Rated R for Violence and Sexual Innuendo
Tell Victor that Ramon – -the fella he met about a week ago? – -tell him that Ramon went to the clinic today, and I found out that I have, um, herpes simplex 10, and I think Victor should go check himself out with his physician to make sure everything is fine before things start falling off on the man. -Axel Foley
Review
Beverly Hills Cop blew onto the scene in 1984 with Hollywood’s most exciting new star, Eddie Murphy. A cool action flick turned into a hysterical action movie with a comedian that could make you laugh, but could also act. Beverly Hills Cop against today’s standards in far better than just about anything you put against it. Frankly, they just don’t make them like this anymore.
Even though Murphy’s overwhelming funny trickles into many aspects of the film, there is a hardness and seriousness that never leaves. His character, Axel Foley, is obviously a complex man. From the first scene we discover he was thief, turned cop, but cop who still doesn’t necessarily follow the rules set up for him. It seemed so easy for Murphy to slip from comedy to dead pan hard ass, and it was so natural to watch, you had to believe Foley. It’s compelling but provides for a wonderful adventure into the action world.
When Foley finally hits Beverly Hills his reactions seem entirely genuine. Being from Detroit myself, a world like Hollywood is almost alien to me. There is a visual contrast between the grittiness of Detroit, which is imaged perfectly, and the sunny, bright and beautiful facade of California, where perfection seems to be the norm. When Foley talks about the police cars being nice, the cells being better than his apartment, it’s funny, but it’s funny because it’s true. There is undoubtedly an honesty that flows throughout the movie. Whether it becomes over the top, or a situation seemingly impossible, Eddie Murphy sells it, and we keep buying it.
His “partners” in crime Rosewood and Taggart are what the “buddy cop” thing is all about. The banter between the two seemed like Reinhold and Ashton had actually been partners for a decade. Rosewood’s affection for Foley, and being a younger guy really made some great scenes, and for Beverly Hills Cop II left room to further some of his affections for weapons and Stallone type movies even further. For a film that teetered on the exaggerated, it’s character’s kept qualities that made sense for the film, and what it was trying to do.
Beverly Hills Cop has it all. It has crazy action, a suspenseful story, compelling characters, and is absolutely hilarious at times. This is one of those movies that’s action, humor, and character’s are timeless. In twenty more years the story, the comedy, and the action will be just as relevant as it was twenty years ago and today. This is a keeper. In my favorite Eddie Murphy role of all time Axel Foley and Beverly Hills Cop is one of the best movies to come out in the 80’s, and even the last twenty years.
