Axel Foley is back, and—brace yourself—he’s a bit weary. Our beloved veteran lawman admits as much not even an hour into “Beverly Hills Cop Axel F.” Instead of donning another colorful persona to score a room at the Beverly Palms Hotel, he pauses, sighs, and simply hands over his wallet. After three decades of dormancy (excluding a scrapped CBS TV pilot), one has to wonder: has the franchise run out of steam too?
When Netflix announced this sequel, few were as excited as I was. As a Gen Xer who played that Beverly Hills Cop VHS tape on a loop in college, I could hardly wait for Axel F’s return. But when the full trailer dropped, my excitement wavered. “Wait, did they mistake this franchise for an action series instead of a comedy?” I wondered. Unfortunately, my suspicions were confirmed.
The Plot Thickens
Running just under two hours and curiously titled not “Beverly Hills Cop 4,” Axel F follows Eddie Murphy’s iconic Detroit detective as he heads to Los Angeles to protect his daughter Jane, whose life is in danger. Jane, a public defender, is targeted for representing an accused cop killer. Her client and a lead pursued by LAPD vet Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold), now a private investigator, suggest there’s more to the story.
In addition to Murphy and Reinhold, franchise favorites John Ashton, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot make their return. New faces include Taylour Paige as Jane, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as LAPD Detective Bobby Abbott, and Kevin Bacon as the head of a narcotics task force.
Familiar Yet Different
Naturally, Axel still uses fake names to bypass obstacles, Billy gets giddy over big guns, and Taggart pulls a shotgun from his trunk. Classic tunes like “The Heat Is On,” “Shakedown,” “Neutron Dance,” and Harold Faltermeyer’s “Axel F.” all make a comeback, fueling our nostalgic hearts.
But despite these familiar nods, “Beverly Hills Cop Axel F” misses the mark on humor. It tries hard to be an action movie, leaving you glancing at your watch as much as you chuckle.
Murphy, now 63 (a far cry from the 23-year-old who launched the franchise in 1984), isn’t as physically agile or mischievously gleeful. Instead, he leans into Axel’s paternal side, pouring his energy into the tense father/estranged daughter moments. Paige only gets to have fun as Jane about two-thirds in, but when she does, she truly shines.
The Bottom Line
If you loved the original Beverly Hills Cop, enjoyed the first sequel, and tolerated the third, “Axel F” offers a mostly enjoyable return. You’ll grin at Murphy’s line deliveries, laugh occasionally, and feel a warm sense of nostalgia during the Axel/Taggart/Billy reunion. Even seeing the facade of the Beverly Palms Hotel might give you a nostalgic jolt.
“Beverly Hills Cop Axel F” is now streaming on Netflix. It might not be a party all the time, but it’s certainly not a banana in your tailpipe either.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A: The film stars Taylour Paige as Jane, Joseph Gordon-Levitt as LAPD Detective Bobby Abbott, and Kevin Bacon as the head of a narcotics task force.
A: Yes, classic tunes like “The Heat Is On,” “Shakedown,” “Neutron Dance,” and Harold Faltermeyer’s “Axel F.” all make a comeback.
A: Eddie Murphy, now 63, isn’t as physically agile or mischievously gleeful as in the earlier films. He leans more into Axel’s paternal side, focusing on the tense father/estranged daughter moments.
A: The film tries hard to be an action movie and misses the mark on humor, causing it to seem more action-oriented with occasional laughs.
A: Paige’s character, Jane, truly gets to have fun about two-thirds into the film, and when she does, she shines.
A: “Beverly Hills Cop Axel F” is now streaming on Netflix.
