![]() Gradually, he forms a bond with the kids and pretty young teacher Olivia (Darla Taylor) and liaises with his partner Sanders (Bill Bellamy), but all the while, Zogu (Aleks Paunovic), the villainous Russian mobster behind the murder, lurks about. The film features some relatively contained action scenes.STAR RATING: ***** Saturday Night **** Friday Morning *** Friday Night ** Sunday Night * Monday Morning When a teacher is killed after stumbling upon sensitive information, FBI Agent Reed (Dolph Lundgren) is assigned to go undercover in a liberal, PC modern kindergarten, where his 'no pain no gain' philosophy makes him a far from ideal candidate for the role. ![]() The opening credits are well done and give the film a coloring that immediately introduces the audience to the context of the film. The cinematography, filming work, soundtrack, visual and sound effects were all done well, and the editing is solid. Shot between California and the small town of Astoria, Oregon, the film has good sets and the choice of filming locations was judicious and competent. On a technical level, the film is relatively unobtrusive. Richard Tyson is a clichéd villain, not very interesting, but the blame lies more with the script and the material he received than, properly, with the actor. Linda Hunt and Penelope Miller are two quality additions, and Pamela Reed is helpfully supportive of Schwarzenegger, even though I feel she was underused. Children, of course, are essential in the script and feature moments of variegated humor, very well done and that guarantee the audience's fun. In fact, the film seems to have been tailored to the capabilities of the actor, who appears to be having a great deal of fun as he works. ![]() I think it is obvious that Schwarzenegger is the big star of the film and carries it on his back with panache and competence. Things, however, improve a lot from then on, with the troubles he goes through with the children and the romantic subplot, which is cliché but is well articulated with the rest of the story. The film starts out somewhat confusedly, and I felt that the story behind that policeman going to kindergarten was really very poorly written, as if the script just needed an excuse to put him there and explain his presence in that environment. This film can match "Junior" and "Twins", making up a trio of quality comedies that Arnold Schwarzenegger starred in during the Nineties, under the direction of Ivan Reitman, and that helped him get out of the action roles and acquire versatility as an actor. Overall, not a comedy classic, but it works far better than it should have done. 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. Penelope Ann Miller gives good support as well, and the chemistry between the two is convincing without taking over the film too much. He is suitably low-key and avoids being wooden as well. ![]() 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. 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. However, the film does look lovely, and the score and soundtrack gives it its heart-warming sentiment. Kindergarten Cop is a little overlong and the villains are perhaps a little too pantomime. I was not expecting it to work, and it worked so much better than I expected it to. Kindergarten Cop was a surprisingly good film.
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