‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ Movie Review: Eddie Murphy Brings Back Pulpy '80s to Modern Times in This Fun but Familiar Legacy Sequel (LatestLY Exclusive)

Beverly Hills Cop Axel F Movie Review: Detective Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is back on the streets of Detroit and Beverly Hills, and this time, the mission is more personal. Murphy returns to one of his most popular roles after a gap of 30 years in what is a legacy sequel to a franchise that already has three movies in its kitty. Directed by Mark Molloy in his feature film debut, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F brings back familiar faces, places, and situations as if the years never passed, though the wrinkles on the returning actors' faces proclaim otherwise. The nostalgic value is certainly intact, and Eddie Murphy is on a roll here, but this breeding familiarity is also why the franchise saw a dwindling sense of quality with each instalment. Beverly Hills Cop Axel F Trailer: Eddie Murphy Returns After 30 Years, Teams Up with Joseph Gordon-Levitt to Save His Daughter's Life!

Thirty years in, Foley is still a detective for the Detroit Police Department and continues to wreak havoc on the streets, chasing after leads. Once again, Beverly Hills beckons him, but this time, the call is more personal. His estranged daughter Jane (Taylour Paige), a defence attorney representing an alleged cop-killer she believes is innocent, is being threatened by unknown men. Meanwhile, his old friend Rosewood (Judge Reinhold), who has retired from service and is working as a PI, has been helping Jane with her case and has disappeared.

Watch the Trailer of 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F':

With his other old friend Taggart (John Ashton) now the head of the LA Police Department, Foley finds an unlikely accomplice in Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who used to have a romantic past with Jane, while also trying to mend fences with his daughter. Their common enemy is Cade Grant (Kevin Bacon), a clearly corrupt captain with major connections to organised crime.

Beverly Hills Cop Axel F Movie Review - Eddie Murphy Shines Again!

In lieu of what the Beverly Hills Cop franchise has stood for, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F certainly lives up to the legacy. Eddie Murphy has not let the years corrode his glib mannerisms and the admirable energy that made Foley such an iconic character. It was certainly fun to watch the actor return to this role, bringing with him enough nostalgic doses that work in the movie's favour, also helped by the returning theme tune from Harold Faltermeyer (made more famous later by that "Crazy Frog" video). A wondrous aspect of Murphy's performance is the easy manner in which he builds camaraderie with his co-stars, even the newer ones, be it Paige or Gordon-Levitt.

The return of Reinhold, Ashton, Reiser, and a couple of other actors also helps to continue the franchise's essence, even if their screentime is limited this time around.

Beverly Hills Cop Axel F Movie Review - The Screenplay is Too Familiar

The makers let the film traverse through recognisable situations and action set pieces we often connect with Beverly Hills Cop movies. So we have Foley trying to smooth-talk his way into exclusive clubs, having fights with police chiefs (even if this time it is an old mate), and going through some frenetic car chases that end with police vehicles getting wrecked (unsurprisingly, with no human casualties).

The helicopter scene was quite fun to watch, with Murphy and Gordon-Levitt's banter working its charm here. Kevin Bacon's antagonist is that cardboard villain you usually associate with these movies. So, all in all, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F feels like revisiting the 'hits' of the franchise and also a callback to the pulpy '80s era despite the contemporary setting. You People Movie Review: Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy Try to Liven Up This American ‘2 States’ but With Limited Impact.

While I don't really mind a return to those familiar situations, the screenplay also drags in some tired tropes. The estrangement between the father and daughter gives a more dramatic flair to the movie, but it is a very predictable track. The film also falls into the trap of a 'damsel in distress' in the third act. The ordinary screenplay doesn't do the film any favours, but if you want to revisit the Beverly Hills Cop franchise with an evoking sense of nostalgia, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F works well and mightily.

Beverly Hills Cop Axel F Movie Review - Final Thoughts

As a legacy sequel, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F has tapped into the nostalgia of its predecessors while reintroducing Eddie Murphy's iconic Axel Foley with the same charm and wit that fans love. The film revokes the pulpy charm of the franchise, making it a delightful trip down memory lane. However, the reliance on predictable tropes and an ordinary screenplay is a major drawback. Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is streaming on Netflix!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 03, 2024 10:57 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).