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Kindergarten Cop (1990) More at IMDbPro »

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80 reviews in total

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24 out of 28 people found the following review useful:
This movie should be so bad, and yet..., 14 January 2004
Author: Guy Ennui from No VA

So I'm watching KINDERGARTEN COP in a bit of a stupor because the remote control is too far for me to reach when I suddenly realize something amazing: This movie is fantastic. In the calculus of Hollywood dreck, KINDERGARTEN COP doesn't add up. Take 1 muscle-bound action hero, a dozen too-cute kids and a plot so contrived it makes an episode of any television sit-com look downright plausible and you should have a mess fit only for release straight to video in Third World nations--do not pass "Go" (or your local metroplex) or collect $200. In fact, I would love to meet both the person who pitched this idea and the studio head who gave it the green light:

Pitchman: "Imagine MARY POPPINS without the namby-pamby animation and music and twice the butt-kicking! Oh, and instead of Dick Van Dyke faking a British accent we'll have Arnold Schwarzenegger faking intelligible dialog!" Studio Exec: "I love it! Here's umpteen million dollars to get it made!"

And the freakin' movie works! It really does. The script is filled with some great lines (My favorite, of course: "It's not a tumor!"), sweet characters and some low-key acting from the principles that keeps the story from becoming maudlin. This is one of maybe three movies I can think of that I would be comfortable watching with my parents, minor relatives or beer-drinking buddies. (Coincidentally, another one of the three is GHOSTBUSTERS, also an Ivan Reitman flick.) It has bloodless action, quotable lines and an ending that is satisfying. It just shouldn't exist. Maybe the fact that it does exist proves the William Goldman line about Hollywood: "Nobody knows nothing."

Take some advice from your Uncle Guy: If you're stuck with the kids or a date you don't know and you need to sit at home and watch a movie, put in KINDERGARTEN COP. You won't be disappointed, and you just might like it. And this advice comes from a big curmudgeon.

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28 out of 38 people found the following review useful:
Great Film! All around fun!, 28 August 2002

Author: LebowskiT1000 from Escondido, California, USA

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ivan Reitman make a great team! This is such a great film, and it has everything in it, action, suspense, comedy, romance...everything! At first glance this film looks like a movie made for kids, but I assure you, it is not. This film was made for adults.

The comedy in this film is spectacular! I've seen this film many times, and every time I see it a can't help but crack up at certain scenes. The comedy is just great!

Surprisingly there is a fair amount of action in the film as well, and those scenes are done very well. Like I said, at first glance you would think this is a movie made for kids, but there are definitely some adult themes in this film. This film is rated PG-13 for a reason.

The cast in this film is very good. Arnold Schwarzenegger pulls off another great performance! Penelope Ann Miller, Pamela Reed, Linda Hunt, Richard Tyson, Joseph Cousins, Christian Cousins, and all the children in the film do great jobs with their roles. I would imagine that a film like this would be a nightmare to direct, with all those little kids running around. So, I've got to give some extra props to Ivan Reitman for a job well done.

I would definitely recommend this film to anyone and everyone. I didn't think there was anything to dislike about the film. So, when you do see the film, I truly hope you enjoy it. Thanks for reading,

-Chris

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20 out of 24 people found the following review useful:
Arnie takes on comedy and wins!, 17 June 2006

