As the film and television industry grapples with its role in recklessly pushing copaganda, movie-lovers in Portland, Oregon are taking matters into their own hands. After the Northwest Film Center, a local organization, planned to open a drive-in movie series with the 1990 comedy Kindergarten Cop, a film that was made in Oregon and is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, locals voiced outrage over the choice as anti-police brutality protests continue all across the nation. Portland in particular has been a hotbed of unrest, with President Donald Trump sending in militarized federal forces to beat and brutally teargas protesters. Now, the series organizers have tuned in to the outrage, changing the opening film from Kindergarten Cop to the documentary John Lewis: Good Trouble, in honor of the late Congressman.
The outrage over the film choice began when Portland author Lois Leveen criticized NWFC, tweeting that now is “a weird time to revive Kindergarten Cop,” according to local outlet Willamette Week. In a letter sent to Willamette, Leveen outlined her argument further.
“It’s true Kindergarten Cop is only a movie. So are Birth of a Nation and Gone With the Wind, but we recognize films like those are not ‘good family fun,’” she wrote. “They are relics of how pop culture feeds racist assumptions.”
“Because despite what the movie shows,” she continued, “in reality, schools don’t transform cops. Cops transform schools, and in an extremely detrimental way.”
A spokesperson for NWFC told the outlet they decided to make the change not only because of Leveen’s remarks, but also because of “a dozen others, including Black community members who asked us to consider opening the Drive-In with a different movie.” In a statement to the Willamette, Leveen pushed back against the organization, criticizing them for their insensitivity and lackluster response.
“I have been a Silver Screen members for years, and an NWFC patron even longer, and I know how seldom their screenings attract substantial numbers of BIPOC audience members,” she wrote in an email. “When a white-dominant institution cannot honestly admit their error and insensitivity, it does not suggest they will avoid similar errors and insensitivities in the future.”
Kindergarten Cop is a PG-13 action comedy that stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as an undercover detective who works at a school in order to catch a drug kingpin. And, as the Willamette points out, it also ends with (spoiler!) Schwarzenegger’s character quitting the force to become a teacher. Still, despite how silly some might find this entire ordeal (cancel culture going too far, blah, blah, blah), it does seem like pretty bad optics to make a cop movie the opening night film for a series in Portland (of all places!) right now (of all times!). Right? Right?? Even with the 30th anniversary tie-in and the film’s connection to Oregon history. Better to just leave this player on the bench! Alas, the NWFC didn’t—and now Kindergarten Cop (of all movies!) is set to become the latest martyr/villain in the never-ending discourse surrounding cancel culture. Anyway. The point here is that John Lewis: Good Trouble is a really beautiful documentary, and everyone should watch it instead.
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