Tripwire Looks Back At Beverly Hills Cop

It’s A Fair Cop?

With the release of Beverly Hills Cop 4 on Netflix from yesterday, 3 July, Tripwire asked contributing writer Paul N Neal to cast a critical eye over the three films that have made this new entry into the franchise possible:

Tripwire’s review of the new movie is here: https://tripwiremagazine.co.uk/headlines/tripwire-reviews-beverly-hills-cop-axel-f/…

The Trilogy

The three films are Beverly Hill Cop 1, 2 and 3. Each film will be considered with a few relevant facts and figures. In addition, Tripwire has tried to pick the best two movie posters for each film and avoid spoilers. Although for the first film released in 1984 (40 years ago) perhaps spoilers should not be too much of a concern.

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Directed by Martin Brest
Starring Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Ronny Cox, Steven Berkoff
Reported Budget: $13m
US Box Office: $234m
International Box Office: $81m
Approximate Global Box Office: $316m
Adjusted for inflation 2024: $730m
Reviews: At the time mostly very positive
Running Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes

In 1984, Eddie Murphy was 23 years of age and already something of a star. His Delirious stand-up movie, roles in 48hrs, Trading Places and frequent appearances on Saturday Night Live all suggested it was only a matter of time before he was given a solo vehicle of his own. In this case the vehicle was a truly haphazardly driven lorryload of stolen cigarettes to the tune of The Pointer Sisters’ song The Neutron Dance. Like much of the mid 1980s, Beverly Hills Cop is far from subtle.

It is interesting to consider the starring role was originally offered to Mickey Rourke, Sylvester Stallone, Al Pacino and Harrison Ford. The final lead was only decided approximately a fortnight before cameras began to roll.

Nonetheless the film was the perfect opportunity for Murphy to over-act and perform (and likely improvise) his way into the character of Axel Foley. With hindsight, the truly odd element here is that director Martin Brest was hardly a big name at the time and had no credits on his CV since ’79. He, of course, went on to enjoy some success with offerings such as Scent of a Woman in 1992 and Meet Joe Black in 1998.

The cast is rounded out by Judge Reinhold, John Aston and Ronny Cox. These three experienced actors are a fun foil for Murphy to play against. Much like the Lethal Weapon franchise, it is during the sequels where the supporting cast is fully fleshed out and given time to stretch their legs.

To this day, Beverly Hills Cop remains one of the most successful R rated (18 certificate) movies of all time. Adjusted for inflation, it outstrips the likes of Deadpool and The 300 for profitability. Yet this is not what most moviegoers will remember about these films.

There’s a certain tune that everyone of a certain age remembers. “Axel F” by the German musician Harold Faltermeyer became the theme for the trilogy and was a hit record in America and across Europe. This tune is infectious and memorable.

Ultimately is it actually a good film? Yes. For the era it was made in, it stands the test of time as the gold standard of the comedy cop genre that it may have created. Many followed but it was never surpassed. Is the plot important? No, not terribly, as it is about the journey. The only lingering concern may be that some of the racial cliches or homophobic jokes may not receive as positive a response in the new millennium as they may have done in the eighties.

For the inevitable sequel, enter from stage left on directing duties action maestro Tony Scott.

Beverly Hills Cop 2 (1987)

Directed by Tony Scott.
Starring Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Ronny Cox, Bridgette Nielson.
Reported Budget: $27m

US box office: $153m

International box office: $146m
Approximate Global Box Office: $299m
Reviews: Not as well received as the original.
Running Time: 1 hour and 43 minutes

Beverly Hill Cop 2 did so many things right but made some crucial errors. Recruiting Tony Scott to helm the sequel after his success on Top Gun just the year before was an inspired move by the producers. He introduced a visual flair and real urgency to all the action scenes, and everything looked crisper. An early chase scene involving Foley’s Ferrari looks redder than it should, and downtown Detroit almost looks like a place worth visiting! Almost.

This sequel has a lot going for it. The inclusion of Brigitte Nielsen as one of the bad guys here is ironic simply because she was married to Sylvester Stallone at the time, and he was initially considered for the lead role. Jurgen Prochnow never fails to disappoint as a dodgy villain from somewhere in Eastern Europe. If that was all that was required of the actor he’s….. okay. Few actors win many awards playing cliched Eastern European gangsters, but in 1987 perhaps it was a novelty.

Again, ultimately the plot hardly matters. It involves stolen diamonds, a gun club, a string of crimes called the Alphabet Crimes and the shooting of Ronny Cox’s character Captain Bogomil (although apparently that was because he was appearing in 1987’s other action classic Robocop at the same time.) There’s also an exceptionally dated visit to the Playboy mansion, there’s more on the nose homophobic caricatures again, and some nonsense science about getting a fingerprint off a matchbox with superglue and a turtle called Big Al.

Beyond this, there is the obligatory Strip club scene that was the fashion at the time and Paul Reiser hamming it up trying keep Murphy’s Foley from being caught out by Gil Hill’s (surely cliched) character Captain Todd. Furthermore, the 80’s fashions seem to be more glaringly noticeable here compared to the film it follows. This may have been a directorial choice but is so incredibly obvious once you get past the neon filters used in some of the action sequences. All of that is acceptable within reason. It is beautifully directed twaddle.

