Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Reprising the role that shot him into the big leagues 40 years ago, Eddie Murphy’s Axel F is still causing mayhem when chasing down suspects in Detroit, and after his latest chase results in more damage to property his boss and old friend Deputy Chief Jeffrey Friedman (Paul Reisner) is forced to step down, advising Axel to take time out and reconnect with his estranged daughter in LA.  Working in Beverly Hills, his daughter Jane (Taylour Paige) is a criminal defence attorney who is working with ex-cop turned PI Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) to prove the innocence of her client who has been framed as part of a coverup of corruption.  Axel returns to Beverly Hills and swiftly finds himself caught up in the case as he must confront his own prejudices towards the criminal elements, and face up to his history with his daughter.

Murphy slides back into the role with ease, and within the opening scenes, as he chaotically chases down a group of thieves through Detroit, that old charm and spark surfaces, reminding me of the films of the 80s in a comfortable manner.  Indeed, much of this film does seem to tug on nostalgia for the earlier films – well, the first two at least as pretty much everybody has forgotten the third film for all the right reasons – with faces popping up for cameos, and small references to earlier events added for flavour.  Yes, it is nostalgia-bait, but let’s be honest here, even the second film was just that, following the beats of the first film, inserting characters from the first again as though there aren’t any other people in LA they could use, and we were fine with that.  So, you know what, I’m fine with the nostalgic moments thrown in here, especially as they are worked into the story in a more fluid way than, say, the recent Ghostbusters Frozen Empire film which used them as side gags.  

This all means we get to see reprising faces of Rosewood and Taggart, as well as Bronson Pinchot as Serge, alongside a few nods to Axel’s antics in LA in previous decades.  We do also, however, get the inclusion of Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Detective Bobby Abbot, bringing some fresh energy into the mix, and he certainly makes for a strong inclusion.  It gives a partner for Axel to bounce off, given the backseat Rosewood and Taggart take this time, especially with the additional aspect of his past romance with Axel’s daughter.  As for the daughter, Paige holds her own well and the more personal (and broken) father/daughter relationship lends some heart  to the proceedings, with Murphy and Paige really selling it all.

There’s fun chases, shootouts, and actual investigation this time (not just coincidentally stumbling on evidence), and even though there isn’t any mystery as to who is behind all the corruption, it isn’t an issue because, as with the previous films (well, the first two anyway), there is so much fun to be had with Axel that you just enjoy being along for the ride.

I also want to point out that this film shows how well Murphy is aging, and it is hard to realise that this is set 40 years after that first film, at least until John Ashton and Judge Reinhold crop up, and remind you of the years that have passed.  What could have felt like a tired and out of date reprisal of an old action franchise actually manages to deliver in much of the same tone and manner as those earlier films (not the third).  I’d place this firmly alongside the second film as an unnecessary, but thankfully enjoyable sequel.