Kindergarten Cop

Kindergarten Cop
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ivan Reitman
Screenplay by	Murray Salem Herschel Weingrod Timothy Harris
Story by	Murray Salem
Produced by	Ivan Reitman Brian Grazer
Starring	Arnold Schwarzenegger Penelope Ann Miller Pamela Reed Linda Hunt Richard Tyson Carroll Baker
Cinematography	Michael Chapman
Edited by	Wendy Greene Bricmont Sheldon Kahn
Music by	Randy Edelman
Production company	Imagine Entertainment
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date	December 21, 1990(1990-12-21)
Running time	111 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$26 million
Box office	$202 million

Kindergarten Copis a 1990 Americanaction comedy filmdirected byIvan Reitmanand distributed byUniversal Pictures.Arnold Schwarzeneggerstars as John Kimble, a tough police detective workingundercoveras akindergartenteacher to locate the wife and child of drug dealer Cullen Crisp (Richard Tyson), who are living under assumed identities.Pamela Reed,Penelope Ann MillerandLinda Huntco-star. The original music score was composed byRandy Edelman.A direct-to-video sequel,Kindergarten Cop 2,was released in 2016.

The film was released in the United States on December 21, 1990, and grossed $202 million worldwide.Critical reception was mixed, though Schwarzenegger earned praise for his comedic abilities and willingness to subvert the action-hero image that had defined his career.

Plot

After years of pursuing Cullen Crisp, an infamousdrug lord,LAPDdetective John Kimble arrests Crisp for murder when a call girl named Cindy witnesses Crisp gun down aninformantin the back of a local shopping mall after getting information regarding the whereabouts of his former wife, Rachel, who he claims stole millions of dollars from him before fleeing with his son Cullen Crisp Jr. and obtaining new identities for them.

Partnered with fellow detective Phoebe O'Hara, Kimble is sent toAstoria, Oregonto identify Rachel and offer herimmunityin exchange for testifying against Crisp in court. O'Hara is tasked with finding Rachel via her son by impersonating a newly hired substitute teacher in akindergartenclass at Astoria Elementary School. Both of them get to know each other – Kimble is divorced and has a son named Alex who is 13 years old, whom he has not spoken to in years after his ex-wife got remarried; and O'Hara is dating a chef – and become friends. However, she is incapacitated by severestomach flu,so Kimble is forced to step in as the teacher.

The school principal, Miss Schlowski, is suspicious of Kimble's ineptitude and contemplates firing him. Though initially overwhelmed, he adapts to his new status quickly, despite not having any formal teaching experience. Through the use of his petferretas a class mascot, positive reinforcement for good behavior, and his police training as a model for structure in class, he becomes a much admired and cherished figure to the students. O'Hara recovers, and poses as Kimble's sister fromAustriato assist him in the investigation.

Kimble begins to enjoy his undercover role. At one point, he deals with a case of child abuse by assaulting, threatening, and pressing charges against the abusive father of one of his students, winning over Schlowski. She assures him that despite his unorthodox methods, she is impressed with Kimble's performance and thus does not fire him. Kimble also becomes fond of Joyce, a fellow teacher whose son Dominic is one of his students. Dominic looks up to Kimble and sees him as a father figure, as his mother is estranged from her husband and will not speak of him, telling Dominic that he lives inFranceand that she left him after seeing his true colors, refusing to elaborate.

Through their conversations, Kimble deduces that Joyce is actually Rachel and that Dominic is Cullen Jr. Back inCalifornia,the case holding Crisp in jail is closed after Cindy dies from using taintedcocaineprovided by Crisp's mother and mentor, Eleanor. With no witness, Crisp is subsequently released and travels to Astoria with Eleanor to search for his son. When Kimble learns Crisp has been released, he confronts Rachel about her identity, saying he can protect her if she cooperates. She is outraged that he misled her, but she tells him that Crisp lied about the stolen money; his real motive is to hunt down Rachel for taking Cullen Jr. from him and raise the boy to take over his operation.

Crisp arrives at the school and starts a fire in the library as a distraction to kidnap his son, then uses the boy as a hostage when Kimble arrives, intending on capturing him. Just as Crisp declares his intentions and prepares to shoot Kimble, Kimble's ferret, which was hiding in Dominic's sweater, bites Crisp in the neck, allowing Dominic to escape. In pain, Crisp shoots at Kimble, hitting him in the leg, to which Kimble shoots Crisp three times in the chest, killing him. Outside, Eleanor strikes O'Hara with her car and runs inside. She shoots Kimble in the shoulder and demands he tell her where her grandson is, but at the last second, O'Hara appears and knocks Eleanor unconscious with a baseball bat. Eleanor is then arrested, and the unconscious Kimble is hospitalized alongside O'Hara, both of them going on to make a full recovery.

O'Hara returns to the LAPD, while Kimble decides to resign and stay in Astoria to become a kindergarten teacher at the school full time. Joyce joins him and they share a kiss while everyone cheers.

Cast

• Arnold Schwarzeneggeras Detective John Kimble
• Penelope Ann Milleras Joyce Palmieri / Rachel Myatt Crisp
• Pamela Reedas Detective Phoebe O'Hara
• Linda Huntas Miss Schlowski
• Richard Tysonas Cullen Crisp
• Carroll Bakeras Eleanor Crisp
• Cathy Moriartyas Jillian
• Christian and Joseph Cousins as Dominic Palmieri / Cullen Crisp, Jr.
• Park Overallas Samantha's Mother
• Jayne Brookas Zach's Mother
• Betty Lou Henson as Keisha's Mother
• Heidi Swedbergas Joshua's Mother
• Richard Portnowas Captain Salazar
• Alix Koromzay as Cindy
• Bob Nelsonas Henry Shoop
• Angela Bassettas Stewardess
• Sarah Rose Karr as Emma
• Miko Hughesas Joseph
• Ben Diskinas Sylvester
• Adam Wylieas Larry
• Ross Malingeras Harvey
• Odette Yustmanas Rosa

Production

Much of the filming was done on location in Astoria, Oregon, the setting of the film.

