Blu Release – 4/5
Vice Academy
Director – Rick Sloane (Blood Theatre, Hobgoblins)
Starring – Linnea Quigley (Night of the Demons, Return of the Living Dead), Ginger Lynn (Slashlorette Party, Killer Waves 2), and Karen Russell (Dick Tracy, Murder Weapon)
Release Date – 1989
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “Where nice girls become vice girls”
I grew up watching movies with Linnea Quigley. Her most infamous films were my favorites. Movies like Night of the Demons, Return of the Living Dead, and Silent Night Deadly Night. She is the face of scream queens in my opinion and her career is full of amazing films and performances. Adult film star Ginger Lynn exploded in the 80s. She starred in several adult films before moving over to other genres, specifically horror. Now a days most genre fans know her from Rob Zombie’s The Devil’s Rejects.
In the late 80’s Quigley and Lynn teamed up with director Rick Sloane for a sleazy buddy cop comedy called Vice Academy. I had never seen this film, or any in the series as a matter a fact, but I jumped on Vinegar Syndrome VSA release. I’m glad I did because I really enjoyed these films.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows a group of students at a vice academy who are working on hitting their quota of arrests before graduating. They get a tip on an illegal porn operation and infiltrate it. However, because of them posed nude prior to the arrest it doesn’t count toward their quotas. Looking for a quick bust before their time runs out they soon find themselves face to face with Queen B, the leader of an organized crime ring, that has been evading police capture for some time. Their quick thinking and some help from some friends they are able to capture her and her gang so they can graduate. **Spoiler Alert**
I had never heard of Vice Academy prior to Vin Syn’s announcement but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that it was inspired by Police Academy. Police Academy is one of the most iconic comedy series to come out of the 80s so I was pretty excited to see the director of The Visitors was tacking on a comedy inspired by it. Honestly, it’s nowhere near as the film series that inspired it but I had fun with it.
The acting in this one is extremely cheesy and the entire cast hams it up. Quigley is her normal bubbly self. She has a lot of energy and does a solid enough job. Sadly, her character does not really stand out among some of the other characters and her performance does blend in at times. Lynn as a brown nosing suck up wasn’t as entertaining as I was expecting. Lynn, adult films aside, has delivered some seriously impressive performances over the years but she is extremely underwhelming here. The supporting cast is solid as well but no one is really standing out.
The story for this one rather repetitive and unoriginal. It does have some funny moments and a little sleazy to carry you through. It’s not original but it is fun at times at least for a first time watch. Finally, if you want blood and gore you will be very disappointed. However, if beautiful women, handcuffs, and puns are your thing then you will be in heaven. Overall, Vice Academy is a funny and sexy comedy that lacks originality but it’s fun. This is definitely worth a watch and the blu from Vin Syn looks amazing. Check it out.
Vice Academy Part 2
Director – Rick Sloane (Vice Academy, Blood Theatre)
Starring – Ginger Lynn (The Devil’s Rejects, Satan’s Storybook), Linnea Quigley (Return of the Living Dead, Night of the Demons), and Jayne Hamil (Shooters, Marked for Murder)
Release Date – 1990
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “Twice the comedy, twice the vice”
I was expecting a lot when I snagged up the Vinegar Syndrome VSA release of Vice Academy 1-3. I wanted the release for my collection but the fact that the set consisted of three films I had never heard of before lead me to believe that these were pretty bland and forgettable films. I was wrong. The first film was not original but it was very entertaining. I couldn’t wait to dig into the second to see if it continued down the same path as the first film.
*Spoiler Alert** The film follows Holly (Lynn) and Didi (Quigley) who has graduated vice academy and is now rookies on the force. A woman has created a drug that sends the person into sexual overload before dying. She plans on poisoning everyone in the city. In order to stop her the two rookies go undercover as strippers. **Spoiler Alert**
I went into this one really expecting the movie to be less entertaining as the first but I found myself really enjoying this one a little more. It’s far from perfect but this one was a little more funnier, sleazier, and has a little more depth than the first film. I really liked it and could see myself spinning this one again in the near future.
The acting in this one is more of what we saw in the first film except the characters has a little more personality. Quigley and Lynn was rather underwhelming in the previous film with Lynn taking the backseat for most of the film. However, the two share the screen and their friction and personalities on screen were great. I really enjoyed them much more this time around. The supporting cast seemed to get a little pep in their step as well. The secondary and supporting characters hold the film as well.
The story for this one is very similar to the first film but we get a little more build up and character development with the film’s villain. This makes the film that is using the same formula as the first feel like it’s a little different. It doesn’t really deliver anything new but seeing the characters get extra attention makes it far more entertaining. Finally, this is not a bloody horror flick that most of you are accustomed to me reviewing. However, if beautiful women and nudity is more your speed then you will really enjoy this one. Overall, Vice Academy Part 2 is a little better film than the first. It’s funnier and sleazier. The blu looks great as well from Vin Syn. I highly recommend checking it out.
Vice Academy Part 3
Director – Rick Sloane (The Visitors, Blood Theatre)
Starring – Ginger Lynn (Dr. Alien, Young Guns II), Elizabeth Kaitan (Necromancer, Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood), Julia Parton (Sexual Confessions, Vice Academy 4)
Release Date – 1991
Rating – 3/5
Tagline – “This is a bust!”
As I migrated my way through the Vinegar Syndrome VSA release of Vice Academy 1 – 3 I assumed that the first film would be fun while the second film would be watchable and the third would be the worst film in the bunch. I was wrong. The first film was great and the follow up was just as fun, if not better, than the original. I was still expecting the third to be a shit show but I was surprised by how much fun it was. All three were great and very consistent.
**Spoiler Alert** The film follows Holly (Lynn) and Didi’s cousin Candy (Kaitan) who are on the vice squad when a group of female prisoners known as the Bad Apples escape from prison. They go on a robbery spree which has stretched the vice squad thin. It’s up to them two to stop them before they pull off anymore heists. **Spoiler Alert**
I really was expecting this one to be the worst in the series but these three are very consistent and fun. The films all follow similar stories but they still entertain almost like a late 70s or early 80s television show. They always follow the same formula but the characters are why you watch them.
The acting in this one is the same as the other films. Lynn has a much bigger role in this one than previous films. Her character is still the by the book and brown nosing but it’s not as a turn off as the previous films. It’s toned down a lot and way more enjoyable. Linnea Quigley is replaced in this one with Elizabeth Kaitan who I really enjoy watching. She is a very underrated actress and has been in some seriously fun films. Genre fans should really enjoy seeing her in this one. The supporting cast is just as fun as the previous film.
The story for this one is exactly as the previous film. It has some funny moments that I wasn’t expecting but the story is almost identical to part 2. It’s fun but I can see some cult movie fans becoming bored by this point. I wasn’t expecting a life changing experience so I can appreciate what this one delivers. Finally, no blood yet again but if you want to see Elizabeth Kaitan topless then you are in luck! Overall, Vice Academy Part 3 is a fun yet predictable experience. I really enjoyed it and Vin Syn did an amazing job with this release. If you come across a copy I highly suggest you snag it.
Special Features:
Region Free 2-disc Blu-ray Set
Newly scanned & restored in 2k from their 35mm original camera negatives
Newly recorded commentary tracks by director Rick Sloane for all three films
“Head of the Class” – an interview with co-star Linnea Quigley
“Going Undercover” – an interview with co-star Ginger Lynn Allen
Limited edition of 3,000
Brand new artwork by Tom Hodge of The Dude Designs
Double-sided poster
Reversible cover artwork
English SDH subtitles
