Kindergarten Cop 2

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? *

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.

What to expect from a sequel like this? I think it reached the highest goal it could. It's a paycheck for all involved. Dolph can have some fun (the kids too of course), if you lower your expectations to very very low, you may be able to enjoy this to a degree too. It is what it is and even if some had a lot of fun with the original (which was filmed/released a long time ago), I doubt many were yearning for a sequel.

But that's how things work and if a title sounds familiar, investors are there and some people will watch it (guilty as charged, but I do watch almost anything as you can tell by my list of reviews ;o) ). So while I've seen worse (obviously), this is by the numbers ... You do the math (yes pun intended)

'KINDERGARTEN COP 2': Two and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

A sequel to the 1990 hit action-comedy flick 'KINDERGARTEN COP' (starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, and directed by Ivan Reitman). This followup is more of a remake, than a sequel, and it stars Dolph Lundgren, as a new character (an FBI agent named Agent Reed). The film was directed by Don Michael Paul (who also helmed such other B- movies as 'HALF PAST DEAD', 'LAKE PLACID: THE FINAL CHAPTER', 'JARHEAD 2: FIELD OF FIRE' and 'TREMORS 5: BLOODLINES') and it was written by David H. Steinberg (who also wrote other B-comedy flicks, like 'SLACKERS' and 'AMERICAN PIE PRESENTS BOOK OF LOVE'). The movie costars Bill Bellamy, Darla Taylor, Fiona Vroom and Aleks Paunovic. The film is severely disappointing, if you're a fan of the original (or good movies in general).

Agent Reed (Lundgren) is a very conservative, and dedicated (but slightly crazy), FBI agent. Agent Sanders (Bellamy) is his more rational, and by the book, partner. The two must infiltrate a kindergarten class, on a new assignment, in order to find an important flash drive. Due to the fact that the students there already know who Sanders is, from previously being interviewed by him, Reed must pose as a kindergarten teacher. The modern, and very politically correct, school environment presents a huge challenge for Reed (and his old school ways).

The film is adequately directed (for what it is), and decently acted, but it's not funny. The jokes are painful to watch at times, and the whole movie just seems pointless. Maybe the original film would feel the same way, if I actually went back and watched it again, but I did love it when I was a kid. Lundgren is at least likable in the lead; although not nearly as much so, as Schwarzenegger was.

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