The school interior and exterior were filmed at the John Jacob Astor Elementary School in Northeast Astoria

Casting

Bill MurrayandPatrick Swayzewere initially approached to play the role of Kimble.Danny DeVitowas also considered for the role, but Ivan Reitman nixed the idea as he felt the actor's height would make him seem less believable as Kimble. Ultimately, Devito's former costar fromTwins,Arnold Schwarzenegger, was chosen for the part.

Director Ivan Reitman and casting director Michael Chinich auditioned more than 2,000 children for the roles of the students.Elijah Woodunsuccessfully auditioned for a role.

Filming

Exterior scenes at Astoria Elementary School were filmed at John Jacob Astor Elementary School, located at 3550 Franklin Avenue inAstoria, Oregon.

Universal Studioshired local artists Judith Niland and Carl Lyle Jenkins to paint murals on the walls at Astoria, and provided new playground equipment, a fenced playground, and a new lawn and hedges around the school. Most of the filming was completed after school was out in June 1990,allowing many of the students and faculty to be extras in the film.Students' artwork was also used.While on location, Schwarzenegger insisted a private studio for daily workouts and weightlifting be assembled for his use.

Other locations used in or near Astoria include the Bayview Motel,Commercial Street in downtown Astoria,and exteriors outside the Seafare Restaurant on Industry Street.The school picnic was filmed atEcola State ParknearCannon Beach, Oregon,25 miles (40 km) south of Astoria.Scenes at Joyce and Dominic's house were filmed at a private residence located at 414 Exchange Streetand highway scenes were filmed onU.S. 26east ofSeaside, Oregon,20 miles (32 km) from Astoria.

Interior school scenes were shot atUniversal Studiosin Hollywood.The film's opening scene was filmed at theWestfield MainPlaceinSanta Ana, California,andSouth Coast PlazainCosta Mesa, California.

Music

Kindergarten Cop: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Film score(Digital download/ Audio CD) by Randy Edelman
Released	August 31, 1993
Label	Varese Sarabande

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Astoria School Theme"	1:06
2.	"Children's Montage"	3:21
3.	"Love Theme (Joyce)"	2:30
4.	"Stalking Crisp"	3:40
5.	"Dominic's Theme/A Rough Day"	1:54
6.	"The Line Up/Fireside Chat"	2:57
7.	"Rain Ride"	1:55
8.	"The Kindergarten Cop"	1:27
9.	"Poor Cindy/Gettysburg Address"	2:06
10.	"A Dinner Invitation"	0:47
11.	"Love Theme Reprise"	1:25
12.	"A Magic Place"	2:54
13.	"Kimble Reveals the Truth"	1:45
14.	"The Tower/Everything Is OK"	2:29
15.	"Fire at the School"	5:38
16.	"Closing"	2:14
Total length:		34:48

Reception

Box office

Kindergarten Copwas the second-highest grossing film, behindHome Alone,during the week of January 8, 1991.It grossed $91.4 million in North America and $101.5M Internationally.It was released in theUnited Kingdomon February 1, 1991, and topped the country's box office that weekend.

Critical response

OnRotten Tomatoes,the film has a rating of 54% based on 39 reviews and an average rating of 5.60/10. The site's consensus reads, "Arnold Schwarzenegger substitutes his action brio with some refreshingly adept comedic timing, butKindergarten Copis too grim for children and too cloying for adults. "OnMetacritic,it has a score of 61 out of 100 based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".Audiences polled byCinemaScoregave it an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.ReviewerCaryn JamesofThe New York Timessaid, "LikeTwins,which was also directed by Ivan Reitman, nothing in the film is as funny as the idea of it. "

InKim Newman's review forEmpire,he wrote, "with a heart of purest mush, the film still manages to be generally entertaining" and gave it 3 stars out of 5.AnEntertainment Weeklyreview at the time of release notes that: "the movie never quite gels and it is not going to generate quite the mega hit business their producers are counting on", giving it a "C" grade.

Roger Ebertsaid the film: "is made up of two parts that shouldn't fit, but somehow they do, making a slick entertainment out of the improbable, the impossible and Arnold Schwarzenegger" and awarded it three stars.

OnApril Fool's Day2012, as a prank, the film was announced to be selected for a release onDVDandBlu-ray Discas part of theCriterion Collection,a video distribution company dedicated to the release of "important classic and contemporary films". It was said to be selected as important in part because of its genre revisionist use of both thepolicierand family comedy genres in the same film.It was released on Blu-ray, though not by Criterion, on July 1, 2014.

Legacy

For the video gameSilent Hill,parts of Astoria Elementary School from the film were used as reference for the location Midwich Elementary School.Several of Schwarzenegger's memorable lines from the film were used in sound boards forprank phone callsthat became popular in the early 2000s.During an April 2021 interview onJimmy Kimmel Live!,Schwarzenegger stated that the idea behind the making ofSuperhero Kindergartencame from his desire "to do a sequel toKindergarten Cop".

Sequel

Main article:Kindergarten Cop 2

A standalone sequel starringDolph Lundgren,Kindergarten Cop 2,was released direct to DVD in May 2016.

See also

• Arnold Schwarzenegger filmography
• List of American films of 1990
• Olympian Anthony Adam,an Indian film with a similar plot

External links

• Kindergarten CopatIMDb
• Kindergarten CopatAllMovie
• Kindergarten CopatBox Office Mojo
• Kindergarten CopatRotten Tomatoes