training

Police Academy 3: Back in Training is currently streaming in Australia on HBO Max, and in the UK on Sky Go and Now TV Cinema, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 1,383 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Watch it for Steve Guttenberg — stay for everyone else around them. Available now on HBO Max — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

There is a reason Police Academy 3: Back in Training keeps coming up in conversation. Police Academy 3: Back in Training gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. When police funding is cut, the Governor announces he must close one of the academies. To make it fair, the two police academies must compete against each other to stay in operation. Mauser persuades two officers in Lassard's academy to better his odds, but things don't quite turn out as expected... Between them, Steve Guttenberg and Bubba Smith carry the comedy without ever forcing it. It was released in 1986. What keeps Police Academy 3: Back in Training from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you need a comedy that actually makes you laugh, Police Academy 3: Back in Training is a strong candidate. It does not lean on comparisons to make its case. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Steve Guttenberg's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.