194 reviews
Very entertaining film about a cop who must go undercover as a kindergarten teacher in order to track down a killer.
Director Ivan Reitman, who delivers his best film since "Ghostbusters", uses Arnold Schwarzenegger brilliantly in this unusual role. Penelope Ann Miller, Pamela Reed and Linda Hunt lend good support. This is an original movie that, although not full of surprises, keeps the drama and comedy perfectly balanced.
The children, who are, to Reitman's credit, not used purely to influence the emotions, are adorable and hilarious in a film that is definitely worth your while.
Friday, April 12, 1991 - Knox District Centre Sunday, May 12, 1991 - Greater Union Melbourne
"Kindergarten Cop" is still entertaining even the third time. It's a movie that makes you smile.
Saturday, November 2, 1991 - Video
Director Ivan Reitman, who delivers his best film since "Ghostbusters", uses Arnold Schwarzenegger brilliantly in this unusual role. Penelope Ann Miller, Pamela Reed and Linda Hunt lend good support. This is an original movie that, although not full of surprises, keeps the drama and comedy perfectly balanced.
The children, who are, to Reitman's credit, not used purely to influence the emotions, are adorable and hilarious in a film that is definitely worth your while.
Friday, April 12, 1991 - Knox District Centre Sunday, May 12, 1991 - Greater Union Melbourne
"Kindergarten Cop" is still entertaining even the third time. It's a movie that makes you smile.
Saturday, November 2, 1991 - Video
A tough cop (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is given his most difficult assignment ever: to masquerade as a kindergarten teacher in order to find a drug dealer.
When this film first came out, it was panned by just about everyone besides Roger Ebert. Looking back 25 years later, Ebert was probably the only one who got it right. While not the greatest comedy, and certainly not a great action film, this movie has a certain charm that resonates beyond the typical demographic for Arnold's films.
The only thing that really ages poorly is the bad guy's hair. But, to be fair, his hair was probably considered atrocious in 1990, too.
When this film first came out, it was panned by just about everyone besides Roger Ebert. Looking back 25 years later, Ebert was probably the only one who got it right. While not the greatest comedy, and certainly not a great action film, this movie has a certain charm that resonates beyond the typical demographic for Arnold's films.
The only thing that really ages poorly is the bad guy's hair. But, to be fair, his hair was probably considered atrocious in 1990, too.
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.
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.
A neat blend of rom-com, cop movie, and feel good story-Arnold Schwarzenegger goes for the trifecta in this classic. This gruff, violent, no-holds-barred cop named John Kimble has to transform his physical image and his personality in order to find the wife of a known drug dealer. His pursuit leads him to a kindergarten class in Astoria, Oregon where the tough and scary gives way to the cute and cuddly.
Not that this could have really happened it still made for a fun and sometimes funny movie. The kids were the real comedy because I've never found Schwarzenegger really funny. The movie ranged from edgy, to funny, to romantic, to cute and it displayed each adequately.
Not that this could have really happened it still made for a fun and sometimes funny movie. The kids were the real comedy because I've never found Schwarzenegger really funny. The movie ranged from edgy, to funny, to romantic, to cute and it displayed each adequately.
- view_and_review
- Dec 29, 2018
- Permalink
Kindergarten Cop was a very fun and original comedy which uniquely blends genres together such as children, action, comedy and romance. It's definitely an underrated and forgotten about movie. It's pretty decent quality for a 1990 film granted there were some clear production and acting gaps throughout. But Arnold was the perfect casting for this role and he was hilarious throughout. A tough macho police officer having to go undercover as a kindergarten teacher to teach and baby sit kids was a golden idea. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie throughout and it was just a feel good watch. Definitely recommend.
- RobTheWatcher
- May 10, 2023
- Permalink
Arnold Schwarzenegger hooks up with director Ivan Reitman once again, after their 80's smash hit Twins (1988) first highlighted the giant Austrian's talent for comedy. Like that one, this is a film that is so high-concept that you should be able to work out a large part of the plot just by looking at the poster. The film does one of those things that lots of comedies from the late 80's / early 90's did and that is set up a light-hearted comedy framework and then throw in a crime sub-plot into the mix. To this end we have Arnold playing a disillusioned cop who is trying to hunt down that other staple of the era – the criminal with a sharp suit and power ballad haircut. Arnie travels to a small town in Oregon where he knows that Power Ballad's ex-wife and son live. In order to find them he goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher. Needless to say, this unlikely primary school teacher gets into a series of toddler-related japes, while falling in love with Power Ballad's ex-wife who also works at the school. Before long things turn nasty when Power Ballad turns up and tries to steal his son back leaving Arnie with no alternative but to deal with this pony-tailed, suited-and-booted ponce.