There are some small quibbles. One is the greatest sin that the film commits. It is so blatant: It is supposed to be a comedy! Eddie Murphy is a comedian, but he isn’t funny at all in this film. Tony Scott was an action director, and he did his job with some gusto. When he was hired, he had zero experience with comedy, and it shows. This is an action movie, not a comedy as it should have been. However this film has two saving graces.

Firstly if you have a soft spot for the music of the 80’s the soundtrack to Beverly Hills Cop 2 is well worth it. Beyond the Axel F theme, there are tunes by Bob Seger, George Michael and The Jets.

Secondly the film is rescued a touch by Judge Reinhold’s portrayal of Detective Billy Rosewood. His approach to this ever so slightly zen but gun-toting officer is just a cinematic joy. Granted it may not have dated well but he really helps to pull the film together.

With all that said, this follow-up was very popular and made an awful lot of money. So, a third film was on the cards and what could possibly go wrong? Right?

Beverly Hills Cop 3 (1994)

Directed by John Landis.
Starring Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, Hector Elizondo, Timothy Carhart.
Reported Budget: 70 million dollars.
US box office: 42 million dollars.

International box office: 77 million dollar

Approximate Global Box Office: 119 million dollars.
Reviews: Very easily the worst reviewed film of the trilogy.
Running Time: 1 hour and 44 minutes

“Oh Dear” is the only response to this film. There are very few films that conclude a trilogy quite this poorly. I would imagine at the time many thought that reuniting Eddie Murphy with John Landis was a stellar idea. After all, Trading Places and Coming to America had been successful. With The Blue Brothers Landis proved he could do action and comedy. So, what could possibly go wrong?

In 1994, Eddie Murphy was still popular and a household name. Another 48 Hrs and Boomerang were not massive hits, but they were far from flops. The action takes place predominantly in a fictionalised amusement park called Wonder World. All the rides, the concession stands and the staff dressed in colourful costumes clearly mock Disney. This was a winning formula, you might think.

As is often the case with a Landis production, there are plenty of colourful cameos from the likes of George Lucas, Joe Dante and even Ray Harryhausen amongst others, so this is another reason to enjoy the film?

Sadly no. For starters the action sequences are dreadfully slow and uninspired, the script is shockingly bad and every actor almost bar none appears to be under the influence of a potent cocktail of some powerful sedatives. The soundtrack is repetitive and dull, plus there are some howling continuity errors that even a five-year-old could spot. This is assuming that this film could hold the attention of an infant, which it would not.

This fact is doubly ironic when you consider that the vast bulk of proceedings take place in a colourful kid friendly amusement park.

There are some elements to enjoy however. Judge Reinhold is still good value for money, and veteran comedy and character actor Hector Elizondo confidently steps into a void left by John Ashton’s absence this time around.

Also, for some, it may be of interest to see Theresa Randle play a slightly more romantic role compared to her excellent but more action-orientated appearances in the Bad Boys movies. Bronson Pinchot as Serge continues to provide light to moderate comic relief, in the same way that Joe Pesci did as Leo Getz in the Lethal Weapon films, and herein lies the ultimate problem.

Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are not meant to be funny as such and perhaps they require a comedy sidekick, but Eddie Murphy on his own is supposed to be hysterical. In this film, he cuts the figure of a sad circus clown, a shadow of his former self, and even as a leading man his efforts just barely work. The film is not helped by having a thoroughly inept villain and a script so full of huge plot holes you could fly a Death Star through any one of them.

Simply put this is a very bad film. Avoid at all costs! Tripwire watched it so you don’t have to!

Finally if you needed any further convincing consider this: The film is called Beverly Hills Cop 3 and it somehow manages to make Beverly Hills look utterly boring.

Metro (1997)

An honourable mention must go towards Eddie Murphy’s 1997 movie Metro. It is a curiosity of his career that is of note for a couple of reasons.

Directed by Thomas Carter
Starring Eddie Murphy, Michael Rapaport, Michael Wincott
Reported budget: $55m
Approximate Global Box office: $74m
Reviews: Mixed, but largely positive.
Running time: 1 hour and 57 minutes

On another Earth, Metro could have been retooled to become Beverly Hills Cop 4. It came out only three years after the lamentable third film and at least as far as the critics were concerned, Metro was a far superior film, although that is a low bar to clear indeed.

As a hostage negotiator, Eddie Murphy definitely convinces. It would be easy to insert a little of Axel Foley’s swagger, a slightly livelier soundtrack and a spirited marketing campaign and Metro could have been as great a success.

As it stands, it is an enjoyable oddity of a nineties action movie, that is funny, action-packed and actually a really good fun film.

Conclusion

With the law of diminishing returns on many film franchises it will be interesting in this case to see how successful the fourth entry will be. At the age of 63, can Eddie Murphy cut it as an action star?

Regrettably it may be a little hard to gauge its success or failure: as like many streaming services, Netflix are not famous for releasing viewing figures. For this reason, rightly or wrongly, it can only be judged by the critical response and social media.

Tripwire’s conclusion is that the film will face an uphill struggle as thus far each successive film has demonstrated a rapid decline in quality. Here is what we know so far:

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley (3 July 2024, Netflix.)

Directed by Mark Molloy.
Starring Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Joseph Gordon Levitt and Kevin Bacon
Reported Budget: Unknown at this stage.
Approximate Global Box Office: Unknown at this stage.
Reviews: (Insert link Joel).
Running Time: 1 hour and 55 minutes.

As is always the case Tripwire is interested in feedback. Any thoughts or comments are actively encouraged.