QUORUM OF ACTION
“Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F”
Premiering on Netflix on Wednesday 3 July
United States of America. King: Mark Malloy
Med: Eddie Murphy, Taylor Paige, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Kevin Bacon
Exactly 30 years after “Beverly Hills pig III” disappointed everyone, Eddie Murphy’s obstinate blue collar nose (63) Axel Foley is among us again.
Now on Netflix, after an attempt at a TV series version – but (thank God) it was deleted. This film should suffer the same fate, and be remembered in the same way as the 1994 turkey:
As a weak work of art, many – including Eddie Murphy himself – will soon wish it had never seen the light of day.
First of all, it might be a good idea to remind yourself that the first “Beverly Hills pig” movie, the 40-year-old original from 1984, is not a great comedy either.
BREAKING THINGS: Eddie Murphy and Paul (right) go in “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.” Photo: Netflix
Rather, it was the end of an era when Murphy was the funniest man alive for a few years. It is much weaker than its predecessors (although they are also dated) “48 hours” (1982) and “Rollebyttet” (1983). Not to mention the film stand “Delirious” (also 1983).
From now on it was going to get a lot rougher. Then, in the name of justice, it should be noted that he has a glimpse. And that was really just five years ago, in “Dolemite Is My Name” (2019, also on Netflix).
But then. Here and now, seeing Eddie Murphy on screen is extremely wise. His 2024 version of Axel Foley has nothing on him, which made the 1984 version temporarily rehabilitated.
Physically, the actor looks extremely well-preserved. Not so many days have passed, for example, 40. But even if his face looks unnaturally young to sit on a 63-year-old body, there is no excess to be found there. We are not in the least happy to be entertained.
Generally this is a film where you feel the actors are throwing each other down. But Murphy seems especially heavy, tame and settled. A tired man, almost beaten, without us understanding why.
We start as usual in Axel’s hometown. Detroit, Michigan, where men are still men, and black men are only interested in ice hockey.
At the same time, in much more glamorous Beverly Hills, Foley’s old friend Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and what we learn is Axel’s grown daughter, the lawyer Jane (Taylour Paige), is on the verge of a big fat scandal. case.
Jane and Axel hadn’t been in touch for God knows how many years. Of course, the relationship must be repaired when Foley takes Beverly Hills for the fourth time.
A disproportionate amount of the playing time in “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” is devoted to this boring father-daughter relationship. Murphy does not get the opportunity to be what he is, ie a comedian, but he has to do his best to appear as a “proper” sentimental and serious actor.
I don’t bother writing at length about what kind of thing the narcotic manuscript was composed of. Of course, it involves corrupt cops, cops shot in the line of duty, drug smuggling, planting evidence, surveillance footage gone astray, and all that usual stuff.
However, the investigation is going very smoothly. The tips are simple fall into Foley’s lap. Captain Grant’s (Kevin Bacon) marble set and stiff Botox smile leave no doubt as to who the villain is.
No one expects a sophisticated crime plot in an action comedy. But the action sequences are unlikely to be as toothless: Eddie stops bad guys with the help of a fire extinguisher. Eddie ends up behind the wheel of a buggy during a “car chase” – not only, but to times.
Between punches, he serves silly dad jokes with anti-.woke preg, and still have the right to laugh condescendingly when he is with a gay man. Like, for example, Serge (Bronson Pinchot), who some will remember from the first film. It is in every way no laughing matter.
Apropos callbacks: The fact that Sergeant Taggart (John Ashton) is also included, 30 years after his retirement in the predecessor, may be very nostalgic. He complains about his wife at home – what a slob! – and it seems to have survived several world wars.
I thought the reason people even stopped being police officers in the US was because the pension schemes are so good? But here they are, still working: Axel Foley (63) and John Ashton (76).
Time to turn in your badge now, guys. “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” is a comedy that makes you sad.
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