Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F has a “The gangs all here.” vibe. And they are all there. Older, heavier and tired. Despite all these age related setbacks, there is enough nostalgia here to make this an enjoyable feature. It may not be the comeback trail Murphy expected, screening on Netflix instead of having a cinematic release, but he still has some of that old magic left.
The Story
Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is still working the streets in Detroit. His old pal Jeffrey (Paul Reiser) is now the chief and Axel shows he has not changed since he hit the streets as a younger man. Word is, Foley needs to stop being Foley.
Meanwhile, out in Beverly Hills, Axel’s estranged daughter Jane is in danger. Axel heads out to help after Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) calls him. Rosewood is off the force and now missing.
The Cast
Apart from the already mentioned above, the rest of the cast feature a few old faces and some new:
The Old
John Ashton is back as Taggart. Ashton proves that while age may be a factor, he can still deliver.
Bronson Pinchot is in a brilliant cameo as Serge, “Ach-well!” It was a delight to see the actor reprise the scene stealing from Beverly Hills Cop 1.
Reiser and Reinhold are also on hand to boost that nostalgic feel.
The New
Kevin Bacon as the crooked cop Grant. Seriously, Bacon has made a second career playing bad guys. He does it well, however, and let’s face it, Footloose was a long time ago.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Detective Abbot an old flame of Jane Saunders, Axel’s daughter. Gordon-Levitt has been a favorite of mine since the superb noir-ish Brick and Looper.
Taylour Paige is Jane, daughter of Foley. She is a welcome addition to the Foley clan.
What works
Mark Molloy directs Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F adroitly. He has pretty much given Murphy what he needed to make this revisit to “Foley Land” work. Will Beall, Kevin Etten, and Tom Gormican wrote the screenplay and they too gave Murphy plenty of nostalgic moments and some “growth” for his character.
Eduard Grau makes each scene a vibrant feast of colour and light. While the film’s editor Dan Lebental puts it all together nicely.
Deja Vu All Over Again
The plot of the film works only because, with the exception of the Jane storyline, it is a reworked version of the first film. The music, which pops, the same poking fun at Hollywood and Beverly Hills, as well as the character dynamic.
If we feel a little like Axel F is warmed up leftovers, that is because it is. This does not make the film any less entertaining. After all, Mum’s meatloaf tastes just as good the second time around. And while the new Jane/Abbot scenario felt a tad contrived, it still works after a fashion.
Rescued from the retirement home
One problem with the film has to do with the age of the players. With the exception of Murphy; who just looks heavier, the rest of the “old” cast look, well, old.
That is because they are. Regardless of how many wrinkles are showing or how “rough” these actors might look, they do perform. This dedication to characters who were first introduced in 1984 is admirable.
It may well be a sign of maturity, but there are a lot less f**ks in this one.
A little bit meta
The self awareness and devotion to canon makes Beverly Hills Cop:Axel F work to a huge degree. There are some priceless moments. The meter maid aka the parking ticket cop is the female Beverly Hills version of Foley. That chase is funny. Not gut busting but worthy of a few heartfelt chuckles.
The Verdict
Beverly Hills Cop:Axel F is just barely a 4. The use of familiar music, loved characters and the presence of Kevin Bacon as the resident baddie, all go toward making this a fun film to watch.
It is available only on Netflix. Head on over and check it out.
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