Opening Doorz

By Ananya Kashyap |Opening Doorz Editorial | July 24, 2024

Rating: 3/5

The Essence: The performances are strong, and the cinematography blends nostalgia with modern sensibilities. Beverly Hills Cop 4 delivers a satisfying blend of action, humour, and genuine emotional stakes. Just be prepared to see a slightly more introspective Axel Foley, one who’s still as charming and hilarious as ever, but with a newfound appreciation for the importance of family.

In this action comedy, directed by Mark Molloy, Eddie Murphy takes the Beverly Hills Cop franchise forward, encapsulating audiences with the same charm he exuded in the previous three movies, released in 1984, 1987, and 1994, respectively.

Beverly Hills Cop 4: Axel F revolves around Axel Foley, played by Eddie Murphy, a ‘freewheeling cop from Detroit’, who has a reputation for wreaking havoc. Despite his eccentric reputation, he also has a streak of solving his cases successfully.

Beverly Hills Cop 4 Review: Eddie Murphy Returns as Axel F

The plot is centered around Axel’s return to Beverly Hills, to protect his estranged daughter, Jane Saunders (Taylour Paige). Jane is a prominent criminal lawyer in Beverly Hills who takes on a case that threatens to expose a corrupt police officer, Captain Grant (Kevin Bacon). As is the case, it is always a danger to take on a cop at the top. But there is always a cop somewhere in the middle in Beverly Hills, with an upright streak, willing to take on the system!

In walks Axel Foley who is joined by his old friends, Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold), and Chief John Taggart (John Ashton). Their return is a delightful nod to the earlier films, and the camaraderie between the actors is palpable. They’re joined by a new face on the team, the tech-savvy Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), who serves as a bridge between Axel’s old-school methods and modern investigative techniques. Gordon-Levitt brings a youthful energy to the team, and his interactions with Murphy provide some of the film’s lighter moments.

Eddie Murphy returns after a long break to bring in the same humour and charm, that attracted audiences in the first Beverly Hills Cop movie. Defying the time lapse since the last edition of the Beverly Hills Cop movie, Eddie Murphy keeps his charisma and sharp wit intact as he steps into the shoes of Axel Foley yet again.

Beverly Hills Cop 4 Review: Action, Comedy, and Family Drama Collide

Fans of the franchise will instantly recognize the echoes of Axel’s earlier clashes with authority figures like Captain Bogomil and Inspector Thornburg. However, Beverly Hills Cop 4 goes deeper, exploring the emotional toll of Axel’s past actions on his personal life.

Jane, unlike the pampered Beverly Hills victims Axel encountered previously, is a strong, independent woman who doesn’t need rescuing. She’s more than capable of handling herself, as evidenced by her willingness to take on a dangerous case that exposes a powerful villain. When Axel arrives, assuming his usual protective stance, Jane pushes back.

A scene that stands out is when Jane and Axel talk about how she and her mother had to move to Los Angeles, while Axel stayed in Detroit. Jane, in the context of her troubled relationship with her father, says, “The parent is always the parent and the child is always the child. You messed it up. You’d know that if you’d gone to therapy.”

Axel Foley Back for More: Can He Solve His Biggest Case Yet (His Daughter)?

Another poignant scene between the two takes place in a hospital room, where Jane confronts her father. The cinematography here is particularly effective. Close-up shots capture the raw emotion on both their faces, while the whiteness of the room emphasizes the coldness of their fractured relationship. Her voice is laced with anger and disappointment as she lashes out saying, she doesn’t need another ‘protector’, but a father, who should have been there for her, not just chasing the next big case. This is beyond ‘the typical damsel-in-distress’ trope.

These scenes, a stark contrast to the slapstick humour of the earlier films, add a layer of emotional depth. And this is what makes this edition a tad different from the earlier ones. This emotional arc adds a welcome layer to the franchise, proving that even the most explosive action comedies can leave room for heart.

Beyond the Banana Phone: A Franchise Grows Up

Whether you’re a long-time fan who fondly remembers Axel’s banana phone call or a newcomer discovering the series for the first time, Beverly Hills Cop 4 delivers a satisfying blend of action, humour… and genuine emotional stakes. The performances are strong, and the cinematography blends nostalgia with modern sensibilities. Just be prepared to see a slightly more introspective Axel Foley, one who’s still as charming and hilarious as ever, but with a newfound appreciation for the importance of family.

Eddie Murphy delivers a restrained performance as Axel Foley, different from his over-the-top acting, as the role and time demanded 40 years ago. In an interview with Netflix recently, Eddie Murphy said: “Anyone that saw the original Beverly Hills Cop, is going to love this movie. And even if you haven’t seen it, this movie stands by itself and you can jump right into it.”

That is true: anyone can jump right in, without connecting the earlier instalment of this franchise.

Beverly Hills Cop 4: Axel F is a Nostalgic Return with Emotional Growth.

CREDITS
Movie: Beverly Hills Cop 4: Axel F on Netflix
Producers: Eddie Murphy, Jerry Bruckheimer, Chad Oman
Director: Mark Molloy 
Star Cast: Taylour Paige, Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Kevin Bacon

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