Current:Home > Invest'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' review: Eddie Murphy brings Big Dad Energy-InfoLens
'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' review: Eddie Murphy brings Big Dad Energy
View Date:2024-12-23 19:32:45
After 40 years, Eddie Murphy can play his iconic detective Axel Foley in his sleep. It’s the little details, though, that make his latest “Beverly Hills Cop” movie a true comfort-food throwback: retro Bob Seger and Pointer Sisters tunes, that signature Detroit Lions varsity jacket and the impressive commitment to on-duty ridiculousness.
Three decades after Axel’s last assignment, “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” (★★★ out of four; rated R; premiering Wednesday on Netflix) is a confident fourth outing in the action-comedy franchise. And while it's a very modern release – via streaming rather than movie theaters – everything else leans pretty old school.
Join our Watch Party!Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox
Chaos and wanton property destruction – plus Harold Faltermeyer’s synth-groovy “Axel F” theme – again follow Foley from his beloved Motor City to Southern California. A bunch of old faces return, new personalities freshen up the series and Axel, this time boasting Big Dad Energy, further cements himself as Murphy's top cinema character. (Sorry, Donkey.)
After a crazy-pants incident in downtown Detroit involving a snowplow and bad guys on ATVs (all set to Seger’s “Shakedown,” naturally), Axel gets a call from his old buddy Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold), who’s left the Beverly Hills police and is now a private eye investigating department corruption. Axel’s estranged daughter Jane (Taylour Paige), an LA defense attorney, has become embroiled in these shady shenanigans by taking on the case of a cop killer and her life has been threatened, which leads to her dad hopping on the next flight out.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
But there are a lot of hard feelings between Jane and Axel – especially on her part. When Billy goes missing, father and daughter reluctantly team up to uncover the conspiracy, with the help of Jane’s detective ex Bobby (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).
Director Mark Malloy makes his film debut with “Axel F,” which is interestingly self-aware: Bobby runs down Axel’s prior Beverly Hills escapades, including one in 1994. "Not your finest hour,” Bobby says, a sharp jab at the forgettable third film. The franchise on the whole nicely borrows a page from the playbook of the similarly toned “Bad Boys” movies in recent years, in this case building out the mythology with debuting characters.
These personas allow Murphy to showcase different parts of Axel. Kevin Bacon’s shady Captain Grant gives him a complicated foil. (Between this and the new horror flick “MaXXXine,” Bacon is enjoying a nifty bad-guy period.) Gordon-Levitt gives Murphy a fun guy to banter with while Paige lets the longtime star dig into Axel’s parental emotions. Why he and Jane haven’t spoken in years is slowly revealed, but Murphy shines in the moment when Axel sees his grown child in person after so long apart, and the chatty cop is left speechless for once.
Familiar players return in supporting fashion, such as Bronson Pinchot’s flamboyant realtor Serge, Paul Reiser’s embattled Detroit police captain Jeffrey Friedman and John Ashton’s Axel pal John Taggart, now the head of the BHPD. One of the biggest disappointments is the limited screen time with original “Cops” stars Murphy, Reinhold and Ashton, separated mainly by plot but energizing when all together.
While the franchise has never been known for hard-hitting police drama, “Axel F” does veer too earnest at times and is at its best when embraces a sillier side, like a chase through Rodeo Drive with Axel driving a meter maid car and “Neutron Dance” pumping through the speakers.
It’s an irresistibly arresting “Beverly Hills Cop” that knows when to play the hits.
veryGood! (636)
Related
- Suspect in deadly 2023 Atlanta shooting is deemed not competent to stand trial
- Thailand’s Senate overwhelmingly approves a landmark bill to legalize same-sex marriages
- Massachusetts suffers statewide outage of its 911 services
- Jessica Biel Steps Out in New York After Justin Timberlake's Arrest
- College Football Playoff bracket: Complete playoff picture after latest rankings
- Over 120 people hospitalized, 30 in ICU, with suspected botulism in Moscow; criminal probe launched
- Taylor Swift sings 'This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things' on Scooter Braun's birthday
- I'm 49 and Just Had My First Facial. Here's What Happened
- Hill House Home’s Once-A-Year Sale Is Here: Get 30% off Everything & up to 75% off Luxury Dresses
- California wildfires force evacuations of thousands; Sonoma County wineries dodge bullet
Ranking
- 13 Skincare Gifts Under $50 That Are Actually Worth It
- Early blast of heat and humidity leaves millions sweltering across the US
- GOP lawmaker from Vermont caught on video repeatedly dumping water into her Democratic colleague's bag
- Here's how to keep cool and stay safe during this week's heat wave hitting millions
- Forget the bathroom. When renovating a home, a good roof is a no-brainer, experts say.
- Bronny James has only staged workouts for Lakers and Suns, per report
- As Philippines sailor hurt in South China Sea incident, U.S. cites risk of much more violent confrontation
- Probe finds carelessness caused Jewish student group’s omission from New Jersey high school yearbook
Recommendation
-
The Best Gifts for People Who Don’t Want Anything
-
Texas woman sues Mexican resort after husband dies in hot tub electrocution
-
Former CNBC analyst-turned-fugitive arrested by FBI after nearly 3 years on the run
-
Missing Florida family were burned in backyard fire pit, police believe, suspect arrested
-
Satire publication The Onion buys Alex Jones’ Infowars at auction with help from Sandy Hook families
-
Who is part of the 'Wyatt Sicks'? These WWE stars appeared with Uncle Howdy on Raw
-
Stock market today: Asian stocks mostly lower after US markets were closed for Juneteenth
-
Austin Butler Shares Insight Into Being an Uncle to Ashley Tisdale's Kids