IMDB Bottom 100: Number 9 - Yes Sir!

Number 9: Yes, Sir (2007)

Who wants to watch Police Academy?

But set in the army?

And in Turkish?

You’re in luck, because that’s basically what we are offered here.

Full title Emret Komutanim: Sah Mat, I don’t entirely understand the premise. In Police Academy there was a lowering of the standards that let the likes of Mahoney and Tackleberry join the police force, these guys seem to have literally been taken from a mental hospital. Not many of them particularly stand out though, there was one guy with a love of guns and one who liked to dance around but that’s it. Oh, and one of them enters a Turkish Oil Wrestling event (not as sexy as it sounds). But that’s it really.

From what I could gather, the new recruits were organised by a criminal (a Dr Evil type character with sexy female guards) whom I think wanted revenge on the commander of the base for shooting his balls off. I didn’t have any subtitles when I watched so I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure that’s what it was, he literally had his testicles shot off.

Though there aren’t any elaborate set-pieces, it’s clearly supposed to be played for laughs. Which makes it strange when there’s a tonal shift, such as when a soldier is reading a letter from home. It is difficult to do comedy and then insert real drama. It is well beyond the capabilities of this film-maker. It doesn’t lead to anything anyway, so why even bring it up?

There is one what could have been really cool scene near the end when the soldiers are trapped in two cages which need to be opened at the same time or they will blow up. It’s a great set-up but the limitations of the budget really show when the Commander is going to shoot both locks. I could imagine a Hollywood film would have really ramped up the tension: close-up shots of the commander, sweat pouring from his brow, the timer ticking down towards zero. Here? He just shoots them.

Even though I couldn’t really understand what was being said, I doubt subtitles or even speaking Turkish would have greatly improved my enjoyment of Yes, Sir. I was wrong to say this is like Police Academy.

This is more like Police Academy 6.