Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach
The Police Academy misfits travel to Miami Beach for Commandant Lassard to be honored with a prestigious lifetime award pending his retirement. Things take a turn when Lassard unknowingly ends up in possession of stolen diamonds from a jewel heist.
Working with a limited budget of $14.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $19.5M in global revenue (+39% profit margin).
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 5: Assignment Miami Beach (1988) exemplifies strategically placed story structure, characteristic of Alan Myerson's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 30 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Commandant Eric Lassard
Sergeant Moses Hightower
Sergeant Larvell Jones
Sergeant Eugene Tackleberry
Sergeant Debbie Callahan
Captain Thaddeus Harris
Lieutenant Carl Proctor
Sergeant Nick Lassard
Kate
Tony
Sergeant Laverne Hooks
Main Cast & Characters
Commandant Eric Lassard
Played by George Gaynes
The beloved, bumbling commandant of the Police Academy who is being honored at a police convention in Miami Beach but becomes an unwitting target of jewel thieves.
Sergeant Moses Hightower
Played by Bubba Smith
A gentle giant with incredible strength who uses his imposing physique and kind heart to help his fellow officers.
Sergeant Larvell Jones
Played by Michael Winslow
A talented beatboxer and sound effects artist who uses his vocal abilities to create diversions and solve problems.
Sergeant Eugene Tackleberry
Played by David Graf
A weapons-obsessed officer with an intense dedication to firepower and combat readiness.
Sergeant Debbie Callahan
Played by Leslie Easterbrook
A tough, no-nonsense female officer who combines martial arts skills with a commanding presence.
Captain Thaddeus Harris
Played by G.W. Bailey
An ambitious, scheming captain who constantly tries to undermine Lassard and advance his own career through political maneuvering.
Lieutenant Carl Proctor
Played by Lance Kinsey
Harris's sycophantic lackey who blindly follows orders and serves as comic relief through his bumbling incompetence.
Sergeant Nick Lassard
Played by Matt McCoy
Commandant Lassard's nephew who joins the team in Miami, bringing youthful energy and a romantic subplot.
Kate
Played by Janet Jones
A love interest for Nick Lassard who becomes entangled in the Miami adventure.
Tony
Played by Rene Auberjonois
The main villain, a suave jewel thief who uses the police convention as cover for his criminal operations.
Sergeant Laverne Hooks
Played by Marion Ramsey
A soft-spoken officer whose quiet demeanor hides a surprisingly powerful voice when angered.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Commandant Lassard prepares for his trip to Miami Beach to receive the prestigious Police Officer of the Decade award, surrounded by his loyal academy team in their familiar precinct environment.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when The team arrives in Miami Beach and criminals led by the ruthless jewel thieves begin their plot. Lassard accidentally switches bags with the criminals, unknowingly taking their stolen diamonds while they get his belongings.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Mahoney and the team actively decide to protect Lassard when they realize he's being followed by dangerous criminals, shifting from vacation mode to protection detail. They commit to keeping him safe without revealing the danger., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat The criminals kidnap Lassard successfully. What seemed like a fun cat-and-mouse game becomes deadly serious. The stakes are raised from protecting him to rescuing him, and the team realizes they've underestimated the danger., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Lassard appears to be in mortal danger as the criminals prepare to eliminate him. The team's last lead goes cold. Harris's interference has cost them precious time. All seems lost and they fear they've failed their beloved commandant., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The team discovers the criminals' location through a crucial clue. They synthesize all their unique skills and Miami connections, realizing they must work as the unified team Lassard built. New determination and a solid plan emerge., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach against these established plot points, we can identify how Alan Myerson 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 5: Assignment Miami Beach within the comedy genre.
Alan Myerson's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Alan Myerson films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Police Academy 5: Assignment Miami Beach takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Alan Myerson filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Alan Myerson analyses, see Private Lessons.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Commandant Lassard prepares for his trip to Miami Beach to receive the prestigious Police Officer of the Decade award, surrounded by his loyal academy team in their familiar precinct environment.
Theme
Captain Harris makes a snide comment about loyalty and respect being earned, not given, foreshadowing the film's exploration of true friendship versus ambition and betrayal.
Worldbuilding
The academy gang prepares for Miami: Mahoney, Jones, Tackleberry, Hooks, Callahan, and Hightower join Lassard. Harris schemes to take credit for the award. We see the team dynamics and Harris's jealousy of Lassard.
Disruption
The team arrives in Miami Beach and criminals led by the ruthless jewel thieves begin their plot. Lassard accidentally switches bags with the criminals, unknowingly taking their stolen diamonds while they get his belongings.
Resistance
The team settles into Miami Beach. Lassard remains oblivious to the switched bags. The criminals realize their mistake and begin tracking Lassard. The academy crew debates how to handle Harris while enjoying the beach setting. Nick the crime boss applies pressure.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Mahoney and the team actively decide to protect Lassard when they realize he's being followed by dangerous criminals, shifting from vacation mode to protection detail. They commit to keeping him safe without revealing the danger.
Mirror World
The team bonds with local Miami contacts and each other in new ways, particularly highlighting the found family dynamic that contrasts with Harris's selfish ambition. Romantic subplots develop showing authentic connection.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Police Academy in Miami: the team uses their signature comedic skills to thwart criminals, beach hijinks ensue, classic character gags play out in the Miami setting, while protecting an oblivious Lassard from increasingly desperate thieves.
Midpoint
The criminals kidnap Lassard successfully. What seemed like a fun cat-and-mouse game becomes deadly serious. The stakes are raised from protecting him to rescuing him, and the team realizes they've underestimated the danger.
Opposition
The criminals tighten their grip on Lassard. Harris interferes with rescue attempts for selfish reasons. The team's efforts are repeatedly thwarted. Time runs out as the award ceremony approaches. Internal conflicts arise about tactics. The bad guys seem to be winning.
Collapse
Lassard appears to be in mortal danger as the criminals prepare to eliminate him. The team's last lead goes cold. Harris's interference has cost them precious time. All seems lost and they fear they've failed their beloved commandant.
Crisis
The team faces their darkest moment, questioning if they can save Lassard. They must confront their fears and Harris finally faces consequences of his selfishness. A moment of reflection on what Lassard means to them.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The team discovers the criminals' location through a crucial clue. They synthesize all their unique skills and Miami connections, realizing they must work as the unified team Lassard built. New determination and a solid plan emerge.
Synthesis
The finale: The team executes a coordinated rescue operation using each member's signature skills. Epic confrontation with the criminals. Lassard is saved. The diamonds are recovered. Harris is exposed. The award ceremony proceeds with the real heroes recognized.
Transformation
Lassard accepts his award surrounded by his true family - the academy team - who have proven that loyalty and friendship triumph over ambition. The team stands together in Miami, transformed from underdogs to heroes, their bond stronger than ever.