X
- 1990
- PG-13
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 51 m
- 1990
- PG-13
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 51 m
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)
Directed By: Ivan Reitman
Written By: Murray Salem, Herschel Weingrod, Timothy Harris
- 1990
- PG-13
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 51 m
- 1990
- PG-13
- Universal Pictures
- 1 h 51 m
Kindergarten Cop
61
8.0
Where to Watch
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)
Directed By: Ivan Reitman
Written By: Murray Salem, Herschel Weingrod, Timothy Harris
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 15 Critic Reviews
61
60% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
33% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
7% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 15 Critic Reviews
61
60% Positive
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
33% Mixed
5 Reviews
5 Reviews
7% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
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]
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.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 181 User Ratings
8.0
73% Positive
133 Ratings
133 Ratings
20% Mixed
37 Ratings
37 Ratings
6% Negative
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 181 User Ratings
8.0
73% Positive
133 Ratings
133 Ratings
20% Mixed
37 Ratings
37 Ratings
6% Negative
11 Ratings
11 Ratings
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.
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The surprise is that Kindergarten Cop is delightful and entertaining, a cop movie with suspense, no blood and a lot of genuine warmth. The script is intelligent and plays to the unique strengths of Schwarzenegger as a star. [21 Dec 1990, p.E1]
Kindergarten Cop finds Arnold up to his old tricks, which will be exactly what his fans will want to know. But it's tough on kids and may make more than a few feel uncomfortable. [21 Dec 1990, p.51]
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…
No one laughs at Arnold Schwarzenegger better than Arnold Schwarzenegger himself. In Kindergarten Cop, he plays off the Schwarzenegger image more gleefully and successfully than ever before. That is not quite enough to save the movie from its lame, predictable script.
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]
Cop John Kimble poses as a kindergarten teacher in order to apprehend a major drug lord Cullen Crisp and his accomplices. Schwarzenegger is great in the lead role, ably demonstrating that he knows how to be funny, and the plot all serves to keep things entertaining. Kindergarten Cop is one of those movies that should fail spectacularly, but somehow it works.
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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 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
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This film can match "Junior" and "Twins", making up a trio of quality comedies that Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in during the Nineties, under the direction of Ivan Reitman, and that helped him get out of the action roles and acquire versatility as an actor.
The film starts out somewhat confusedly, and I felt that the story behind that policeman going to kindergarten was really very poorly written, as if the script just needed an excuse to put him there and explain his presence in that environment. Things, however, improve a lot from then on, with the troubles he goes through with the children and the romantic subplot, which is cliché but is well articulated with the rest of the story.
I think it is obvious that Schwarzenegger is the big star of the film and carries it on his back with panache and competence. In fact, the film seems to have been tailored to the capabilities of the actor, who appears to be having a great deal of fun as he works. Children, of course, are essential in the script and feature moments of variegated humor, very well done and that guarantee the audience's fun. Linda Hunt and Penelope Miller are two quality additions, and Pamela Reed is helpfully supportive of Schwarzenegger, even though I feel she was underused. Richard Tyson is a clichéd villain, not very interesting, but the blame lies more with the script and the material he received than, properly, with the actor.
On a technical level, the film is relatively unobtrusive. Shot between California and the small town of Astoria, Oregon, the film has good sets and the choice of filming locations was judicious and competent. The cinematography, filming work, soundtrack, visual and sound effects were all done well, and the editing is solid. The opening credits are well done and give the film a coloring that immediately introduces the audience to the context of the film. The film features some relatively contained action scenes.
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It's better than it needs to be, and manages to be sufficient in every genre it tackles.
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Production Company
Imagine Entertainment,
Northern Lights Entertainment
Release Date Dec 21, 1990
Duration 1 h 51 m
Rating PG-13
Tagline As an undercover cop... he's in a class by himself.
Awards
Young Artist Awards
• 2 Wins & 3 Nominations
BMI Film & TV Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Kids' Choice Awards, USA
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
