Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment
Officer Carey Mahoney and his cohorts have finally graduated from the Police Academy and are about to hit the streets on their first assignment. Question is, are they ready to do battle with a band of graffiti-tagging terrorists? Time will tell, but don't sell short this cheerful band of doltish boys in blue.
Despite its modest budget of $7.6M, Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment became a commercial juggernaut, earning $55.6M worldwide—a remarkable 632% return. The film's bold vision attracted moviegoers, confirming that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985) reveals precise story structure, characteristic of Jerry Paris's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 27 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Carey Mahoney
Moses Hightower
Larvell Jones
Eugene Tackleberry
Laverne Hooks
Douglas Fackler
Commandant Eric Lassard
Captain Pete Lassard
Zed McGlunk
Lt. Mauser
Main Cast & Characters
Carey Mahoney
Played by Steve Guttenberg
A quick-witted troublemaker turned police officer who uses charm and cunning to navigate the corrupt precinct and outsmart gang leader Zed.
Moses Hightower
Played by Bubba Smith
A gentle giant with incredible strength who provides muscle and heart to the team while remaining calm under pressure.
Larvell Jones
Played by Michael Winslow
A human sound effects machine whose vocal talents provide comic relief and occasional tactical advantage.
Eugene Tackleberry
Played by David Graf
A weapons-obsessed officer whose enthusiasm for firearms and military tactics borders on fanatical devotion.
Laverne Hooks
Played by Marion Ramsey
A soft-spoken, timid officer who finds her powerful voice and courage when the situation demands it.
Douglas Fackler
Played by Bruce Mahler
A well-meaning but accident-prone officer whose clumsiness creates chaos wherever he goes.
Commandant Eric Lassard
Played by George Gaynes
The benevolent but oblivious head of the Police Academy who assigns his graduates to save his brother's precinct.
Captain Pete Lassard
Played by Howard Hesseman
Eric's brother and the beleaguered captain of the 16th Precinct who struggles against both gang crime and internal sabotage.
Zed McGlunk
Played by Bobcat Goldthwait
The unhinged leader of a local gang called The Scullions who terrorizes the precinct's neighborhood with anarchic violence.
Lt. Mauser
Played by Art Metrano
A scheming, ambitious lieutenant who sabotages Captain Lassard to take over the precinct for himself.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The city is overrun by crime and chaos as the Scullions gang terrorizes businesses. Mahoney and crew are still at the Academy, while Lassard oversees a failing precinct.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Commandant Lassard assigns the new recruits to Captain Pete Lassard's precinct, the worst in the city, with the secret mission to save both the precinct and his brother's career.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 21 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Mahoney and team actively choose to take on the Scullions gang and commit to community policing, beginning their first patrol into the dangerous neighborhood., moving from reaction to action.
At 44 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat The recruits successfully organize a community fair that brings the neighborhood together, appearing to turn the tide. False victory: they seem to be winning, but this draws the Scullions' direct retaliation., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 64 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The Scullions kidnap Captain Lassard and ransack the precinct. Mauser takes command and orders the recruits off the case. The precinct is set to be shut down, and their mentor is in mortal danger., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 69 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Mahoney rallies the team with the realization that rules matter less than doing what's right. They choose to disobey Mauser and mount a rescue, synthesizing their training with their heart., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment against these established plot points, we can identify how Jerry Paris utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment within the comedy genre.
Jerry Paris's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Jerry Paris films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jerry Paris filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Jerry Paris analyses, see Police Academy 3: Back in Training, Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The city is overrun by crime and chaos as the Scullions gang terrorizes businesses. Mahoney and crew are still at the Academy, while Lassard oversees a failing precinct.
Theme
Captain Pete Lassard tells his brother Commandant Lassard that he needs help but is afraid to ask, embodying the theme: admitting weakness and asking for help is the path to strength.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the failing 16th Precinct under Captain Pete Lassard, the Scullions gang's reign of terror, and the graduation ceremony where Mahoney and his friends complete their training.
Disruption
Commandant Lassard assigns the new recruits to Captain Pete Lassard's precinct, the worst in the city, with the secret mission to save both the precinct and his brother's career.
Resistance
The recruits arrive at the 16th Precinct and encounter resistance from Lt. Mauser, who wants them to fail. They meet the demoralized veteran officers and see the scale of the gang problem.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Mahoney and team actively choose to take on the Scullions gang and commit to community policing, beginning their first patrol into the dangerous neighborhood.
Mirror World
Mahoney connects with a local business owner and begins building community relationships, representing the thematic counterpoint to force and authority: cooperation and trust.
Premise
The fun of watching the misfit officers use their unique talents to combat crime: Tackleberry's weapons obsession, Jones's sound effects, Hooks's hidden voice, all while building community trust despite Mauser's sabotage.
Midpoint
The recruits successfully organize a community fair that brings the neighborhood together, appearing to turn the tide. False victory: they seem to be winning, but this draws the Scullions' direct retaliation.
Opposition
Zed and the Scullions escalate their attacks on the community. Mauser intensifies his sabotage efforts, setting up the recruits to fail. The precinct faces closure as crime statistics worsen.
Collapse
The Scullions kidnap Captain Lassard and ransack the precinct. Mauser takes command and orders the recruits off the case. The precinct is set to be shut down, and their mentor is in mortal danger.
Crisis
The team wrestles with their powerlessness and faces the choice to obey orders or violate them to save Lassard. They must decide what kind of officers they want to be.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Mahoney rallies the team with the realization that rules matter less than doing what's right. They choose to disobey Mauser and mount a rescue, synthesizing their training with their heart.
Synthesis
The recruits infiltrate the Scullions' hideout at the abandoned zoo, using each of their unique skills in coordinated action. They rescue Lassard, defeat Zed, and dismantle the gang operation.
Transformation
The precinct is saved and celebrated. Mahoney and team are commended as heroes. The community thrives. Mauser is reassigned. The misfits have become respected officers who changed their world.