From director Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters, Twins, Evolution), you might mistake this for a family film, and it is often shown in the middle of the day with violence and swearing cut out, it is shown very often in fact that I ignore it, but I do like it. Basically, Detective John Kimble (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a tough cop who has been trailing drug dealer Cullen Crisp (Richard Tyson) for years. Kimble tracks him down, but the only person besides the witness who can testify against him is his missing ex-wife. Crisp claims that his ex-wife Rachel stole millions of dollars before fleeing with her son. The only information Kimble has is the name of the school in Oregon that her son attends, Astoria Elementary School. Detective Phoebe O'Hara (Pamela Reed), who has teaching experience, is partnered with Kimble and is to go undercover as a substitute kindergarten teacher. However, when Phoebe falls sick with stomach flu, it is up to Kimble to step in and go undercover to find the child in question. The authorities agree also that when the mother is identified, she will be granted immunity in exchange for testifying against Crisp in court. On Kimble's first day, with no teaching experience whatsoever, the children are out of control, and headteacher Miss Schlowski (Linda Hunt) has seen many teachers leave kindergarten within two or three days. Kimble manages to calm them down bringing in his pet ferret, and then he uses his skills in police training and discipline, along with a whistle, to organise and behave the children. The children grow fond of Kimble as their teacher, and he also finds a love for teaching he never knew he had. He also slowly tries to work out which of the children could be Crisp's son. Meanwhile, he develops feelings for fellow teacher Joyce Palmieri (Penelope Ann Miller), mother of kindergarten student Dominic (twins Christian and Joseph Cousins). The witness, a drug user, is killed when using tainted cocaine supplied by Crisp's mother Eleanor (Carroll Baker), allowing him to be released and travel to find his son. Eventually, Kimble identifies Dominic as the boy in danger, and that Joyce is Rachel. He is forced to tell her the truth, and she is terrified as she knows that Crisp is dangerous and will come after them. Crisp and Eleanor track down the school, and Crisp causes a fire, forcing all teachers and children to evacuate. He manages to identify Dominic and kidnaps him, while Eleanor hits Phoebe with a car, and Kimble chases after them. Crisp tries to connect with his son, but Dominic is scared and tries to flee, before Kimble finds them. Crisp shoots Kimble and is about to kill him, but the ferret bites him on the neck, allowing Kimble to kill him. Eleanor also shoots at Kimble, but Phoebe rescues him by hitting her with a baseball bat. Kimble is injured and taken to hospital, along with Phoebe. Kinble recovers and makes a surprise return to the school; the children are happy to see him back, and he and Joyce kiss. Also starring Cathy Moriarty as Jillian, Sylvester's Mother, Park Overall as Samantha's Mother, Jayne Brook as Zach's Mother, Richard Portnow as Captain Salazar, Angela Bassett as Stewardess, Justin Page as Zach, Peter Rakow as Joshua, Beethoven's Sarah Rose Karr as Emma, Marissa Rosen as Samantha, Ben McCreary as Lowell, Miko Hughes as Joseph, Robert Cave as John, and Ben Diskin as Sylvester. Schwarzenegger gets most of the laughs being stressed or bossy, the support of Reed, Miller and Hunt is fine, Tyson and Baker are a bit pantomime as the villains, and of course the children are all cute and get most of the funniest lines. This probably could be a kids movie with most of the swearing, violence, and drug references removed (which usually hapens on TV), the thrilling moments are a little much, and the romantic subplot is okay, the best moments are Schwarzenegger's interactions with the tykes, overall, it is a fun enough action comedy film. Worth watching!
Review of Kindergarten Cop
