Kindergarten Cop (1990)

A tough cop must pose as a kindergarten teacher in order to locate a dangerous criminal's ex-wife, who may hold the key to putting him behind bars.

Director:

Ivan Reitman

Writers:

Murray Salem (story), Murray Salem (screenplay)

Stars:

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Penelope Ann Miller, Pamela Reed

4 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Arnold Schwarzenegger	...	Kimble
Penelope Ann Miller	...	Joyce
Pamela Reed	...	Phoebe
Linda Hunt	...	Miss Schlowski
Richard Tyson	...	Crisp
Carroll Baker	...	Eleanor Crisp
Joseph Cousins	...	Dominic
Christian Cousins	...	Dominic
Cathy Moriarty	...	Sylvester's Mother
Park Overall	...	Samantha's Mother
Jayne Brook	...	Zach's Mother
Richard Portnow	...	Captain Salazar
Tom Kurlander	...	Danny
Alix Koromzay	...	Cindy
Betty Lou Henson	...	Keisha's Mother

Storyline

After numerous fruitless attempts, the veteran LAPD Detective, John Kimble, has one last chance to put behind bars once and for all the elusive drug kingpin, Cullen Crisp, who is trying to find the whereabouts of his son and his ex-wife who run away with millions of dollars. In high hopes of picking up clues, the massive officer finds himself at a bustling elementary school in Astoria, Oregon, posing as a substitute kindergarten teacher; however, to keep up the ruse without blowing his cover, John must keep under control a noisy classroom full of intimidating five-year-old adversaries. Can Kimble show them who's boss?

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Plot Keywords:

holster | shoulder holster | shoulder | good versus evil | evil man | 

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Taglines:

Go ahead, you tell him you didn't do your homework.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

21 December 1990 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kindergarten Cop

Filming Locations:

Hamlet Quick Stop - 38012 US-26, Seaside, Oregon, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,918,560, 23 December 1990

Gross USA:

$91,457,688

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$201,957,688

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imagine Entertainment, Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While filming in Oregon, Arnold Schwarzenegger gave a surprise commencement speech at Astoria High School.

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Goofs

When Crisp Sr. kidnapped Dominic and says that he is a fireman, the shadow from a panning camera is visible.

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Quotes

[after his first day, John comes back and collapses on his bed]
Phoebe O'Hara: How'd it go?
Detective John Kimble: Go away.
Phoebe O'Hara: That well, huh?
Detective John Kimble: You take over tomorrow.
Phoebe O'Hara: And blow our cover? Can't do it.
Detective John Kimble: They're horrible. They're like little terrorists.
Phoebe O'Hara: Tell me about it.

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Crazy Credits

Film title logo appears at the end of the closing credits

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Alternate Versions

In the TV version Joyce says to John "There is no money, you stupid jerk." In the theatrical release she says "There is no money, you son of a bitch."

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Connections

Remade as Olympiyan Anthony Adam (1999)

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Soundtracks

La Manito
Music by Kinito Méndez
Performed by Alfonso 'Pochy' Vasquez y su Cocoband (as Pochi y su Cocoband)

User Reviews

Wasn't expecting it to work, but it did...

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