Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Starring Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, Kevin Bacon
Directed by Mark Molloy

Generally, sequels to films that haven't been out in theaters in at least thirty years don't particularly fare well. People are over the past and want to find something new and exciting to cling to, a new franchise, a new universe. Yet sometimes, lightning does strike twice ("Top Gun: Maverick" anyone?). So when Eddie Murphy decided to step back into the shoes of his 1980s detective who never plays by the rules, there was more snickers than screams of joy - especially when "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" wasn't even going to be shown in theaters, but streaming on Netflix. Once it came out, however, the naysayers were shut down as the film is a more than welcome addition to the franchise, heads and tails better than the third, and proves that Eddie Murphy still has what it takes in the action comedy genre.

In Detroit, Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) works as a detective lieutenant and still doesn't play by the rules, to the chagrin of his former partner-turned Deputy Chief Jeffrey Friedman (Paul Reiser). Meanwhile, in Beverly Hills, his now-grown daughter Jane (Taylour Paige) is a criminal defense attorney defending a client in prison for murdering a cop. She comes under attack from mysterious men who want her to stop her investigation, drawing Axel back to Beverly Hills and back into his daughter's life - whether she likes it or not. Together with Jane's ex, Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) the three go undercover to find the true killers and save their own hides in the process.

The 80s was one of the best decades in all of cinema, especially in action. We got the likes of Rambo, the Terminator, John McClane, and Indiana Jones to name a few - but we also got Axel Foley, and the first two films were widely successful and cemented Eddie Murphy as a bonafide action star (the third film, like most trilogies, didn't live up to snuff). Murphy infused his own natural charisma, his pinpoint comedic timing, and action prowess to full effect, amassing over $600 million dollars worldwide. "Axel F" continues the tradition of Murphy's excellence since re-emerging on the screen with "Dolemite is My Name," and shows that some actors can age like fine wine when it comes to legacy sequels.

The film balances the aesthetics of the 80s with a modern flare brilliantly, thanks to Mark Molloy's direction. The iconic soundtrack returns with a hip take, the opening credits scroll in like the classic 80s, and the return of legacy characters like Judge Reinhold's Billy Rosewood and John Ashton's  John Taggert are welcome, but they don't overstay their welcome. The film doesn't try to re-create the 80s feel, but infuses it into the film with the modern day. There's not a lot of jokes about old age and retirement as you usually find in long-gestating sequels like this, but it rather feels like no time has passed between the third and this film.

The story is reminiscent of 80s action films that don't rely on shocking twists or nonsensical storylines, but follows a tried and true method: a framed criminal, corrupt cops, cocaine, and the most obvious villain you can find. There's no need to dig through the Internet afterward to find things you missed: it's black and white, and allows you to immerse yourself in the experience of seeing Eddie Murphy back in action, gleefully moving from one set piece to another donning different personas to get information in truly hilarious ways. Mixed in is some epic action sequences that, like the 80s, don't rely on CGI (including a very impressive helicopter chase through the city and a major shootout filled with tension). It keeps the nearly two hours going at a decent pace with little to no downtime, which was something I was honestly worried about going in (as most movies nowadays have to be at least two hours for no good reason).

The new additions are a mixed bag. Taylour Paige plays Jane, Axel's now-grown daughter and just as headstrong as her father, but also highly estranged from him since they haven't talked in years. Again, there's no real twist to the story as it goes from her hating him to giving him appreciation to hating him again and back and forth, which does become a bit tedious when she repeatedly tells him in different scenes to just go home then welcoming him back, but that's the subtle feel of an 80s movie. That said, Paige's role is severely diminished because of that.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt doesn't get a lot of screentime, but when he does he shines. He leans into his comedic timing and offers some truly laugh-out-loud moments as well as showcasing what a badass he is. Kevin Bacon is gleeful in the villain role (again, not a spoiler, as after one minute of seeing him on screen you know who he is) and dives into the role headfirst.

Yet the film is all about Eddie Murphy, and he's as slick and sly as ever even though it's been exactly thirty years since the third film. He charms once again with his charisma and you can tell the dedication and love he has for the character, possibly as a way to make up for the abysmal third outing. He's got it when he's given the right material ("You People" is a severe blot in his otherwise impressive resume as of late because of this), and this material is ripe for Murphy's talent.

When it comes to Netflix originals, they tend to supply quantity over quality, but every so often you find one film of true quality, and fortunately that's the legacy sequel "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F."

The Score: A