Beverly Hills Cop Axel F Review: Disappointment?
Wisecracking detective Axel Foley returns with a fresh case and partner, only to discover that his world is changing faster than Harold Faltermeyer’s iconic theme song!
Fans love the first two Beverly Hills Cop films, while the third film proved disappointing at the box office. Therefore, director Mark Molloy faces an uphill task.
Axel’s estranged daughter Jane Saunders (Taylour Paige) is back in town.
Jane is Axel’s daughter who practices criminal defense law in Beverly Hills. Despite their estrangement, when an old case involving some crime lords turns personal and threatens Jane’s life – Axel steps in as any good father should – but Jane resists his advice at first; nonetheless Axel comes through and helps save her.
Soon enough, Axel finds himself drawn into another one of his schemes. When he takes an SD card from one of the suspect cars containing evidence Jane needs for her investigation, Cade Grant (Kevin Bacon) draws him in as part of their probe.
As is often the case, Axel doesn’t follow the rules. He becomes embroiled in unnecessary conflicts and causes more property damage than necessary. Furthermore, his unwavering focus on work has driven a wedge between them both.
Jane soon comes to realize she can meet Axel halfway. Axel realizes he put work before Jane and wants to repair their relationship; while not stopping investigating crimes altogether, he promises more time for family. Eddie Murphy makes a welcome return as Axel Foley while Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Paige provide solid counterpoints against Murphy’s antics. This fourth Beverly Hills Cop installment provides great fun.
Axel’s new partner Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) isn’t quite what he expected.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt brings a welcome sense of discipline to Axel, playing off of Paul Reiser’s legacy by filling his shoes. A veteran police officer who’s experienced just about everything. A less volatile character than Axel himself; they share an entertaining dynamic that makes for captivating viewing.
This fourth installment in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise follows Detroit police detective Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy), as he returns home to Beverly Hills and discovers his daughter Jane is threatened by an unknown entity. Axel and Jane join forces with Bobby Abbott (Judge Reinhold) and Billy Rosewood (John Ashton) in order to uncover an ominous conspiracy plotting to harm Jane.
As in the original film, Axel and Jane find themselves engaged in an evening stakeout car chase with mask-wearing thugs wearing masks. Axel pretends to be one of them in order to scare away their attackers; unfortunately for him, their henchmen discover his true identity and pursue him throughout Beverly Hills until finally they catch up to him inside a parking enforcement vehicle.
Mark Molloy is an accomplished commercials director who knows how to deliver powerful punch in a tight runtime with star power and economy. For his latest film he assembled an all-star cast.
Axel’s old pals Billy (Judge Reinhold) and John Taggart (John Ashton) are back.
Axel’s Detroit street smarts remain intact in Beverly Hills Cop 4, as shown by his reunion with Detective Bobby Abbott (Jane’s former flame and fellow BHPD colleague) as well as Billy Rosewood (Reinhold) and John Taggart (Ashton). Additionally, we find out that Jane is now 32 years old; after Axel clashed with Captain Cade Grant in Beverly Hills Cop 3 she and her mother had to relocate after they were forced away from Detroit due to Axel’s actions
Director Mark Molloy adds a more intimate element to this film, spotlighting the dynamic between Murphy and Paige as Jane, a Beverly Hills defense attorney being threatened by criminals operating behind her legal shield. Although it seems like a generic plot device, their combative energy adds depth and dimension to an otherwise standard narrative arc.
Axel’s return to the force places him on tenuous ground with Jeffrey Friedman (Paul Reiser), Detroit’s police chief and Axel’s former boss. Jeffrey does not chastise Axel for engaging in an elaborate snowplow chase that opens the movie; instead he warns him against such stunts, warning Axel that his daughter’s life could be at stake; that warning convinced Axel to go back in just to show Jeffrey that he hasn’t changed his ways renegade ways haven’t returned. Taggart and Rosewood are there as help but Axel doesn’t yet have his own team in place yet – leaving Axel without anyone to help him make up an Axel team of his own just yet!
Axel’s old boss Inspector Todd (Gil Hill) is back.
After his daughter Jane is threatened, Axel returns to Los Angeles-based police department where he meets up with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Billy Rosewood, John Taggart and Serge; old acquaintances that may or may not have caused trouble previously as well as Cade Grant (Beverly Hills Police Department’s new captain).
Copeland was murdered and the investigation leads to a local drug cartel run by Chalino Valdemoro and Enriquez. Axel recruits Serge to assist him in breaking into Valdemoro’s safehouse, while Grant remains wary.
At forty years since its debut and 30 since its last installment, Beverly Hills Cop: This Fourth Encounter feels like a welcome return. Eddie Murphy excels as the maverick detective while being joined by an outstanding cast including Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser and Bronson Pinchot. Mark Molloy’s script delivers plenty of laughs while the action and chase scenes keep things exciting throughout this satisfying sequel.
