“It’s not a tumor!”

Teaching isn’t for everyone.  That’s a fact.  I’m not sure it’s even for me and I have been doing it for 30 years now.  But when there’s a flick about a tough cop who must pose as a kindergarten teacher to find the whereabouts of the wife and child of a drug dealer, it’s hard not to be the least bit interested, especially when that cop is Arnold Schwartzenegger.  Who’s not going to turn out for that comedic beat down?  Kids are cruel, you know?

And that’s part of why director Ivan Reitman’s action comedy continues to work.  Sure, it’s a bit dated in its style and a bit creaky in the comedy bits, but the chemistry between Schwartzenegger, who plays detective John Kimble, and the kids he “teaches” remains intact, making this 1990 comedy a fun watch.  After all, these kids are playing him!

Opening with a mildly stirring action chase sequence, Kindergarten Cop soon settles into its fish-out-of-water scenario as Kimble and teacher-turned-detective Phoebe O'Hara (Pamela Reed) head to Astoria, Oregon to find the wife and child of drug dealer Cullen Crisp (Richard Tyson).  She’s got information they need and his money, so it’s already a desperate situation for them, yet it is about to get worse.  O’Hara, who is supposed to play the part of the teacher in their operation, falls sick to a mysterious illness and it’s up to Kimble to step in as the new teacher.

He’s not prepared for the insanity.  Picture it: Schwartzenegger running out of the school building screaming within minutes of meeting his class.  It’s too much for this tough guy.  Yet, there’s a job to do and if he wants to bring down Crisp, after years and years of trying to, he’s got to go back inside and get the job done.

Admittedly, it’s been awhile since I’ve revisited this Reitman-helmed comedy, but the sweetness in the story still carries over.  Schwartzenegger is in over his head with children he’s tasked to tame, but the pointed jokes at both his size and the children’s curiosities and (lack of) knowledge or tact, are pretty hilarious . . . still. 

Co-starring Penelope Ann Miller, Linda Hunt, Richard Tyson, and Carroll Baker, Kindergarten Cop is a nice balancing act between comedy and action as Kimble must first gain the respect of his class before he can even begin his mission of finding the right woman.  Yet, the tension is heightened when Crisp is released and he comes to Oregon, too.  Now, both men are looking for this woman!  Uh oh. 

Full of memorable lines, cute kids who say the damnedest things, and Schwarzenegger doing more for his comedic turn, Kindergarten Cop, now presented in a brand-new HDR/Dolby Vision Master from Kino Lorber, has arrived! 

Detective Kimble might know the mean streets of Los Angeles, but that means nothing in kindergarten.  It’s a whole new set of rules!.

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray

Home Video Distributor: Kino Lorber
Available on Blu-ray - January 23, 2024
Screen Formats: 1.85:1
Subtitles: English
Video: Dolby Vision, HDR10
Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
Discs: 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray DiscTwo-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K region-free; blu-ray locked to Region A

Screen legend Arnold Schwarzenegger (The Terminator, Predator, Total Recall) teaches a lesson in hilarity in this heartwarming action-comedy classic! Detective John Kimble (Schwarzenegger) is a veteran of the mean streets of Los Angeles, ready and able to tackle anything. But to trap an elusive criminal he is forced to face his most challenging assignment yet: going undercover as a kindergarten teacher. Now facing 23 screaming kids, he has to keep them under control without blowing his top and his cover. Once he gains the respect of his class, as well as the affections of a beautiful teacher (Penelope Ann Miller, The Gun in Betty Lou’s Handbag), Detective Kimble must prepare for a final confrontation with his prey in this gut-busting smash comedy directed by the great Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters, Twins). Featuring Pamela Reed (The Best of Times), Linda Hunt (Silverado), Richard Tyson (Three O’Clock High), Carroll Baker (The Carpetbaggers) and Cathy Moriarty (Raging Bull).

VIDEO

The upgrade brings Astoria to life!  It’s another home run from Kino Lorber with this new 2160p 4K scan of an inter-positive. HDR takes this presentation into the stratosphere, high above all previous releases. The DOLBY Vision/HDR10 colors are bolder, warmer and in many cases spectacular. Contrast and delineation are really effective (there is a new sense of threatening dimension in all the skydiving scenes). Shadows and highlights really pop in this print. Flesh tones are natural, for the most part, leaning heavier into warm tones than the past, but with finer detail showing off the heat of the summer. DNR is carefully applied and consistent, retaining grain structure (thus detail) awesomely. It doesn’t get much better than this.

AUDIO

There’s really nothing new to say here.  The 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Stereo mixes provide enough to get the guns, when fired, jumping to life and the laughs a-coming on strong.

Supplements:

Commentary:

There are two new commentaries which give us information of the shoot and the legacy of the comedy.

• With film Historians Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson
• With film Historian Samm Deighan

Special Features:

While there is not a lot of archival information that has been ported over from previous releases, there are two new commentaries to enjoy.

DISC 1 (4KUHD):

• Brand New HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Samm Deighan
• 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Stereo
• Triple-Layered UHD100 Disc
• Optional English Subtitles

DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):

• Brand New HD Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historians Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Josh Nelson
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Historian Samm Deighan
• Theatrical Trailer (Newly Mastered in 2K)
• 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Stereo
• Dual-Layered BD50 Disc
• Optional English Subtitles

	Movie
	Video
	Audio
	Extras
Composite Blu-ray Grade

MPAA Rating: PG-13.
Runtime: 111 mins
Director: Ivan Reitman
Writer: Murray Salem; Herschel Weingrod; Timothy Harris
Cast: Arnold Schwarzenegger; Penelope Ann Miller; Pamela Reed
Genre: Action | Comedy | Crime
Tagline: as an undercover cop... he's in a class by himself.
Memorable Movie Quote: "No more complaining. No more "Mr. Kimble, I have to go the bathroom". Nothing!"
Theatrical Distributor: Universal Pictures
Official Site: https://kinolorber.com/product/kindergarten-cop-4kuhd
Release Date: December 21, 1990
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: January 23, 2024.
Synopsis: Detective John Kimble is a veteran of the mean streets of Los Angeles, ready and able to tackle anything. But to trap an elusive criminal he is forced to face his most challenging assignment yet: going undercover as a kindergarten teacher. Now facing 23 screaming kids, he has to keep them under control without blowing his top and his cover. Once he gains the respect of his class, as well as the affections of a beautiful teacher, Detective Kimble must prepare for a final confrontation with his prey