Fairaher
The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.
Plustown
A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.
Deanna
There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.
ElMaruecan82
"Beverly Hill's Cop" has all the makings of a classic 80's movie, the charismatic persona of Eddie Murphy, an upbeat and catchy synthesizer's beat and a likability factor that tie up all these elements together, so its iconic status can't be denied regardless of whether you've actually enjoyed it or not. But that doesn't make it immune to fair criticism, is the film a classic? Yes. Is it funny? Now , that's tricky.We're in 2017, and Martin Brest's film still holds up very well and is considered as one of the most defining comedies of the 80's. I wouldn't say it's one of the funniest and I always felt an affront to comedies that "Ghostbusters" and "Beverly Hill Cops" are listed in AFI's Top 100 Funniest Movies while the laugh-riot of the year "Top Secret!" has been overlooked. No offense to these two classics, but by Bill Murray's own admittance, Ramis' classic leaned toward Sci-fi and special effects at the expenses of comedy during the whole third act, and "Beverly Hills Cops" features a cold-blooded murder at point blank on the head, for Pete's sake. For a comedy, it's quite a heavy movie but there are reasons why "Beverly Hills Cops" is a classic.The film features Eddie Murphy at the top of his game as a street-smart loudmouthed, foulmouthed Detroit cop, Axel Folley, who investigates (officiously, he's supposed to be in vacation) the murder of his friend, an ex-convict killed by his boss' right-hand man, played by a sinister Jonathan Banks, the bigger bad guy is an art deal but drug smuggler operating in Beverly Hills and played with the faux suaveness of a Bond bad- guy by Steven Berkoff. The comedic moments generally emerge comes from the situations when Folley, discovers the manners of Beverly Hills and the procedural of the Police Deparment. His constant arguments with Taggart (John Ashton) and Bogomil (Ronny Cox) are always entertaining, so is the way Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) is always the only one to empathize with Folley, or find his jokes funny.But to be honest, the film doesn't hold up to its reputation for one simple reason, it always gets to the obvious. The plot is rather formulaic and consists on a really mean bad guy, not even likable on a vile level, who's confronted by Folley at various circumstances and who could have been easily gotten away if he didn't decide to kidnap his friend at the end, the climax is a banal shootout and doesn't leave much to the imagination. You've got to wonder why it ended up being nominated for Best Original Screenplay, even a moment that could have been the inspiration for a hilarious monologue, when Eddie Murphy checks out at the hotel, turns into a "that's because I'm black" shtick. Just compare that moment to the magnificent hotel lobby room sequence in "This is Spinal Tap" and you'll find the line between good and lazy writing.That's how the film felt, lazy, obvious and oblivious to its obviousness. I enjoyed it as far I enjoyed Eddie Murphy but if he can make a movie good, he can't carry a plot alone, this is why "Trading Places" and "Coming to America" were better, they had Dan Aykroyd, Don Ameche, Ralph Bellamy, Arsenio Hall, John Amos and James Earl Jones... "Beverly Hills Cop" is the Eddie Murphy show combined with a banal cop flick, it gets slightly better when it evolves toward a triangular buddy movie, so much better that you can even feel some vibes of "Lethal Weapon", a film that doesn't have the pretension to be a comedy, but was as enjoyable and even lighthearted as "Beverly Hill Cop".But after "Lethal Weapon" and the great chemistry between Gibson and Glover, the "Beverly Hills Cop" sequels sucked by comparison.Maybe the theme of the film contributed to its popularity, now that should have been nominated for an Oscar; not the screenplay. Again, Eddie Murphy is such a great presence I forgive everything but wish there was more part showcasing the differences between the Detroit and the Beverly Hills lifestyle, and more inspired bits than impersonating a homosexual or complaining of black, that felt like old stuff even by 80's standards. The film becomes better once you expect a cop movie, maybe that's how they should have label it.
But who'll believe in a dramatic Eddie Murphy anyway?
