Kindergarten Cop

Name: Kindergarten Cop
Genre: Action, Thriller, Comedy, Crime
Released: December 21, 1990
Duration: 111 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Penelope Ann Miller

1990

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 172 Ratings

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8.1	User Score Universal acclaim based on 172 Ratings

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Kindergarten Cop

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: December 21, 1990 | PG-13

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Penelope Ann Miller

Summary: An undercover cop must pose as a kindergarten teacher in order to catch a dangerous criminal. Once he wrangles his young charges, as well as the affections of a beautiful teacher, he prepares for a final showdown with his intended prey in this action-comedy. (Universal Studios)

Director: Ivan Reitman

Genre(s): Action, Thriller, Comedy, Crime

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 111 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

William Arnold

Arnold Schwarzenegger's enjoyable but not hugely special Kindergarten Cop - has a whole roomful of the little tykes making genital jokes and constantly having to go to the bathroom. [21 Dec 1990, p.7]

Joe Brown

The Great Stone Man never looks more alien than when he smiles, but the expression starts to become him, and as he grows more human through his contact with the kids, Schwarzenegger begins to exude actual warmth. Read full review

Rita Kempley

Part cop caper, part coo-fest, it is a feel-good movie, a jolly little button-pusher about a street-smart cop who brings law and order to a classroom full of unruly but adorable youngsters. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

Kindergarten Cop is actually fairly entertaining, buoyed by Schwarzenegger's self-deprecating charm and easy chemistry with his capable costar, Pamela Reed, and the hammiest bunch of tykes ever assembled for a movie. Read full review

Jay Scott

Kindergarten Cop is fast, loud and obvious, but there are unexpectedly delicate touches. [21 Dec 1990, p.C10]

Empire Kim Newman

As a one-off this could have inoffensively scraped by on thin charm alone. But don't forget kids, it gave rise to such monstrosities as Last Action Hero, Junior and Jingle all the Way… Read full review

Kenneth Turan

It would be lying not to say that some of the moviemakers here aren't working at the top of their craft, or that the movie won't reach audiences. On its own terms, Kindergarten Cop is nearly fool-proof: the last word in glib, shallow, soulless, spuriously warm-hearted commercialism. [21 Dec 1990, p.1]

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User Reviews

mimzi123

Jun 19, 2013

a very funny stupid comedy that will always keep me laughing until the end. arnold is of coarse the man who steals the sh. kindergarden cop is hilarious

5 of 6 users found this helpful51

NolanLundgaard

Jul 3, 2018

With a fantastic and hilarious premise, along with a spectacular job from Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kindergarten Cop was an awesome movie, if a little cheesy at times.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

talisencrw

Dec 2, 2014

Probably the best of Arnold's comedies, next to True Lies. It showed he was a lot smarter and more versatile than most people at the time gave him credit for.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

kyle20ellis

Mar 29, 2022

Kindergarten Cop was a surprisingly good film. I was not expecting it to work, and it worked so much better than I expected it to. Kindergarten Cop is a little overlong and the villains are perhaps a little too pantomime. However, the film does look lovely, and the score and soundtrack givesKindergarten Cop was a surprisingly good film. I was not expecting it to work, and it worked so much better than I expected it to. Kindergarten Cop is a little overlong and the villains are perhaps a little too pantomime. However, the film does look lovely, and the score and soundtrack gives it its heart-warming sentiment.

The script also worked. It was funny, it was poignant and it was well-meaning, while there is also a heart-warming story, good direction and pacing and the action while sometimes intense is well-handled.

I was very surprised by the acting. Kindergarten Cop is not Arnold Schwarznegger's best film, but it does show that he can do comedy, and here he does do it well. He is suitably low-key and avoids being wooden as well. Penelope Ann Miller gives good support as well, and the chemistry between the two is convincing without taking over the film too much. The characters could have easily been stereotypical and unlikeable, but they aren't, instead they have a certain warmth to them, and this is including the kids.

Overall, not a comedy classic, but it works far better than it should have done. 8/10 Bethany Cox… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Spangle

Jun 7, 2014

It certainly is not a masterpiece, but Kindergarten Cop is just fine. It makes for great entertainment and is the defintion of escapism. It is a feel good movie with a funny turn from Ahnold along with some good action sequences. Sure, it is undeniably implausible at times and is certainlyIt certainly is not a masterpiece, but Kindergarten Cop is just fine. It makes for great entertainment and is the defintion of escapism. It is a feel good movie with a funny turn from Ahnold along with some good action sequences. Sure, it is undeniably implausible at times and is certainly not a very good film, but as pure entertainment, it gets the job done. The comedy is well timed (a lot of it thanks to the kids in the film) and light. Overall, there is not much to say about this one. It is fun, entertaining, and a joy to watch, as well as sure to leave you with a smile on your face at the end. You could do far worse for some easy watching.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Panchogul

Jun 19, 2020

Entretenida comedia de los noventa y un Arnold S. saliendo de su zona de confort, creo que no hay nada más que añadir al respecto.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

cameronmorewood

Nov 9, 2012

It's better than it needs to be, and manages to be sufficient in every genre it tackles.

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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