Author: ut1am from United Kingdom

Kindergarten Cop is a great film. It contains some of Schwarzenegger's best work showcasing his innate likability and comic timing in a piece which allows them to accentuate his more often seen action star persona. The lightening of this persona works in the film allowing us to follow Arnie's Kimble into what could easily be a weak and twee concept. Fortunately Arnie doesn't lose his balls in the transition and Reitman directs the action very well as well as showing the same skill in comedy as he did with previous hits such as Ghost Busters. Ricky Tyson makes a brilliant villain not in his being an equal to Schwarzenegger but in his portraying a drug dealer with a grudge as a three dimensional character who will stop at nothing to get his son back. Schwarzeneeger also gets to get have some romance and although he at times looks ready to kill his very beautiful love interest (Penelope Ann Miller) he manages to be a very charming lead who the audience are helpless but to root for. The screenplay by Salem, Harris and Weingrod is both touching and funny with memorable lines such as the deadpan interrogation scene "Who is your daddy and what does he do?". The kids also are great featuring a diverse group who almost steal the show with lines such as "Boy's have a penis, girl's have a vagina". The film also contains some classic Arnie one liners such his "I'm the party pooper" kiss off before shooting down some low lives. Such lines refer to Arnie's tough guy persona and shows that he is not afraid to poke fun at himself. The difference in Kindgarten Cop is that he is playing a vulnerable human character and the audience does not want him to be hurt not just because he is the hero but because they like him. The score too is exceptional being appropriately sweet and upbeat as well at sometimes hitting darker more sinister tones. They truly don't make them like this anymore, just see awful modern examples such as Vin Diesel's The Pacifer for proof or rather don't see them, watch Kindergarten Cop again and see a great action star and comedy director team up to make a most enjoyable work.

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16 out of 21 people found the following review useful:
A Good Mix Of Humor & Action, But Unrealistic Look At Family, 12 January 2007

Author: ccthemovieman-1 from Lockport, NY, United States

Here's an odd combination of humor, kids' cuteness, violence and suspense. The beginning, and the last third of the film provide the violence. In between is a nice story of a tough-guy cop becoming a loved and respected kindergarten teacher.

The cuteness comes with the kids, who are nice and funny and with Penelope Miller's character. Miller sports wholesome looks and, except for the end when things get tense, a clean mouth.

The star of the film, Arnold Schwarzenegger, shows a good flair for comedy as the tough guy-softie. This might be Arnold's most likable role. It was interesting to see Carroll Baker again, an actress I hadn't seen since the 1960s. I'd like to have seen her smile, but she frowned throughout her minor role in here.

Storywise, this is typical Hollywood in that it depicts family life in a poor way. I know there are many single mothers out there today but in this movie - which is 17 years old - ALL of the kids in the class come from single homes except one, and that kid is being beaten up by this father! Excuse me - not one normal family out of 25?? Come on! Somebody should inform Hollywood there ARE happily married people in the United States....or at least outside the sick confines of Tinseltown.

Anyway, the positives outweigh the negatives in the film and the unique mix of humor and suspense make this interesting for the full 111 minutes.

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17 out of 25 people found the following review useful:
I wish Arnie had been my teacher…, 11 January 2005

Author: AwesomeWolf from Australia

I reckon Arnie would make the best teacher. For starters, he could teach PE, and Austrian, and politics, and awesome, among other things. Schoolyard bullying and vandalism would be a thing of the past, and if any of the students were having domestic troubles at home, Arnie would find out and then BAM! Problem solved, just like in 'Kindergarten Cop'.

Arnie plays John Kimble, a cop who has spent years chasing a criminal by the name of Cullen Crisp. When he finally gets Crisp, he now has to find all the money Crisp that stole. It seems as though Crisp's e-wife took it and fled to a small town with their son, and changed their names in the process. To find them, Arnie must pose as a kindergarten teacher, and hilarity ensues.

'Kindergarten Cop' may not be as heavy on the action as some of Arnie's other movies from the time (80s / early 90s), but on the other hand, it is very funny. It delivers some classic lines from not only Arnie, but also his disciples of awesome (students, whatever you wish to call them). 'Kindergarten Cop' proves that Arnie is family-friendly, as well as awesome. Bravo!

8/10 - Check it out. You should like it, and if you don't, I'm sure Arnie will forgive you.

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9 out of 10 people found the following review useful:
Decent comedy, 15 September 2005

Author: Bjorn (jbjorns) from Iceland

Arnie plays a bad ass cop who disguises himself as a kindergarten teacher in order to track down the ex-wife of a drug sleazeball to finally lock him up.

Arnie in a comedy. Well, it worked in Twins so why not do it again? Actually this time around he fares very well, balancing quite nicely his tough guy side (which we all love) and also his comedic side. His interaction with the children are hilarious and somewhat touching at times. Supporting cast do a nice job, particularly Reed as Arnie's partner and Hunt as his kindergarten supervisor.

