Kindergarten Cop 2

Kindergarten Cop 2 (2016)

** (out of 4)

Twenty-six years after the original film we're finally given a "sequel" and this time it's Dolph Lundgren playing FBI Agent Reed. He's trying to put an infamous crime boss in prison but a hacker has stolen a file that tells the location of everyone in the Witness Protection Program. It turns out that the information in located on a file at a Seattle school so the agent must go undercover to try and locate it.

KINDERGARTEN COP 2 is a film that no one really asked for. Well, they did ask for a sequel to the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie about twenty years ago but this thing here isn't that. In fact, I'm not really sure why they put a "2" at the end of the title because the original film is never mentioned and for the most part his is basically just a remake. While the film isn't horrid, the thing certainly isn't good and I'd argue that in the end it's quite pointless.

Whereas the first film was somewhat uneven in regards to its sometime dark tone and sometimes comic tone, there's no doubt about this film in regards to it being aimed for children. The violence is pretty much tamed down and the majority of the jokes are aimed at children. This is certainly a movie that parents could watch with their young kids as the filmmakers were going for that type of movie. There's nothing wrong with that but the problem is that this comedy contains very few laughs.

Another major problem is that none of the characters are all that likable. The kid's don't have any personalities and I thought all of them lacked any sort of chemistry with Lundgren. As for the action star, he gives an okay performance here but his comic timing just isn't where it's needed to be. He does have some funny stuff with Bill Bellamy but this too starts to get watered down as the picture moves along.

KINDERGARTEN COP 2 isn't horrible but there's really no point of the movie being made.

The first Kindergarten Cop film was what we would call today a classic. It had a great story line, which plot was certainly a true reflection on what the characters showed would be what some of us would experience in real life. It was funny and had the appropriate amount of drama and serious scenes that put you on the edge of your seat. Everyone in this film (Schwarzenegger, Penelope Ann Miller, Richard Tyson, Pamela Reed, Linda Hunt, Carroll Baker) did a phenomenal job, as well as the kids!

This sequel, unfortunately, is a joke. I tried finishing it, but I just couldn't because it was too painful. It was a serious poor attempt to entertain the audience. It lacked almost everything the first film delivered. The only thing that kept this movie from being rated a 1 out of 10 was the kids; that. was. it!

Also... how does the sequel get special features (iTunes Extras) on iTunes but the original doesn't??

Of all the movies to make a sequel to, why Kindergarten cop? 26yrs after the original, to make a senseless sequel seems mindless especially if it'll have absolutely no connection to the original.

So once again an officer of the law finds himself posing as a teacher and bites off more than he can chrew all in an effort to get to the bottom of a case he's working on.

Essentially this could easily be considered a reboot, it's highly similiar to the original movie and again has NO connection to the Arnie 1990 original.

Sadly 26yrs later a lot has changed and moving with the times hasn't suited Kindergarten Cop 2 in the slightest. The original still had that late 80's goofiness about it, one of those films you could sit down with your kids and watch and they'd both enjoy it and not be subject to anything they shouldn't.

This sequel however is more modern, lacks that goofiness and in my opinion isn't family friendly. I'm not saying it's violent or sex filled, I'm simply saying it's not aimed at the tykes and they will neither enjoy nor understand much of it.

Take away from the fact it simply shouldn't exist and you have a film which is a lot better than you imagine, but still not very good.

The Good:

Aleks Paunovic

Harmless enough fun

The Bad:

Stock scream

Not as family friendly as the first

Paint by numbers stuff

Things I Learnt From This Movie:

The FBI won't react to the code word to begin a raid until a person explains that it was a code word

Candy vending machines are bullet proof due to frustrated police officers shooting them

Being a decent person is "Liberal BS"

This movie actually managed to make living in a trailer appealing

A sequel to the 1990 comedy film Kindergarten Cop starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, 'Kindergarten Cop 2' is a surprising sequel by all means. I mean, its been over 26 years since the first one released. A sequel, that too without Arnie being there, is risk.

But this is a direct-to-DVD film & to its luck, Dolph Lundgren is a fine new hero. He shines in the Cute Sequel!

'Kindergarten Cop 2' Synopsis: Assigned to recover sensitive stolen data, a gruff FBI agent goes undercover as a kindergarten teacher, but the school's liberal, politically correct environment is more than he bargained for.

'Kindergarten Cop 2' is simple film, that doesn't aim for any form of greatness. And hence, the narrative works. No, some of the jokes are silly & even some of the sub-plots, aren't sharp. But its Dolph's performance that makes most of it work. He's game here & gleefully plays the big-guy with a soft heart. If not for him, maybe this sequel would've fallen flat on its face.

Final Word? 'Kindergarten Cop 2' is fair watch.

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. 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.

It's never too late to make a sequel these days, even to a more modern audience who may not even have heard of the original. Or even if it happens to be some bizarrely low budget, straight to DVD Dolph Lundgren vehicle. This is a weird, unexplainable piece of work at best, but maybe most so for Dolph. Things were looking on the up for him recently, with the well received Skin Trade signalling a return to the sort of slam bang, unpretentious entertainment he was known for. You're left to wonder what his motives for making this were: trying to show a lighter, fuzzier side to his repertoire, even if it's all little heard of, straight to DVD fodder?

The original was one of two films Arnold Schwarzenegger made to try and show a lighter version of himself, and it's been confirmed he's appearing in a sequel himself to the other one of those films, so you're left to wonder if he thought the follow up to this had lesser box office potential. Even so, many will feel he brought something to the original role that couldn't be recreated by anyone else, and it's true Dolph doesn't feel at home as much here, lacking Arnie's madcap spirit in the first film. He's joined by Paunovic's typical Russian villain, Bellamy's stereotypical black partner and Taylor as a worryingly younger love interest.

This is just an all round beguiling project. How did it come up? Who thought it would be a good idea? What was anyone trying to achieve with it? Why did it get made? *