Kindergarten Cop *** (1990, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Penelope Ann Miller, Pamela Reed) – Classic Movie Review 9590

Director Ivan Reitman’s grown-up family friendly 1990 comedy Kindergarten Cop stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, who goes soft as the tough veteran LAPD detective John Kimble sent undercover as a kiddies’ substitute kindergarten teacher at an elementary school in Astoria, Oregon. He is trying to find Eleanor Crisp (Carroll Baker), the ex-wife of drug kingpin Cullen Crisp (Richard Tyson), who ran off with his money and could help put him in jail.

This sentimental, far-fetched comedy crime thriller reunites him with the director of his 1988 hit Twins.

The tots are winsome, there are several good roles for women (especially Penelope Ann Miller, Pamela Reed, Linda Hunt, Carroll Baker and Cathy Moriarty) and an amusing Schwarzenegger again shows his skill with comedy and that he can hold a non-action movie.

Kindergarten Cop is funny and entertaining, though Reitman’s adult comedy takes the obvious, short-cut route of cartoon villains, sloppy plotting and easy laughs.

Also in the cast are Richard Tyson, Park Overall, Richard Portnow, Tom Dugan, Angela Bassett, and Charlie Holliday.

There is some violence, some sexual content, brief drug material and some language, which gained it a PG-13 certificate in the US. The UK family friendly cinema version is cut by 19 seconds by the BBFC for a 12 certificate. The cuts are restored in the 15 rated video release.

Kindergarten Cop is directed by Ivan Reitman, runs 111 minutes, is made by Imagine Entertainment and Universal Pictures, released by Universal Pictures (1990) (US) and United International Pictures (1991) (UK), is written by Murray Salem (story and screenplay), Herschel Weingrod (screenplay) and Timothy Harris (screenplay), is shot by Michael Chapman, is produced by Ivan Reitman and Brian Grazer, is scored by Randy Edelman and is designed by Bruno Rubeo.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9590

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