Many critics found the level of violence to be a little excessive considering it's listed as mainly a comedy, but I don't agree. Sure, there's some violence near the end, but it's relatively toned down. I'd say this is good family fun.

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14 out of 20 people found the following review useful:
Funny, Heartwarming, and a Bit of Action, 21 September 2005

Author: JabberJG from United States

Before I comment, I would just like to say this is my first time on IMDb reviewing a film. I am a big Arnold Schwarzenegger fan and I thought this was one of his finest. I am such a big fan, I can spell his last name without thinking about it and I have a bobble head of Terminator 3 on my computer. Anyways, this movie was great. It was funny in a heartwarming children's comedy sort of way for most of it. It has some of the best Arnold Schwarznegger quotes ever such as, "DOMINIC!" "STOP WHINING!" and "IT'S NOT A TUMOR!" There are also some pretty quotable quotes by other actors. There was decent action scenes for a comedy. The supporting actors did a swell job especially the antagonist and Kimble's partner. I enjoyed the film and would think it should be in the top 250 films list, but everyone has their own opinion and I respect that... sort of. Overall swell movie. I would watch it with your family, but be warned that there are some sexual references and profane or lewd speech so don't watch it with little kids. I would stick with 10 and up.

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9 out of 12 people found the following review useful:
Cute for an afternoon escape from reality, 3 August 2005

Author: spiritedmaiden777 from United States

Love to see this film over and over again. I find this was a turning point for Mr. Schwarzengger as an actor...the challenge of being on "the wave" inter-acting with children. The scenic area of the Pacific Northwest also was a plus to the film. Caroll Baker as "Mother Tyson" is a great villainess. Wish I had viewed some of her work. The white streak in her hair, was a great flash back to "Cruella De Ville". Richard Tyson as "Crisp" also plays a smarmy character. Love the contrast of short Linda Hunt's Principal to tall Kimble. Yet Linda proved she could project herself as more formidable than Arnold Schwarzenegger. I also loved the comic timing Broadway's Pamela Reed brought to the film. Her character's pragmatism to Kimble's take it all on, made for another good contrast. Overall the film is good for the whole family or a solitary rainy afternoon escape.

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14 out of 22 people found the following review useful:
This movie is fun!, 7 June 2005

Author: ant321ares from Vanuatu

To the person who posted before me, I'd like to tell you to get a grip! Those big words don't mean anything to everyday people, they want the truth, not some quaffed up proposals from someone who takes things way too seriously. I suppose you're entitled to your opinion, but don't give up your day job to be a critic! Here's the lowdown: this movie is just that, a movie. It has a lot of funny characters, and it's really funny in some scenes. It's fantasy, and it gives the viewer a chance to escape. Arnold might never have gotten an Oscar for this, but this is not that kind of movie to begin with! It's about a cop who tries to find a Criminals ex wife as a witness and ends up being a Kindergarten teacher, who brings a lot of goodness to the community whilst saving the damsel in distress. It's fun to watch, and goes well with anyone who's building an Arnie collection. rent it, buy it, you'll enjoy it.

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7 out of 9 people found the following review useful:
enjoyable, 29 July 2003

Author: colinwhitefan

John Kimble (Arnold Schwarzenegger) and his partner Phoebe O'Hara (Pamela Reed) are in pursuit of notorious drug dealer Cullen Crisp (Richard Tyson) and his scabrous mother Eleanor (Carroll Baker). John learns Cullen is searching for his ex-wife and his little boy, and Kimble plans to nail them when they find the former wife, who is believed to have $3 million of Cullen's drug profits. John and Phoebe follow the trail to Astoria, Oregon, where they believe Cullen's son is attending kindergarten. Although the child and his mother have changed names, John hopes they can pick up some clues. By coincidence, Phoebe used to be a schoolteacher and the school board permits her teach the kindergarten class, but Phoebe gets food poisoning and John is forced to teach the 6 year olds himself. Along with lighthearted gags with the kids and the pursuit of the drug dealers, John has time for a little romance when he falls in love with one of the teachers (Penelope Ann Miller), who ends up surprising him with more than love. Kindergarten Cop is one of my favorite Arnold films, I also love the fact they get Richard Tyson the bad guy.

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