‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ Review: Brash, Fun and Nostalgically 80s

Every so often, a film captures genuine nostalgia, and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F does just that, it channels the nostalgic vibe of 1980s cinema without overindulging in it. Despite its generic police-corruption plot, and predictable moments, it still manages to surpass the previous two.

The original Beverly Hills Cop, released in 1984, was a monumental hit, becoming the highest-grossing film in the U.S. that year and launching Eddie Murphy to international stardom. There was some trepidation upon hearing about Axel Foley’s return after all these years, as crafting modern sequels to classic ’80s and ’90s films is a delicate art. While many attempts fall short, a few succeed remarkably well. Fortunately, the fourth installment in this series is the most enjoyable since the original 1984 film.

The story kicks off in Detroit, where Detective Axel Foley (Murphy) continues his trademark antics, causing chaos while chasing down minor criminals. A drug case soon leads him back to Beverly Hills, reuniting him with his former colleagues, Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and Taggart (John Ashton). Foley also reconnects with his estranged daughter, Jane (Taylour Paige).

Jane, an attorney at a prestigious Beverly Hills firm, is defending low-level drug mule Sam Enriquez, who she believes has been framed as a cop killer by a conspiracy of corrupt officers. When masked thugs violently warn Jane to drop the case, Axel Foley arrives in town like a wrecking ball.

He soon finds himself up against Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a cool-headed cop who doesn’t let Foley’s crazy antics faze him. But that doesn’t stop Axel from getting into all sorts of wacky chases—like tearing through the streets in a snowplow, a golf cart, and even a helicopter!

Eddie Murphy shines, delivering his finest performance in years, in a sequel that recaptures the original’s charm.

Murphy effortlessly slips back into the role of Axel Foley, like he never left those iconic sneakers behind, seamlessly tapping into what makes the character tick, he plays the much older Foley as a savvy, streetwise ‘dad’ figure, maintaining his eccentricity and mischief.

The returning characters from the original trilogy make modest, yet satisfying appearances. Billy Rosewood (Reinhold), now working as a private detective after leaving the force, calls Axel to warn him about his daughter’s dangerous predicament. Feeling responsible for encouraging Jane to take on the case. John Taggart (Ashton), now unretired, it was great to see him again, Bronson Pinchot’s brief but memorable return as Serge is a delightful highlight, adding a shot of nostalgic charm. But this film primarily centers on the new faces: Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Detective Bobby Abbott, Taylour Paige as Foley’s daughter, and Kevin Bacon as Captain Cade Grant.

In his directorial debut, Mark Molloy deftly channels the nostalgic vibe of 1980s cinema without overindulging in it. Eddie Murphy shines, delivering his finest performance in years, in a sequel that recaptures the original’s charm. With a tone that stays true to the original trilogy, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is a well-paced mix of comedy and action and is an entertaining watch for both new and longtime fans.

You can watch Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F right now on Netflix.

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