This one shouldn't work but it does. Its story is almost charmingly moronic but it gets by on account of a highly likable and often somewhat hilarious performance from Schwarzenegger, who really can play comedy really well. He is ably supported by Pamela Reed who plays his partner who at one stage hilariously pretends to be his sister replete with amusing Austrian accent and Germanic gestures. Then of course there are the little kids themselves who are often very funny and who Arnie works extremely well with and has great chemistry. The result is a movie which transcends its paper thin basic idea and results in a genuinely charming chuckle-fest.
This one shouldn't work but it does. Its story is almost charmingly moronic but it gets by on account of a highly likable and often somewhat hilarious performance from Schwarzenegger, who really can play comedy really well. He is ably supported by Pamela Reed who plays his partner who at one stage hilariously pretends to be his sister replete with amusing Austrian accent and Germanic gestures. Then of course there are the little kids themselves who are often very funny and who Arnie works extremely well with and has great chemistry. The result is a movie which transcends its paper thin basic idea and results in a genuinely charming chuckle-fest.
- Red-Barracuda
- Aug 13, 2017
- Permalink
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Penelope Ann Miller, Pamela Reed, Richard Tyson, and Academy Award winner Linda Hunt star in this action-packed, funny movie. Arnold Schwarzenneger is John Kimble who goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher while investigating a case. Soon he falls in love with a teacher who's the ex-wife of his enemy. Now he's trying to protect his enemy's son who's also one of his students. This is funny and Arnold Schwarzenegger is really awesome.
We now live in such a crazy world that this film is being banned from being shown in certain places because of it being pro police and patriotic.
What a shame, because it's a cute little movie. Obviously not a great movie, but fun for kids and if you're in the mood for a family friendly film.
What a shame, because it's a cute little movie. Obviously not a great movie, but fun for kids and if you're in the mood for a family friendly film.
- MovieCriticOnline
- Aug 5, 2020
- Permalink
Action, Comedy, Crime + Family at its best. Arnold was amazing. Arnold self-centered this movie with his fabulous screen time and stunning action - The way Salman Khan centers his whole movie in Bollywood, difference here is better acting and more sense. It's very underrated. I never expected it to turn out this great. The kids are amazing, the comedy is consistent. The direction and cinematography is exceptional. Since it's 1990, picture quality takes a step down, but it didn't matter when we start concentrating on the movie with so much fun. I enjoyed it. I added the Twins in the watch list too after watching this.
- pawanpunjabithewriter
- Sep 20, 2020
- Permalink
'Kindergarten Cop (1990)' is pretty much exactly what you expect it to be, although its violence is perhaps a bit more graphic than necessary. Who'd have thought Schwarzenegger's greatest challenge would come in the form of a class of unruly kids? Placing such a stone-cold action star in a room full of innocent children is almost a stroke of genius, allowing for several genuinely funny sequences in which our hero tries to wrestle with his new undercover identity. Frankly, it's iconic; there are more than a handful of certifiably classic lines here. The flick is also quite sweet on occasion, allowing its protagonist to show his gentler side while still making him a certifiable bad-ass. It's a really enjoyable experience that does exactly what it needs to. It isn't complex, despite its wrinkles involving broken home lives and cold-blooded criminals, but it's a really fun time from beginning to end. Sometimes, all a film needs to do is make you smile.
- Pjtaylor-96-138044
- Aug 26, 2022
- Permalink
Police detective John Kimble (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is tracking stone-cold killer Cullen Crisp (Richard Tyson). He arrests him for murder. Detective Phoebe O'Hara (Pamela Reed) is assigned to be his partner. They track Cullen's ex Rachel (Penelope Ann Miller) to an Oregon kindergarten after she supposedly stole Cullen's millions and their son. O'Hara is sick and Kimble is pressed into undercover work as a substitute teacher looking for which mother is the former drug lord wife.
The setup is a bit too dangerous. The basic premise is to get Arnold into a kindergarten class. That is actually a very funny premise. He is hilarious with the kids. The problem is that it's also a violent crime drama. There's no way to bridge the two disparate aspects of this movie. It works as a comedy as long as Arnold's with the kids and nobody remembers the cold blooded killers lurking out there. Once the movie touches anything serious, the movie grinds to a halt.
The setup is a bit too dangerous. The basic premise is to get Arnold into a kindergarten class. That is actually a very funny premise. He is hilarious with the kids. The problem is that it's also a violent crime drama. There's no way to bridge the two disparate aspects of this movie. It works as a comedy as long as Arnold's with the kids and nobody remembers the cold blooded killers lurking out there. Once the movie touches anything serious, the movie grinds to a halt.
