Saturday, February 6, 2010

Someone Has Mother Issues...

Lately Kindergarten Cop has been showing on cable. How can anyone not like this Schwarzenegger classic? Especially with famous lines like, "Who is my daddy and what does he do?" or "Boys have a penis, and girls have a vagina." Probably where I first learned that important aspect of human physiology. However Schwarzenegger and little kids aside, I'm here to discuss the portrayal of Cullen Crisp, the misunderstood man who just wanted a family.

Crisp is just a simple man that wants his family back. He's willing to lie, cheat and kill to reunite with his family. What, you think that's wrong because he's breaking the rules of civilised men? But he's doing it all for his family...One could only wish more men were as devoted to their families as Cullen Crisp.

Once free from lockup, Crisp and his mother-something I'll address later-rush off for Astoria to reunite with his estranged wife and son. He goes about procuring a present for his son while Crisp's mother, Eleanor, purchases pharmaceuticals to ensure that Dominic, Crisp's son, grows up healthy and protected from disease. Crisp also visits Dominic's school to confirm his child's educational needs are being met (okay, that is arguable). But overall, Crisp seems like a caring and wanna-be-involved father.

Crisp finally introduces himself to Dominic, who had grown up with lies regarding his father's identity. In just that brief moment of peace in the health room, Crisp is full of paternal pride at the fact that he is father to such a smart and strong, young boy.

When cornered in the locker room by Kimble, Crisp threatens to kill his own son to get the upper hand, but it's an obvious bluff. Crisp knows that Kimble cannot do anything to endanger a hostage's life even though we all know Crisp isn't crazed enough to murder his own son. That's been his driving force for the past several years. Really though, there is no chance for Crisp after this point.

If Cullen Crisp isn't the villain in this movie, who is? Eleanor Crisp, his mother. Ha, you probably thought I was going to twist it around and blame Kimble. But yes, the true bad guy in the movie is Eleanor with her overbearing motherhood. Even though her own son is a hardened and grown man, she still plays a very active role in his life as the forever disapproving mother.

Based on their on-screen interactions, it is also clear that Crisp is still a child in the relationship. Like his mother, he is neatly dressed with his hair tidily pulled back in a ponytail. He wears a fully-buttoned dress shirt without a tie. Maybe I'm missing something due to a generational fashion gap, but that still looks like momma's boy fashion to me...

One could even argue that it is the desire of Eleanor for her grandson that drives Crisp to the lengths that he goes. Crisp desires her approval, exemplified by such moments as when he proudly shows the gift he procured for his son, like a little boy always searching for some praise from a cold mother. And if Eleanor wants her grandson, Crisp would try his best to make it happen if he thought it would make her happy.

Even until the end, with her own son shot dead in the locker room showers, she threatens Kimble for the whereabouts of her grandson, all the while shooting rounds off near Kimble's head. Realizing that Kimble doesn't know nor would he ever tell her, she resolves herself to kill him. And would have too, had it not been for Joyce bashing her with a baseball bat.

I didn't specialize in psychology, however it is clear that Cullen Crisp suffers from psychological and emotional issues stemming from his relationship with his mother. Yes he committed some evil acts, but that does not brand him as the evil villain? Not really, because honestly, what villain still hangs out with his mom? Cullen Crisp, momma's boy extraordinaire. Evilness: 3 Evil.

1 comment:

  1. some truth to that. Doesn't excuse anything but it's true.

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