The Poster Memorabilia blog

The Funniest Cop Beverly Hills Ever Had

Forty years of Axel Foley, and a night in Beverly Hills where the man came back to his beat.

By an anonymous Hollywood insider

Before I saw Beverly Hills Cop, I only knew of Eddie Murphy through his voice work in Mulan and Shrek and what I call his “costume films” like Norbit and The Nutty Professor. Little did I know that this comedy genius could pile on the action in a buddy cop film, too.

Of all his amazing work, this action-comedy ended up being my favorite. I love that he plays it straight for the most part here. There isn't much of the slapstick goofiness he's become known for in his later films, which is still good, but it can get old really quickly.

I prefer seeing this side of Eddie Murphy to his more outrageous costume films. The movie really highlighted his skills as a leading man, not just as a comedy lead. And thanks to him, it spawned a successful franchise that ran through the 80s and 90s and came roaring back in the 2020s.

With all the reboots and remakes coming out these days, I'm glad it led Murphy back into the Beverly Hills Cop franchise. I can't say that Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is the best of the four movies, but it's definitely a return to form for him. He's still so good after all these years.

I had the honor of finally seeing him at the movie's world premiere at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in, you guessed it, Beverly Hills, California. The guy never looked better, and he brought his whole family along for the night. He seemed to be having the time of his life.

“Murphy doesn't belong in the backseat.”

I also loved that he reunited with Judge Reinhold for this fourth movie. Axel’s chemistry with Billy was always the best part of the Beverly Hills Cop movies for me, especially since Murphy deservedly got to be the lead in these films.

His iconic role as Donkey in the Shrek films may have led audiences to believe that he was the perfect sidekick. And it’s true, to a certain extent, but Murphy doesn't belong in the backseat. With his stellar comedy chops and flair for action, he deserves to be the star of every movie he's in.

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That's why I say that Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F was a return to form for him. Finally, he's on the front lines, both literally and figuratively, in a comedy film. There's no better place for him than that, and I'm sure if they do even more movies for the franchise, he'll only get better over time.

Whether that happens or not, I'm still glad I got his and Reinhold's autographs that night. I also met James Russo and Steven Berkoff later that year, too. They're still active, but because their characters died in the first film, I understand why they couldn't return for this new movie.

In any case, Beverly Hills Cop is one vintage film franchise I don't mind Hollywood milking for the next few years. They should do more while both Murphy and Reinhold can still do them, and I'm sure it will create an even bigger legion of fans than before.

Some things you watch. This one you keep.

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