- SnoopyStyle
- Jun 21, 2015
- Permalink
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
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
- TheLittleSongbird
- Mar 4, 2011
- Permalink
If Twins was a suggestion that Schwarzenegger can do comedy, then Kindergarten Cop is explicit proof. He goes from perp-busting to completely out of his depth in a classroom full of kids . . . And it feels like a natural move; nothing forced about it. Credit here to Ivan Reitman who knows what he's doing, but also to Arnold's chemistry with the tiny terrors; it is charming as hell. The surprise here is Pamela Reed, who holds her own as the staryu's unlikely partner, and has some of the script's best lines.
This is a heartfelt comedy with appeal for young and old alike; an expert use of a movie star's towering stature.
This is a heartfelt comedy with appeal for young and old alike; an expert use of a movie star's towering stature.
When I was younger I recall seeing this film playing over and over again in HBO Family and it was until maybe 15 years later i finally got around to watching this film I always wanted to see. Some context as i grew older I knew Arnold Schwarzenegger was our governor for a time here in California and know he was popular in the 80s/90s with the terminator franchise. One of the reasons I never got around to the film was lost of interest and time restraint because of work. Even during the pandemic I never got around to watching the film. Now with the review: this movie was ok. I did have high hopes going into the film and he wasn't even a teacher until like 48 minutes into the film. It was very fast paced and quotable lines this movie is definitely for the die hard fans and the ones who grew up with Arnold for the nostalgia.
- CinedeEden
- Oct 10, 2022
- Permalink
Los Angeles police officer John Kimble has been after drug lord Cullen Crisp for years and finally arrests him after he murders a man who told Crisp that he's seen his estranged wife. Apparently when she left she took their soon and three million dollars and now she is living in Astoria, Oregon. Kimble heads north with partner Phoebe O'Hara; it is planned that she, as a former teacher, will go undercover at the local school to identify Crisp's son and thus his ex-wife who they hope will testify... they have no idea of the boy's current name and there are no decent pictures of him or his mother. Unfortunately Phoebe gets ill so Kimble must play teacher... how hard can it be? He soon finds out that six year olds are much harder to deal with than criminals! He must figure out how to deal with the children while trying to identify Crisp's family. Inevitable before long Crisp is bailed and heads to Astoria looking for his son.
One might think that because this is a comedy set in a kindergarten class it will be a family film suitable for all ages... it isn't. There are scenes of violence at the start and end as well as scenes of sustained threat to a child that are too intense for children. The sight of Arnie struggling with a class full of six-year olds is pretty funny; he does a fine job in the role. Pamela Reed also really impresses as his partner Phoebe. There are also notable performances from Linda Hunt as the school principal and Penelope Ann Miller as a fellow teacher who has a son at the school and provides a possible love interest for Kimble. The children of the class feel natural and provide many of the film's laughs. The identity of Crisp's wife and family aren't too obvious as there are a number of possibilities... that said when we do learn who they are it isn't a huge surprise. The early parts of the film, and its ending are the best; it did drag a little in the middle as Kimble gets control of her class. Overall I'd recommend this to Arnie's other films; just don't expect the action to be as full on as his earlier '80s films.
One might think that because this is a comedy set in a kindergarten class it will be a family film suitable for all ages... it isn't. There are scenes of violence at the start and end as well as scenes of sustained threat to a child that are too intense for children. The sight of Arnie struggling with a class full of six-year olds is pretty funny; he does a fine job in the role. Pamela Reed also really impresses as his partner Phoebe. There are also notable performances from Linda Hunt as the school principal and Penelope Ann Miller as a fellow teacher who has a son at the school and provides a possible love interest for Kimble. The children of the class feel natural and provide many of the film's laughs. The identity of Crisp's wife and family aren't too obvious as there are a number of possibilities... that said when we do learn who they are it isn't a huge surprise. The early parts of the film, and its ending are the best; it did drag a little in the middle as Kimble gets control of her class. Overall I'd recommend this to Arnie's other films; just don't expect the action to be as full on as his earlier '80s films.
I have no idea how they pulled it off, but this movie that is supposed be trash really entertained me. I'm not saying it is great cinema technically speaking: if the plot made any sense it would last 5 minutes at best. However, if you accept that this is Hollywood to the core, man it delivers two hours of carefree entertainment.
Arnold is just hilarious, and the kids ensemble adds so much comicality to him. The romance is sweet, and "mistery" is not blatantly thin as one would expect from such a movie.
Sometimes a person doesn't want to see the meaning of life in a movie. If you want to spend a fine couple hours, I think this works decently well.
Arnold is just hilarious, and the kids ensemble adds so much comicality to him. The romance is sweet, and "mistery" is not blatantly thin as one would expect from such a movie.
Sometimes a person doesn't want to see the meaning of life in a movie. If you want to spend a fine couple hours, I think this works decently well.
This was an enjoyable film. The film is never boring . It has some funny scenes and some more serious ones like child abuse .
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Penelope Anne Miller are great in their respective roles .
The villains played by Caroll Baker and Richard Tyson make great villains .
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Penelope Anne Miller are great in their respective roles .
