REVIEW: BEVERLY HILLS COP - AXEL F

3.5/5

The F Word.

118 Mins. Starring: Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot & Kevin Bacon. Director: Mark Molloy. On: Netflix.

90210? No! Yet, 'Axel F' and the latest 'Beverly Hills Cop' movie have been through more drama than those Real Housewives. Back in the 'Raw' and 'Delirious' 80s, alive like Saturday Night, comedy legend Eddie Murphy and his Axel Foley character were the real deal between '84 and '87. A third-act to this trilogy didn't come until 1994 (this one isn't even on Netflix with the rest), and it gets a clever backhand here, as Eddie was off doing the family film thing (laugh at 'Pluto Nash' all you like, but there are some profound moments in both 'Holy Man' and 'A Thousand Words'). Now it's been 30 years...40 since the original. But if those old 80s 'Ghostbusters' can still get an 'Afterlife', then this fellow iconic theme tune that you can call on, can too. The heat is...back on.

Hum along like Peter Griffin for this family guy, because he's finally home. Albeit straight to streaming service Netflix, which some think is the modern day equivalent to straight to DVD (remember those). Meanwhile, those 'Ride Or Die' 'Bad Boys' of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, who Eddie trailer to trailer met and snapped it up with whilst 'Coming 2 America' (another long-awaited sequel of nostalgia) and 'Bad Boys For Life' were on the same lot, are making box office bank with directors Adil & Bilall (who were originally meant to direct 'Axel F' before leaving to make...erm 'Batgirl'). And that's after Smith surviving Slapgate. So why does the only comedian that could actually beat Chris Rock (the right way, with words) not get his big-screen glory? The Netflix N logo starts in the same cinematic way it did for the 'Maestros' it put up there, like a 'Rebel Moon', between all the blockbuster and Oscar glory. To say this 'Beverly Hills Cop' has been through development hell is the understatement of the year, as this tries to be one of the comedies of the calendar.

Car chases. Snowmobile ones. Golf cart ones. Helicopter ones. Those weird little buggies that roll around rich people places like Rodeo Drive that you could probably outrun on a Zimmer frame. There's more chasing this film than the water you add to your whiskey under the police captain's desk. But with the badge and gun no longer there, it's still a fine reunion and return to form for Murphy's law. They love this Detroit Piston in Beverly Hills. Riding around Motor City in this film's opening like a more positive version of Mark Wahlberg's 'Four Brothers'. For all the things this movie tries to throw at the big budget wall, to see what cinematically sticks, the fond feeling of Eddie reuniting with Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot (not to mention that iconic baseball jacket, as signature as Idris Elba's grey tweed overcoat of Great Brit DCI 'Luther') is what holds true. Especially in inspired improvisation.  

Axel's action-comedy, directed by Mark Molloy in his defining debut, also adds star power to the books. A 'Footloose' and fancy Kevin Bacon, sizzles, making a fine foil. And from throwing his badge in the Gotham City river, to telling, not asking Jamie Foxx to stand down in 'Project Power', for the record, when it comes to playing cops, Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a hit, man. He's the partner to the one-man show of Murphy's Foley could actually get down with...even if he did do so with his daughter. Those expecting an Ice Cube 'Jump Street' reaction are in for something that jibes different. But it's those family matters with a terrific Taylour Paige that really take this laughs, camera and action even deeper to a subtle but beautiful drama. One that relates to real life, as the former playboy Murphy became a real family man, showing home is truly where the heart is. Eddie almost won an Oscar for 'Dreamgirls' a decade ago, and revived his career for the Academy with Netflix for 'Dolemite Is My Name' a few years back. Now, in the nice nostalgia of 'Beverly Hills Cop 4' with his old friend Foley, the comeback is complete. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Beverly Hills Cop', 'Another 48 Hrs.', 'Bad Boys: Ride Or Die'.