Movies News Talk
Axel F is a decent time for Beverly Hills Cop; he is not a slam dunk good time, but he is enough entertaining to meet Eddie Murphy's needs.
Back in action is Axel Foley, the fast-talking, nonchalent jokester cop who constantly gets in trouble but gets the job done. Like the Miami-based Bad Boys, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F sees Axel (Eddie Murphy) back to his 40-year-long shtick, adding his street-wise knowledge to the immaculate, bougie, and recently paved roads of 90210.
Axel is still pulling his classic ruses thirty years after his last movie outing. Still rolling around bursting crooks and gangs like he isn't in his 60s, the always cheerful, hyper-focused, witty Detroit cop is still He has gotten into trouble once more, but it has not stopped him from following his convictions. Axel learns his daughter, Jane Saunders (Taylour Paige), is in danger after accusing a dead cop of being dirty, so while it seems nothing will take him out of Detroit, that changes when he hears from his old friend Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold).
One fascinating series is Beverly Hills Cops. Though it has a rather devoted following, it is among the best examples of a film series with declining returns. Axel F says it's at least worth looking at again. Ride or Die by Will Smith and Martin Lawrence's Bad Boys showed that demand for these kinds of action movies still exists. Murphy has been an indisputable draw regardless of how poor the films have been following Beverly Hills Cop in 1984. Axel F limits his age to a degree, but he is as vibrant and sharp as ever.
He sadly has a quite poor script. The plot is as generic as it can be; the jokes are weak and the enemies are stereotyped. Still, the action is interesting and the music is on target. Murphy is a major component; he enhances the whole thing and does a lot of heavy work in improvisation. Fortunately, the people around him are either guys who provide entertaining reactions like Kevin Bacon and Josh Ashton or good straight men like Joseph Gordon-Levitt who can match his intensity.
The script by Will Beall, Tom Gormican, and Kevin Etten is mostly driven by nostalgia; the action is likewise. Foley is reconciling with his estranged daughter, who is now based in Beverly Hills, and sees Rosewood and Taggart as uncles while the narrative has Foley reuniting with the city and people from his colorful past. Regarding nostalgia excursions, this is an interesting one. Sometimes it is hollow and meaningless.
The expensive action set pieces are the heavy-duty glue keeping the movie together. If the jokes and situations had more ambitious humor, it would have been perfect; but, what we get is sufficient for a light chuckle. With the synthesizer-based music mixed wonderfully with modern selections, Lorne Balfe's score is the largest win next to Murphy. The general production helps to make this a fun watch.
Still, the story constantly reminds us that Axel is a menace—but a good one—while rehashing past dynamics and underlining that chaos follows Foley wherever he is on a case. Except for the father-daughter relationship, there is nothing fresh to invest in. Paige and the always delightful Gordon-Levitt flank Murphy don't have nearly enough to work with despite their natural appeal. Though it's at least performed well, the father-daughter subplot is maybe the heaviest one. Paige and Murphy have terrific banter and chemistry.
We learn more about how Foley runs as a parent and how his natural inclinations show in Jane for as little as the actual case provides and how clear-cut the story seems to be. Director Mark Molloy mostly depends on Murphy's improvisation, but without a solid framework for Murphy to work with, the island he is on becomes rather evident. Fortunately, Murphy, a decade's worth of material, and nostalgia will help to create an interesting film hiding many flaws.
I wish more time would be dedicated to Jane and Foley cooperating. Rosewood would have ideally had more screen time since the trio working together seems far more interesting than what Gordon-Levitt's Bobby presents. Bobby's presence sees the movie trying to appeal to a younger audience since Rosewood could have readily slid into that role (without the romantic angle with Jane). I can continue on about the shoulda, woulda, coulda of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, but I'll settle by saying at least it's entertaining — and that's enough.
If only to see one of Murphy's most important roles from the 80s, a real golden era for the multi-hyphenate entertainer, Axel's comeback will satisfy fans of the franchise and perhaps inspire those just tuning in to watch the original trilogy.
Axel F. from Beverly Hills Cop is streaming on Netflix Wednesday, July 3.
Axel Foley is the fourth movie in the Eddie Murphy-star popular comedy run in Beverly Hills Cop. Along with returning cast members Judge Reinhold and John Ashton and Bronson Pinchot as Serge, Murphy reprising as Axel Foley in the Netflix film As fresh characters in the sequel, Kevin Bacon and Joseph Gordon-Levitt also feature.