by Chantal Ashford, Contributing Writer
Almost 40 years after the first Beverly Hills Cop, Eddie Murphy is back asAxel F is back, but this time around, his return feels a bit long overdue.
In this fourth chapter, we witness Axel return to Beverly Hills. His journey is intertwined with that of his estranged daughter, Jane (Taylour Paige), leading to a reunion with old friends, John Taggart (John Ashton) and Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold), and a surprising alliance with Foley’s daughter’s ex-boyfriend, Detective Bobby Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). This reunion of the original cast, a nostalgic trip down memory lane, evokes a strong sense of connection and excitement.
As the film returns to nostalgia with the same formulaic action plot, big explosions, outrageous stunts, and clunky script, I was going in with low expectations. I wasn’t expecting it to be the creme de la creme, but I hoped it would be fun. Unfortunately, there isn’t anything funny or cheeky about this film, unlike the first and the second films.
The absence of the humor that made the original and the second film so enjoyable is a major disappointment. Since I watched from the comfort of my home, I found myself doing other things. Even Murphy can’t save this movie from the tedious jokes.
I am a fan of the third film, but I couldn’t wait for Axel F to be over. During its almost two-hour runtime, I thought there would be some unexpected turn of events, but nothing surprising happens. There is a lot of shoot ‘em, bang bang with an F word thrown in here and there, along with your typical speed chase with some artist singing in the background for the excitement.
I wanted to believe that Axel’s and Jane’s relationship was genuine. Yes, they are estranged, but Jane feels like a character who’s just there to thicken the plot — a filler character, if that makes sense. If she were out of the equation, I wouldn’t miss her.
One of the most significant letdowns is the predictability of the plot. The antagonist’s identity is obvious, and I guessed it before the character was formally introduced. This predictability might disappoint those who enjoy a good mystery or a surprising twist, so it’s best to be prepared for it.
Throughout the movie, you’re trying to decipher who to trust, but the villain oozes hints that they’re the antagonist whenever they come on screen. So when the “reveal” happens, it isn’t much of a reveal.
Also, the movie falls back on the quick cameos of the original players from the series: Ashton, Reinhold, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot. The cameos gave a nice touch to know they were still kicking around to appear for a scene or two and nothing less.
The ending wraps up quickly, and there isn’t anything else of Bobby or Jane on the screen cuts to black. Still, unfortunately, it shows there may be another continuation with Foley, and maybe we’ll see the family duo again. But then again, do we need another Beverly Hills Cop? It took 30 years to get the band back together, and maybe this time should be the last shootout.
Rating: It Was Just Okay
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is currently streaming on Netflix
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