Police Academy 6: City Under Siege

A crime wave grips the city and the police seem powerless to stop it. At the behest of the governor, Commandant Lassard and some of his favorite Police Academy graduates are brought in to help. But, despite their best efforts, the gang responsible for the crime wave always seems to be one step ahead of the police. City Under Siege feels a little tired compared to the previous Police Academy films. All of the gags feel like they've been done before. That said, the chase sequence at the film's climax, which reminded me of the Las Vegas chase sequence in Con Air, goes big and I have to give the movie points for that. Sergeant Fackler, not seen since Police Academy 3, returns for one last accident-filled hurrah. Commandant Lassard's nephew Nick has seemingly joined the main squad following his introduction in Assignment Miami Beach. And Billie Bird, who played the gun-toting Mrs. Feldman in Citizens on Patrol, has a cameo in the movie, although she seems to be playing an entirely different character this time around. Sadly, this is the last film in the franchise to feature Hightower, Hooks, Proctor and Commissioner Hurst.

Rating: 60%

(Image from Wikipedia)

Fun Fact: Gerrit Graham, who played one of the members of the Wilson Heights gang, was also in Child's Play 2, C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D. and Sidekicks.

The Leisure Hive

Finding Brighton Beach a bit too dreary, the Doctor and Romana set off for a luxury resort on the planet Argolis. But, after some mysterious accidents occur, the Doctor is put on trial for murder. The Leisure Hive kicked off Tom Baker's seventh and final season as the Doctor. This season is also notable for being the beginning of John Nathan-Turner's stint as Doctor Who's lead producer, a position he would hold for the remainder of the classic series. After taking the job as producer, John Nathan-Turner made a number of controversial changes to the show. The Leisure Hive opens with a new title sequence and an updated theme song, Tom Baker's classic costume gets a monochromatic revamping and poor old K-9 gets blown up in the first five minutes. The Leisure Hive is an average story at best. The direction is a little shoddy and many scenes are frustratingly underlit.

Rating: Don't cross your bridges before they're hatched%

Invasion U.S.A.

Communists have invaded America and only one man can stop them, former CIA agent Matt Hunter. Invasion U.S.A. is an exercise in excess. Every scene in the movie goes big. Chuck Norris's character carries dual Uzis. When the terrorists attack a residential neighborhood, they don't blow up one house, they blow up six. When a car explodes, it crashes into five parked cars. Also, there are fan boats, multiple vehicles being driven inside a shopping centre and Chuck Norris wrestling an alligator. Plus, for some reason, the movie is set at Christmastime.

Rating: 71%

(Image from Wikipedia)

Summer Rental

After being forced to take some time off from his stressful job as an air traffic controller, Jack Chester packs up the car and drives his family down to Citrus Cove, Florida. Between the noisy neighbors and the overcrowded beaches, the vacation is far from smooth sailing (pun intended, you'll see.) Things only get worse for Jack after he runs afoul of Al Pellet, a big-time townie snob played by Rambo's Richard Crenna. Much like The Great Outdoors, Summer Rental is light on plot. Whether or not the movie succeeds will depend on your appreciation of John Candy's comedic stylings. Crenna is great in the villain role. And Rip Torn plays Scully, a local restaurateur who helps Jack learn how to sail. There's a great scene where Jack and Scully get drunk and play darts, which is a microcosm of the film overall, it's goofy but it's also heartfelt.

Rating: 74%

(Image from Wikipedia)