DOIN' TIME

US, 1985, 81 minutes, Colour;
Richard Mulligan, Colleen Camp.
Directed by George Mendeluk.

Doin' Time was one of the very many broad and raucous comedies that came in the aftermath of the extraordinary success of Police Academy. This time the shenanigans are in a prison. The ambivalent hero is caught in the act with an official's wife and is sentenced to jail. He experiences the usual entrance problems, the crazy people in the jail. However, the craziest of all is the administrator played in his Soap (and many other comedy style roles) fashion by Richard Mulligan. The jokes are broad, corny and frequently obvious. There is the inevitable crude touch. However, as raucous comedies go, this is better than many. It is indicative of the kind of popular humour coming from America in the mid-'80s, made popular by video release.