The mood for a bit of crime fighting comedy brought me to the Ivan Reitman directed movie Kindergartarten Cop (1990) recently. The movie’s lightness mixes in a bit of a love interest with the central character cast in the role of undercover policeman seeking love, a criminal and a potential love interest as well. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Penelope Ann Miller and Pamela Reed, today we look into Reitman‘s foray into childhood comedy with a side of cuteness.
Based on a tip that involves a drug dealer getting information regarding the whereabouts of his former wife, Kindergarten Cop begins with Los Angeles Police Department detective John Kimble arresting a drug dealer for murder. The drug dealer, Cullen Crisp, suspects his former wife of absconding with the couples child; a fair amount of money supposedly was taken as well. This leads Kimble, portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger, to Astoria, Oregon with former teacher-turned-detective Phoebe O’Hara, as portrayed by Pamela Reed. The idea was for O’Hara to become a substitute teacher in a kindergarten class at the local elementary school to contact Crisp’s wife and get her to testify against her former husband.
Richard Tyson portrayed Cullen Crisp, the drug dealer. By the time Kimble and O’Hara get to the local school to meet with Miss Schlowski, the school principal as portrayed by Linda Hunt, a stomach bug keeps O’Hara from walking into her undercover teaching position. Needing to proceed with their undercover work, Kimble becomes the undercover kindergarten teacher with no previous classroom experience.
The absurdity of this scenario drives much of the movie’s comedy. Kids running amok in multiple ways, and seeing Kimble experience the frustration of embarrassment and feeling overwhelmed are used to great effect. Teacher Rachel Myatt Crisp, as portrayed by Penelope Ann Miller, calms some of that initial chaos and, along with her son Dominic Palmieri, also known as Cullen Crisp, Jr., ultimately brings in some important story elements for the movie. Unraveling some history about Palmieri’s father being in France was part of the movie’s charm.
Twin brothers Joseph Cousins and Christian Cousins portrayed Dominic Palmieri / Cullen Crisp, Jr. The relationship that Cullen Crisp Jr’s father has with him, the boy’s mother, and the boy’s paternal grandmother, informs much of the how the movie resolves itself. The role of Eleanor Crisp, the grandmother to Pamieri / Crisp, was filled by Carroll Baker. Prior to this, the father would gain his release following his arrest. A case of child and spousal abuse, separate from the core storyline, raises an important question of credibility for John Kimble as a teacher at the grade school.
Kindergarten Cop achieves a wholesome level of storytelling with compelling conflict and differentiated yet appropriate likability among the characters. The writing credits for Murray Salem, Herschel Weingrod and Timothy Harris are solid and satisfying, as is the movie. Lynn, one half of the name Matt Lynn Digital for this blog, enjoys this movie. I give Kindergarten Cop as directed by Ivan Reitman 4.0-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.
Matt – Saturday, September 17, 2022
Matt Lynn Digital 