The villains played by Caroll Baker and Richard Tyson make great villains .
Great choices in cast,where it was filmed & script.
Some reviewers felt it was tame,not enough action or the villians weren't scary.
It wasn't meant as a bloody,suspenseful or action flick..
But more a film an individual or family can enjoy,without it being over-the-top.
Not all movies need clever twists,deep meaning or awards,to be worth viewing.
It's meant for entertainment & this one,has aged very well to continue that.
- jboothmillard
- Sep 8, 2005
- Permalink
This film seems to be looked down upon but I think it's main "flaw" - Arnold Schwarzenegger not doing great in a comedy - is actually its main advantage. His physique and personality simply stick out so much in this setting and it's hilarious.
- briancham1994
- Jun 18, 2020
- Permalink
I'm not really a fan of Schwarzenegger's comedy films, given that I adore his action movies and would much rather be watching them instead. Stuff like TWINS tends to leave me cold, but I think it's fair to say that KINDERGARTEN COP is probably the best of his family-oriented flicks. The story, which sees Arnie's cop undercover in a school and saddled with a class of boisterous kids, almost writes itself.
The reason that this is a workable film comes down to the script, which is laden with all of the classic one liners we know and love from the star. Schwarzenegger's interactions with his child co-stars are hilarious, and by throwing a ferret into the mix the producers round it out really. I also appreciated the film's efforts to explore the effect of broken homes upon kids, domestic violence and parental abuse.
Elsewhere, it can be rather twee and overly sentimental at times, but nowhere near the level that Spielberg overdoes it. The action is very limited and infrequent, so much so as to be barely worth mentioning. Instead this is a film that rests on the (very) broad shoulders of its star, who acquits himself well as the likable hero who ends up completely out of his depth.
The reason that this is a workable film comes down to the script, which is laden with all of the classic one liners we know and love from the star. Schwarzenegger's interactions with his child co-stars are hilarious, and by throwing a ferret into the mix the producers round it out really. I also appreciated the film's efforts to explore the effect of broken homes upon kids, domestic violence and parental abuse.
Elsewhere, it can be rather twee and overly sentimental at times, but nowhere near the level that Spielberg overdoes it. The action is very limited and infrequent, so much so as to be barely worth mentioning. Instead this is a film that rests on the (very) broad shoulders of its star, who acquits himself well as the likable hero who ends up completely out of his depth.
- Leofwine_draca
- Sep 29, 2014
- Permalink
'Kindergarten Cop' is a romantic comedy film about a police officer who goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher. One of his students has an abusive father, and there ends up being a showdown at the school. Meanwhile, Arnie's character has some on-screen romance with other teachers and mothers. It's an all-around enjoyable film with plenty of humour, but it is pretty predictable. The acting is not the best, but the children are adorable, and some of the funniest lines in the film were theirs. The romance also does not work the best, but don't expect a great film. It's worth a couple of dozen laughs, at least, but not much else.
Not sure why this movie is not rated more highly. I have loved this movie since its release. Sure, it's cheesy, but it's so hilarious and entertaining. Ah-nold is in classic comedy form and Pamela Reed is truly the icing on the cake. Delightful movie all the way around.
- Siddhartha14
- Jun 8, 2019
- Permalink
We are used to seeing Arnie in fast-action, violent films with lots of killing and blood, like 'Terminator' and 'Predator' where he hardly says anything apart from "I'll be back!". Therefore it is quite a surprise that here we see him playing a tough cop-turned-Kindergarten-teacher and you may not think that he would be much good in that type role, because i know i certainly did and i started watching it rather skeptically. However, i couldn't have been more wrong. Arnie plays the role amazingly and i couldn't really imagine anyone else playing the giant school teacher. The cast are great, it has a real feel-good vibe to it, and the chemistry between the star and the children is spot on. The story is basically about a tough cop who has to go undercover as a Kindergarten teacher to find the wife and son of an elusive criminal. Then he must persuade he to give evidence to convict her ex-husband and get him 'sent down' for a long long time.
"Kindergarten Cop" is nothing less than great entertainment. It captures the very essence of the simple, feel-good story, here blended together with a bit of action and an edge that works surprising well against the comedy; nearly as well as the juxtaposition that is "bodybuilder teaches kindergarten." It's great fun, one of the most quotable films of the 1990's, and holds up incredibly well almost a quarter-century after its release.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
"Kindergarten Cop" is nothing less than great entertainment. It captures the very essence of the simple, feel-good story, here blended together with a bit of action and an edge that works surprising well against the comedy; nearly as well as the juxtaposition that is "bodybuilder teaches kindergarten." It's great fun, one of the most quotable films of the 1990's, and holds up incredibly well almost a quarter-century after its release.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10.
- PredragReviews
- May 5, 2016
- Permalink
- talllwoood13
- Sep 6, 2021
- Permalink