If there was one word you could use to describe what watching Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is like, it would be “nostalgia”. There’s so much being thrown back to predecessors of the iconic franchise, from plot beats to returning characters. And at the forefront is Eddie Murphy, returning to the role that launched him to superstardom some 40 years prior. And if there were any film to bring Murphy back to the limelight in 2024, it would absolutely be Beverly Hills Cop.Â
The newest entry in the franchise, monikered Axel F, follows the titular Axel Foley (Murphy) as he nears the end of his career as a Detroit cop, still trying to hang on despite the people around him telling him to stop. When he learns that his estranged daughter Jane (Taylour Paige) is in danger from old pal Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold), he sets off for Beverly Hills to help solve what seems to be a coverup in another cop’s murder.
There’s a ton of charm to Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, and that certainly can be contributed to Murphy, who’s said that he’s seen half a dozen scripts over the past 20 years for a fourth film in the franchise, waiting to get the perfect one. But also, it was clear that debut director Mark Molloy, who’s most known for directing commercials and television, cares deeply for the franchise. He said that he has fond memories of watching the original with his Uncle and knows what the characters mean to so many people. Molloy took over directing duties from Adil Al Arbi and Bilal Fallah after they shifted their focus to the Batgirl film from Warner Brothers.
It was always going to be a given that the returning characters were going to have the charm we’re used to. Eddie Murphy slots right into the lead role as if he never left. Judge Reinhold and John Ashton are great returning as Billy Rosewood and John Taggert. Even Bronson Pinchot came back to reprise his role as Serge from Beverly Hills Cop III. But I was most impressed with the strength of performances from the new actors.
Paige brings a great strength and independence as Foley’s lawyer daughter Jane. Kevin Bacon is perfectly mysterious as Captain Cade Grant of the Beverly Hills PD, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt is spectacular as Detective Bobby Abbott, Foley’s reluctant side kick and Jane’s ex-boyfriend. Luis Guzman even has a show-stealing scene as the drug lord Chalino.
As you can probably surmise, there’s a lot of characters both new and returning, but I was surprised at how streamlined the story is. It would have been so easy to get lost in the nostalgia, and while there’s plenty of it, writers Will Beal, Tom Gormican and Kevin Etten were able to cut through it with a strong story that really works.
Unfortunately, on the flip side of that coin, the writing did leave a lot to be desired. While dialogue was mostly fine, a lot of the humor fell pretty flat. Surprisingly so given that Eddie Murphy is such a comedy legend. But I just didn’t find myself laughing at any of the jokes.
It really wouldn’t be a throwback 80’s action movie without action, and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F delivers that in spades. There’s car chases a plenty, shootouts and daring escapes. While the CGI in the chases left a lot to be desired, the action is undoubtedly fun.
On top of that, I really enjoyed all the different locations the film visits around Beverly Hills. There’s dingy clubs and under-highway car lots, but also beautiful mansions and sprawling high rises. It really shows off a lot of the beauty that a place like Beverly Hills has to offer.
Final Thoughts
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F does a lot of things right. There’s a real sense of nostalgia that’s backed up by a strong enough story to make it a worthy entry in the iconic franchise. Eddie Murphy is a joy to watch, but it’s really the entire cast performing at their A-Game that makes this movie successful. Sure, it’s a bit cliche and surprisingly unfunny, but there’s enough 80’s nostalgia to cut through that like a knife through butter. Coming off the heels of another successful franchise entry in Bad Boys: Ride or Die, this film is certainly worth a watch for anyone with a Netflix account.
3.5/5
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I have been watching movies my whole life and fell in love at an early age. I was entranced by the ability for a film to whisk me away to a different universe, and that really started with the Star Wars Franchise. I’m by no means an expert and can roll with opinions that might be controversial, but my love for cinema will always remain. When I’m not watching movies, I work in Marketing Analytics with my degree from Western New England University.
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MY FAVORITE MOVIES:
- Good Will Hunting
- Star Wars: A New Hope (or the whole saga)
- Chef
- Tick, Tick, Boom
- The Perks of being a Wallflower