Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (Movie Review)
 |
| Axel's back! |
Everyone seems to be tapping into the past. There's no better drug than nostalgia.
Naturally, there's apprehension and you pray Netflix won't commit utter sacrilege, and bury the franchise.
The bar for nostalgic sequels was set high by 'Top Gun: Maverick' (which I loved). It also left me wondering if 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' would meet those expectations.
Having secured the rights, it was a big budget production for Netflix. So 'Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F' becomes an streaming exclusive with no theatrical release.
With the kids asleep; the wife and I, snuggled into bed to watch a bit of Axel.
Axels Back!
Beverly Hills Cop I and II were so memorable, for blending comedy with dark, believable action and well portrayed villains.
However, by part III, the Beverly Hills Cop franchise lost its way, veering into silliness and losing the tone of the originals. It had it moments, (the spider ride scene), but most consider it the lame duck of the franchise. It lacked the laughs and vibes of the originals.
The success of the Beverly Hills Cop I & II were a formula replicated in later comedic action franchises like Die Hard, Lethal Weapon and Bad Boys. It showed you can mix comedic elements, with action and sophisticated plots.
People forget how good Eddie Murphy was in the eighties. A top comedic actor with slick comedic timing, honed from experience on the stand-up circuit. He owned the decade with movies like of 'Trading Places' and 'Coming To America'.
The Plot
The iconic 'Axel F' theme tune is present, as is the classic eighties track 'The Heat Is On', performed by the late Glenn Frey, during the intro credits.
The new film centres around corruption in the police department, a gripping drug dealer storyline and one or two subplots from this.
The return of characters like Rosewood and Taggart are great for the long-time fans, and other faces make a welcome return.
The return of characters like Rosewood and Taggart are great for the long-time fans, and other faces make a welcome return.
The trusted plotlines of police bureaucracies and corruption are present, grounding the movie in familiar territory.
Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) is now a private investigator and has teamed up with Foley's lawyer daughter (Taylour Paige), to expose drug trafficking and police corruption, lead by ringleader Captain Grant (Kevin Bacon).
Eddie Murphy brings his characteristic energy, delivering a strong performance that reminds us of his hay day. Kevin Bacon, delivers as the villain, and adds a believable angle to the corruption narrative, enhancing the film's tension and layers.
One of the main subplots, are the "daddy issues" between Axel Foley and his estranged daughter. Perhaps this element drags a bit, but it adds some depth.
There's a mix of old and new ideas, paying homage to the early films without trying to replicate them, keeping it fresh and nostalgic.
The action scenes flow and the budget has been spent well. There's enough explosions and gunshots, alongside some impressive helicopter and car chase scenes.
Despite some obvious product placement, the action sequences are engaging and well-executed. It pays tribute to the original films, while carving out its own identity.
In Summary
Fans of the first two movies, will enjoy this new and improved stint of Axel Foley.
Its a vast improvement over the third movie, recapturing the magic that made the original films so good.
It's not perfect. The father-daughter plotline is cliché. Kevin Bacon is a decent baddie, but his corruption is far too obvious and unravels too easily (I felt).
However, it's a decent watch and shows that Eddie Murphy can still deliver the comedy and action that defined the franchise, 7/10.
Comments
Post a Comment