The original Kindergarten Cop, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Penelope Ann Miller, Pamela Reed and the iconic Linda Hunt, is on the remake train and at first glance it is destined for the straight-to-video, or DVD, bin. The first film was directed by Ivan Reitman, a director whose magical touch also graced Evolution (2001), My Super Ex-Girlfriend (2006), Ghostbusters I & II, and a long list of comedic efforts that fared well with the public.
The fish-out-of-water film, written by Murray Salem, had tough guy detective Arnold stepping into the shoes of a kindergarten teacher in his search for a drug dealer. In the process, he learns that he has a knack for teaching the little ones and he falls in love with the drug dealer’s former wife.
Universal Studios have given the green light for the remake and slated “straight-to-video” sequel helmsman Don Michael Paul to direct. Schwarzenegger will not be back, he is a little too long in the tooth to play the role now and there is no word just yet if he will be making a cameo. At 70 stuntwoman turned actress Hunt may be considered too old to reprise her role as the head teacher and there is no room for Pamela Reed’s character as she has been replaced with an Indian cop named Sanjit.
The plot this time around revolves around a flash drive, sounds a little like a new plot device that is in vogue right now; reference iZombie’s thumb drive, and rather than a good old American rat, the villains (yes plural) are Albanian. At least this is a change from the Chechnya mafia types who are regularly placed in the bad guy role of almost every cop film from Hollywood.
Roger Friedman reports that folks who may be hoping for a couple of big name actors to play in the film can stop holding their breath for a Bradley Cooper or Ashton Kutcher type to step into Arnold’s shoes. The producers are apparently looking for television “cross-over” actors.
This, even more than the choice of director, shows just how little Universal Studios expects to be spent on the making of the “reboot.” Up and coming TV stars are considerably cheaper to hire than established actors. Although as hot as Danny Trejo is right now, it would not be too surprising to see his name crop up in the pre-film credit list.
Universal, who distributed the first film, has surprisingly decided to place this remake into the straight to DVD category, or stream option, and looking at the amount of money the first movie made, they must not have any real faith in the reimaging of the film.
Arnold in the title role may, or may not, have been the reason that the $15 million budgeted movie pulled in $202 million in ticket sales and DVD rentals, sales, et al. Granted, the story is a cute one, in terms of romance, and the action toward the end of the film satisfying. A great combination that audiences enjoyed.
This Kindergarten Cop looks to be a bargain basement remake with no real “names” in it. Destined to be relegated to the straight-to-video bin this looks like a “miss” already.