Police Academy 6: Score That's Better Than The Movie? Perhaps!

Alright, squad, HughesReviews checking in as usual. Today, we're wading into the cinematic… shall we say, uncharted territories of Police Academy 6: City Under Siege. Look, I know, the Police Academy franchise started losing steam around, oh, movie 3? But I'm a soundtrack guy first and foremost, and Robert Folk, the man behind the music of the first one, is back for this one! Folk's score here is actually... pretty darn good, considering the film it accompanies. It's bombastic, energetic, and has that classic 80s action-comedy vibe nailed down. Seriously, some of the cues during the 'action' sequences (and I use the term loosely for the kind of slapstick we're talking about) are genuinely thrilling. I particularly like how he brings back some of the familiar themes from the original, but with a darker, more 'serious' (again, relatively speaking) edge. I mean, is it Oscar-worthy? Come on. But is it enjoyable for what it is? Absolutely. It almost makes you forget you're watching Hightower try to fit into a tiny car for the 10th time. Now, about the movie itself… well, look, I appreciate the commitment to the absurdity. Callahan is still awesome in her own way. But even Leslie Easterbrook can't save everything. The plot is basically a recycled version of every other Police Academy plot, and the new characters... aren't great. Maybe it's nostalgia goggles, but the original cast just had something special that this one lacks. The whole 'gang of criminal masterminds' thing never really lands. They're just kinda dumb, really. Ultimately, Police Academy 6 is a tough one to recommend as a movie. But if you're a soundtrack nerd like me and you can find Folk's score separately, it's absolutely worth a listen. It's a genuinely fun and well-crafted piece of 80s action-comedy scoring. Just... maybe skip the visuals this time. Or mute it. Either one works.