Kindergarten Cop (PG-13, 1990)

John Kimball (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a kick-butt undercover cop who has been assigned to pose as the husband of a female cop/grade school teacher, a turn of events that forces him to shed his machine gun and trench coat for a sport coat and pet ferret. The enormous educator must identify a drug lord's missing wife and her son before he catches up with them.

KINDERGARTEN COP succeeds wildly in its attempt to soften an action star via the addition of an adorable rapscallion. Despite the goofy premise, Ivan Reitman's (Ghost Busters [1984], Dave [1993]) film includes an engaging story and an array of likable characters and fine performances. Somehow Schwarzenegger (Terminator [1984], (Total Recall [1990]) parlays his brawn into compassion. (Perhaps just speaking more quietly makes him appear less daunting.) This film also includes fabulous female costars. Pamela Reed is hysterical as John's gluttonous partner, and Linda Hunt (The Year of Living Dangerously [1982], Ready to Wear [1994]) continues her unbelievable career as the hardnosed school principal. The film's low points lie with Crisp, the murderous father, and his evil mother. The villains lack the character development dedicated to the good guys. Overall, the film provides good clean fun coupled with a little violence and a lot of kooky kids.