Movie Review - Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Director: Mark Molloy
Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Crime
Runtime: 118 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Paul Reiser, Kevin Bacon, Judge Reinhold, Taylour Paige, John Aston, Bronson Pinchot
 
Description: Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) returns to Beverly Hills after his daughter’s (Taylour Paige) life is threatened, and works with old pals John Taggert (John Aston) and Billy Rosewood) (Judge Reinhold) to uncover a conspiracy.

Review: It has been thirty years since Eddie Murphy last took on the role of Axel Foley in “Beverly Hills Cop 3”(1994) (secretly my favorite 😉). Netfix is reviving the cop with “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F”.

The film opens the way you’d want it: Axel gets behind the wheel of a snow plow and immediately turns the streets of Detroit upside down, hoping to catch a bunch of thugs. It gets completely out of hand, obviously, and before you know it Axel is back in Beverly Hills to help his daughter Jane, who is being threatened. She is a lawyer and is assisting a client falsely accused of killing a cop.

Martin Brest, Tony Scott and John Landis directed the three previous installment of the franchise and debut director Mark Molloy is taking over. He has looked closely at his predecessors and manages to deliver a more than entertaining film. He takes into account the many fans of the previous films (me), but manages to attract a whole new audience as well. Axel Foley is still the foul-mouthed and rule-breaking Detroit cop turning Beverly Hills upside down. It’s not different this time. And other characters we know from these film are returning as well. All though, I was a bit disappointed there. The screentime Axel has with his buddies Billy and Taggert is very limited. And I missed Eddie Murphy’s signature laugh.

The only new element in this film is the father-daughter relationship. For the most part, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” is not an innovative film. But a fun addition to the series and an entertaining action comedy. Great that “Akwel” is back, we’ve waited long enough.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

90s Movie Review - Beverly Hills Cop III

Director: John Landis
Genre: Comedy/ Action
Runtime: 104 minutes
Year: 1994
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, Hector Elizondo, Theresa Randle, Timothy Carhart, Bronson Pinchot

Description: Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy), while investigating a car theft ring, comes across something much bigger than that: the same men who shot his boss are running a counterfeit money ring out of a theme park in Los Angeles.

Review: This is the third time Eddie Murphy decides to kick some ass as cop Axel Foley. This is definitely not a good movie, it’s probably the worse in the series. But it’s my guilty pleasure and it also puts a smile on my face. So, don’t take this review too seriously.
After his boss got killed in action, Axel Foley visits his old friend Billy Rosewood to help him find the guy who did it. Apparently he’s hiding in an amusement park called Wonder World.
Because of the setting, a theme park, this movie shouldn’t been taking all too seriously. You can expect it to become a bit silly. For me it has many hilarious scenes, that still make me laugh after a few times. But that’s probably just me. For example that scene where Axel meets his old acquaintance Serge. Call me weird, but it cracks me up every time.
“Beverly Hills Cop 3” is a movie I always watch when it’s on television, everyone has movies like that. So the rating is based on its entertainment level and not on the quality of the film.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

80s Movie Review - Beverly Hills Cop II

Director: Tony Scott

Genre: Action/ Comedy

Runtime: 100 minutes

Year: 1987

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Ronny Cox, Jürgen Prochnow, Brigitte Nielsen, Allen Garfield, Dean Stockwell, Paul Reiser, Paul Guilfoyle, Chris Rock

Description: Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) returns to Beverly Hills to help Taggart (John Ashton) and Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) investigate Chief Bogomil’s near-fatal shooting and the series of “alphabet crimes” associated with it.

Review: Eddie Murphy was added to the cast of “Beverly Hills Cop” at the very last moment. And it gave us a successful and fun comedy action film. In the second part, “Beverly Hills Cop II”, the script is written around his ability to act and improvise. As a viewer you would expect a better elaborated story, but in practice it turns out differently. The story is pretty much the same, but the film isn’t very surprising at all.

Eddie Murphy is still funny and seemingly enjoying his role. The same goes for Judge Reinhold and John Ashton, as Rosewood and Taggart. They get more screentime and their characters have undergone development.

“Beverly Hills Cop II” is again fun, but offers just more of the same ad the previous film.

Rating: 3 / 5

80s Movie Review - Beverly Hills Cop

Director: Martin Brest
Genre: Action/ Comedy
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 1984
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Ronny Cox, Lisa Eilbacher, Steven Berkoff, Jonathan Banks, James Russo, Bronson Pinchot, Damon Wayans, Paul Reiser. Stephen Elliott

Description: A freewheeling Detroit cop (Eddie Murphy) pursuing a murder investigation finds himself dealing with the very different culture of Beverly Hills.

Review: The script of “Beverly Hills Cop” was initially written with Sylvester Stallone in mind, but he dropped out at the last moment. With Eddie Murphy as his replacement, the scriptwriters had to rewrite many scenes, but due to the short time frame not all dialogues were finished before filming. With the arrival of Murphy, the film changed from a serious police thriller into a comedic action film, in which the humorous dialogues were mainly created by improvisation.
It shows that the actors has a lot of fun. During the so-called supercop scene, the actors clearly have trouble holding back their smiles. Eddie Murphy is given the freedom to shape his character, Axel Foley, as a last minute stand-in. the creators give him the space, but it’s the supporting roles, which act both as a counterpoint to his character and as a companion to the jokes. The two dull cops of the Beverly Hills police force who excel in this, are played by Judge Reinhold and John Ashton. They play the roles of Billy Rosewood and John Taggart. Together they are also responsible for sharp dialogues.
“Beverly Hills Cop” is probably  one of Eddie Murphy’s most iconic roles and it’s one of the most fun action comedies from the 80s.

Rating: 4 / 5

80s Movie Review - Stripes

Director: Ivan Reitman
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 106 minutes
Year: 1981
Starring: Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, John Candy, Judge Reinhold, Sean Young, P.J. Soles, Warren Oates

Description: John (Bill Murray) and Russell (Harold Ramis) are dissatisfied with their jobs and decide to join the army for a bit of fun.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2020 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 12: A COMEDY

Review: Bill Murray already worked with director Ivan Reitman and actor/ director Harold Ramis before. Movies like “Caddyshack”, “Meatballs” and “Stripes” were the prelude to the record-breaking “Ghostbusters” that came out in 1984.
In “Stripes” we follow John Winger who works as a taxi driver and clearly hates his job. After dealing with an uptight upper-class customer, John decides to quit his job. And that’s only the beginning of this terrible day. When he returns home his car is taken and his girlfriend breaks up with him. Not knowing what to do next, John decides to enlist in the army after seeing an add on TV. His friend Russel, who is working as an English teacher, joins him. Once in the army, John and Russell are put in a group led by sergeant Hulka. And it’s not an easy group to control.
“Stripes” is a typical 80s comedy, that probably wouldn’t work as well were it made today. That doesn’t mean it isn’t funny because it is. And the humor mainly comes from the situations and character John. And Bill Murray, who plays John, is the king of sarcasm. I’ve always loved his humor and it really shines here. And Murray doesn’t even have to try, it comes natural to him.
If it weren’t for Bill Murray, this comedy wouldn’t even be remembered. Because the story is quite forgettable, a bit silly at times and also messy. And seeing this movie was made in the 80s, the female characters don’t really have a lot of substance and are merely there for the purpose of the eye.
“Stripes” does have its moments and Bill Murray is definitely the main reason to watch this comedy.

Rating: 3/ 5