Tweekums
Protagonist Axel Foley is a Detroit cop who is happy break the rules; something that annoys his boss. Early on his old friend Mikey pays him a visit; Mikey is in trouble with some very bad people in Beverly Hills and soon after arriving in Detroit he is killed. Axel is told to stay well clear of the case so decides to take a much needed vacation… in Beverly Hills. Here he visits his old friend Jenny Summers and starts investigating Victor Maitland, Mikey's former employee which gets him arrested. Once again Axel is warned off the case but he still keeps digging while local cops Sgt Taggart and Det. Rosewood try to keep an eye on him and stop him getting into any more trouble. Axel's investigation leads him to believe Maitland is smuggling cocaine and he is soon in real danger.This film is a great mix of comedy and action. It gets off to a fine start which involves a truck being chased through the streets of Detroit causing mayhem as is goes; this isn't related to the main story but serves to introduce Foley. The central story is interesting even there is no real doubt who is behind the death of Axel's friend… it is just a question of how he will prove Maitland did it. Eddie Murphy has made some turkeys over the years but here he is on top form as the wise-cracking Axel Foley. Judge Reinhold and John Ashton provide good support as Rosewood and Taggart; playing things straighter but still pretty funny at time. Steven Berkoff and Jonathan Banks are suitably unpleasant as Maitland and his henchman; thankfully leaving the jokes for the good guys. There are also some decent minor characters; most notably Bronson Pinchot who is hilarious as Serge, the camp gallery assistant. There are plenty of really funny moments during the film such as when Axel bluffs his way into an exclusive club by pretending to be Maitland's lover with an embarrassing medical condition that he thinks Maitland should know about. There is a fair amount of strong language but if that doesn't offend you and you want a good laugh then I certainly recommend this '80s classic… the soundtrack is great too!
Predrag
Definitely of its time, Beverly Hills Cop is full of wisecracks and 80's/90's pop tunes mixed rather high. In terms of comedy or seriousness, it's neither fish nor fowl. One minute Axel Foley is having his hotel deliver a late lunch to cops that tried to covertly follow him and are staking out the hotel, whereas some time beforehand, and some time later, people are being filled with holes. It's definitely a popcorn cop movie overall, but with serious moments.Eddie Murphy makes a thoroughly likable lead, and his disrespect for procedure contrasts nicely with the buttoned-up procedural processes of the local police department, and I think the film also makes a nice contrast between the opening in Detroit that makes the city look distinctly 3rd world, and the plastic peachiness of California, where even the crooks have mansions (sorry, I meant "as usual"). Although Murphy takes an obvious lead (I can't imagine how the originally-cast Sylvester Stallone would have handled it), the film is carried by the ensemble cast without whom this would have gone nowhere. The script changes made between the Stallone original and the Murphy final have incongruities in how a mean streets Detroit cop has the connections he has (and the name he has, and the brother he no longer has (see the extras for an explanation of that!)) but the whole thing was pretty likable, so this can be overlooked.Overall rating: 9 out of 10.
FlashCallahan
Axel Foley is a reckless Detroit detective. After the murder of his friend, he travels to California to investigate and track down the killer, who he believes operate an arts dealership as a cover in Beverly Hills. He teams up with two reluctant detectives from the Beverly Hills police force who were supposed to keep a watch on him. But after seeing Foley's different approach to tackling criminals and other illegitimate businesses, they have no other choice but to help him....Here's another movie that gives strong evidence as to 1984 being the best year for movies ever, Beverly Hills Cop isn't just a great action comedy, it's one of the greatest comedies ever made and personifies the eighties as a really great time to be growing up.Murphy easily peaked his career making this, and when watching this, you know that he knows he is making something special, something huge, and on such a straightforward concept.What makes it so iconic though is that you can tell that everyone is enjoying themselves making this, and how at ease everyone is with each other, almost making you feel that you are part of Foley's world, because he is such a likable, and relatable character.Murphy steals almost every scene that he's in, and each little situation almost feels like a comedy sketch, but the writes and narrative seamlessly add the sketch into the plot.The rest of the cast know that this is Murphy's vehicle and just let him go for it. The only Pearson in the film that usurps Murphy is one Bronson Pinchot, and that's only because his part is very short, but memorable for all the right reasons.It's a wonderful, bright, sunny movie that epitomises the eighties, and even the synth soundtrack and hilarious outfits, can't age this movie.Because laughter is timeless......
