Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Nostalgia wins the day in this above-average sequel
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Eddie Murphy cruise through nostalgia in this entertaining sequel.
Forty years after Detroit cop Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) first visited LA on a case, he’s drawn back to the glitz and glam on another mission. This time, his long-time friend, and former Beverly Hills cop, Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) has gone missing after quitting the force to investigate corruption in the department.
Foley hopes to find help in Beverly Hills, in the form of his estranged daughter, Jane (Taylour Paige). Though Jane can’t stand her father, she and Billy had a close relationship, and he went missing trying to find evidence to help her exonerate a client accused of murdering a police officer. In order to save Billy and her client, Jane puts personal grievances aside and begrudgingly teams up with dear old dad.
Will Axel save Billy before it’s too late? Can Axel and Jane reconcile in time for the next sequel?
Nostalgia-based entertainment is nothing new. Sequels, reboots, extended IP — everything old can make money again. Still, every now and then, one of these nostalgia porn films manages to make something genuinely entertaining. This flick is more Top Gun: Maverick than Coming to America 2, and that’s a blessing. There’s nothing new in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, the whole movie is essentially a rehash of the original plot, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t fun to watch Murphy turn on the charm and riff for a couple hours. And while Murphy may have worked to get rid of his iconic laugh, he still has most of the magic that made him a star. It’s a pleasure to just watch him riff as he tries to talk his way into and out of situations.
The sequel itself, directed by Mark Molloy, seems to know its audience is tuning in to hear the hits, so it plays them. We get a mayhem-filled chase through the streets of Detroit to start the film, the reappearance of all the favorite characters (even if their appearance makes no sense), and Axel talking his way into crazy places. And while Molloy isn’t doing anything particularly inventive with the franchise, he at least respects the audience enough to craft something familiar but entertaining.
Molloy does take pains to bring Axel from the 80s to the 21st century. It’s not that Axel’s…dated attitudes are gone, but people are more willing to call him on it. Paige especially works as a good foil for him, calling him on his remarks and holding him accountable for his choices. It’s a wise way to update a character that might otherwise be canceled.
The film also benefits from a bigger budget. While the original had a rough and ready charm to it, it’s clear that Netflix had money to burn on this entry in the Beverly Hills Cop Universe. There is an especially impressive helicopter chase that offers some real thrills and actual stakes.
And while this new film is entertaining, there are still some problems with the story itself. The idea that Axel would abandon his family is up there with Egon Spengler abandoning his kids. It’s also laughable that there are no cameras in police interrogation rooms. Also, Axel and the rest of the cast being shocked that there may be corruption in the Los Angeles Police Department implies that they somehow missed the whole of the 90s. But these movies were never about cultural relevance, they’re about enjoying the charm of Eddie Murphy.
If you’re a fan of the original series, Axel F will likely hit you right in the nostalgia. If you’re new to the franchise, this probably isn’t the place to start. Axel F is a good way to relive your 80s heyday without unearthing your legwarmers from the attic.
Verdict: This movie doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it offers up a sturdy one in this entertaining sequel.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is rated R and available on Netflix
