Honestly, nobody expected it to actually happen. For decades, the fourth installment of this franchise was the ultimate "development hell" poster child. We heard rumors about scripts involving Axel Foley's son, or Axel going to London, or even a TV pilot that never quite took off. Then, suddenly, Netflix dropped Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, and the Detroit detective was officially back in the 90210.
It's weirdly nostalgic. Eddie Murphy hasn't lost that specific, high-pitched laugh that defined 80s action-comedy. But let's be real—bringing back a 40-year-old franchise is a massive gamble. People aren't just looking for a movie; they’re looking for a feeling. They want the synth-heavy "Axel F" theme by Harold Faltermeyer to hit just right. They want to see if Judge Reinhold and John Ashton still have that chemistry with Murphy that made the original 1984 film a masterpiece of the genre.
The Long, Messy Road to Netflix
Most people don't realize how close we came to never seeing this. Paramount originally had the rights, obviously. They even set a release date for 2016 at one point with Brett Ratner attached to direct. It fell apart. Scripts were written and tossed. It wasn't until Netflix struck a licensing deal with Paramount—similar to what they did with The Cloverfield Paradox—that the gears finally started turning.
Jerry Bruckheimer came back to produce, which was the first sign that they were taking the "legacy sequel" vibe seriously. They hired Mark Molloy, a director known more for high-end commercials than blockbuster features, which felt like a risky move. But Molloy had a specific vision: he wanted it to look like a movie, not a digital "content" piece. He pushed for practical stunts. You can actually tell. When that helicopter starts spinning out of control in the middle of a busy street, it doesn't have that floaty, weightless CGI look that ruins so many modern action flicks.
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Why Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F Works (And Where It Fumbles)
The plot is basically a "greatest hits" album. Axel’s daughter, Jane (played by Taylour Paige), is a defense attorney in LA who gets in over her head while investigating a dirty cop conspiracy. Axel rushes to her side. He teams up with a new, younger partner—Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Detective Bobby Abbott—who happens to be Jane's ex.
It's predictable.
Is that a bad thing? Maybe not. There's a certain comfort in seeing Axel Foley talk his way into a high-end club or out of a police station using a fake identity and a fast tongue. The movie leans hard into the "fish out of water" trope, even though Axel has been to Beverly Hills three times before.
The Dynamic Trio
The real soul of the movie isn't the mystery; it’s the reunion. Seeing Axel, Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold), and John Taggart (John Ashton) back in a car together is pure fan service, but it’s handled with a surprising amount of grace. Taggart is now the Chief, Rosewood is a private investigator who’s gone a bit "off the grid," and their bickering feels lived-in. It doesn't feel like actors reciting lines; it feels like old friends who haven't seen each other in ten years but still know exactly how to annoy one another.
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However, the villain situation is a bit thin. Kevin Bacon plays Captain Cade Grant. He’s great because he’s Kevin Bacon, and he can play "smarmy guy in a suit" in his sleep. But he isn't given much to do other than look menacing and wear expensive loafers. Compared to Victor Maitland in the first film, Grant feels a little bit like a cardboard cutout.
Breaking Down the Action
- The Cadillac DeVille chase: It’s messy, loud, and uses a snowplow.
- The Helicopter Sequence: Easily the technical highlight of the film.
- The Beverly Hills Shootout: A bit generic, but the practical squibs and explosions help it stand out from the Marvel-ized landscape of modern action.
Addressing the "Legacy Sequel" Fatigue
We’ve been burned before. Coming 2 America felt a little too sanitized, a little too much like a variety show. There was a fear that Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F would fall into the same trap. Surprisingly, it keeps a bit of the R-rated edge. It’s not as gritty as the 1984 original—which, if you rewatch it, is actually quite a dark crime thriller—but it’s not a Disney movie either.
The film acknowledges that the world has changed. Axel is an aging lawman in a world of body cams and viral videos. There’s a funny bit where he tries to use his old-school "charitable" deception tactics and it almost immediately backfires because everyone has a smartphone now. It’s a self-aware touch that prevents the movie from feeling like it was found in a time capsule from 1987.
The Technical Side: Music and Cinematography
You can't talk about this movie without talking about the music. Lorne Balfe took over the score, and he did something smart. He didn't just remix "Axel F" into a dubstep nightmare. He kept the analog synth sounds. He layered in the 80s percussion. It sounds like the 80s, but with the bass response of a 2024 theater system.
Visually, the movie avoids the "Netflix yellow" or "Netflix gray" look. It’s bright. It’s saturated. It looks like Beverly Hills actually looks—blindingly sunny and aggressively expensive. This helps the movie feel like a theatrical release that just happened to land on a streaming platform.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Franchise
A lot of younger viewers think Beverly Hills Cop was always a pure comedy. It wasn't. The first film was originally supposed to star Sylvester Stallone and be a straight-up bloodbath (that script eventually became Cobra). When Murphy stepped in, they kept the stakes high.
Netflix’s version tries to strike that balance. It’s funny, sure, but people actually get hurt. There is real danger. If you go into this expecting a parody like Scary Movie, you'll be disappointed. If you go in expecting a solid buddy-cop thriller with some great one-liners, you’re in the right place.
The relationship between Axel and his daughter provides the emotional "why" for the story. It's a bit cliché—the distant father trying to make amends—but Taylour Paige is a strong enough actress to make it feel less like a trope and more like a real grievance. She doesn't just forgive him because he’s funny; he has to earn it.
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How to Get the Most Out of Your Rewatch
If you’re planning on sitting down with this on a Friday night, don't just jump straight into the new one. The continuity actually matters more than you’d think.
- Watch the 1984 Original: It’s essential. It sets up the relationship with Taggart and Rosewood.
- Skip the Third One: Honestly, even Eddie Murphy admits Beverly Hills Cop III wasn't great. The fourth movie basically ignores it anyway.
- Check the Background: Look for the cameos. There are several nods to the first two films, including some returning side characters like Serge (Bronson Pinchot), who is still doing his "inspired" interior design/weapons dealing thing.
Final Practical Insights
If you’re a fan of the 80s era of filmmaking, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is a rare win. It avoids the preachy traps of modern reboots while still updating the formula enough to stay relevant. It’s a testament to Murphy’s enduring star power. Even in his 60s, he has more charisma in his pinky finger than most of the leading men in Hollywood today.
To truly enjoy the experience:
- Turn off motion smoothing on your TV. This movie was shot to look cinematic; don't let your TV turn it into a soap opera.
- Pay attention to the soundtrack. It features some classic tracks that serve as a love letter to the era of the "MTV cop movie."
- Watch for the practical effects. In an era of green screens, seeing a real car smash into a real building is weirdly satisfying.
The movie doesn't reinvent the wheel. It doesn't need to. It just needs to let Axel Foley be Axel Foley one more time, and on that front, it definitely delivers.