Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F – Movie Reviews by Ry!

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F – Familiar Bonds of Foley and 90210

In our lives, we tend to look back at things with an eye of remembrance.  Through that lens, we grip things with renewed vision, finding purpose in tomorrow’s rays.  In the world of film, looking back brings about that renewed feeling within a common question … is returning to old franchises a good thing?  In this review, I look at the latest chapter in a popular IP.  Within this sequel, this is a journey of familiar beats in a repackaged vision.  For all the nostalgia, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F provides enough punches for a fun cop/drama tale. 

Within a tale of new threats and familiar bonds, Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) must return to Beverly Hills to uncover a conspiracy before everything is lost.  Within the foundation of ‘returning to a franchise’, there is a balance between building something new and staying true to the property.  There are ‘prime’ points (characters, locations, atmosphere) that must be kept intact, even if the filmmakers put a fresh coat of paint on the journey.  With this latest sequel in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, we witness a blend of foundational aspects that are property and genre specific.  From the IP perspective, we come into this world through the eyes of Axel Foley, an introduction of chaos of criminal antics and action foolery (on Foley’s part).  This prologue pulls you in, gripping you to the genre perspective: the cop/drama foundation.  After some conversational and witty scenes, we head into the main bulk of the film, Foley’s return to Beverly Hills for two reasons: to reconnect with his daughter, Jane Saunders (Taylour Paige) and uncover the corruption in BHPD that involves Jane and his old partner, Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold).  Once Foley arrives on the west coast, we head down a linear narrative built around witty dialogue, over-the-top action, and the cop/drama clichés (corrupted officials, drug cartel, etc.).  This generalized journey is nothing out of the norm, but what keeps you entertained are the returning characters in the franchise … most importantly our main lead.  With Murphy’s return, he brings about a new dimension that is familiar but refreshing.  There is a layer of family, friendship and age themes that come about through conversations between Foley, his daughter and old partner(s) that drive a human element in the journey.  For all that plays upon the simple archetypes, it is these raw moments that bring new flavor to an old franchise. 

As Foley (and the rest) follow through on suspected leads, this builds towards a general revelation that is common in the genre.  Moving down the linear path, we continue to be enthralled by Foley’s character dynamic, adding sensational levity to the obviousness of the plot.  As the true mastermind is uncovered, we head into a third act of bombastic car chases, gun fights and comedic one-liners.  Through this continued mixing of new and old, it builds towards the cliché final confrontation climax, but a whimsical epilogue that brings everything full circle for fans.  Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F brings about enough fun for an old franchise.  If you are a fan of Eddie Murphy, this property or cop/dramas, you will find something here.  It is available on Netflix but would have been fun to see it on the big screen.

Full Score – 3 out of 5 (Theater Discount)