There’s a good reason that, despite numerous attempts, Eddie Murphy hasn’t resurrected Axel Foley for the last three decades: 1987’s Beverly Hills Cop II was terrible and 1994’s Beverly Hills Cop III was worse. Nonetheless, the 63-year-old comedian finally steps back into the role that made him a big-screen superstar with Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, a Netflix feature, debuting July 3, that—as its title indicates—takes the same basic nostalgia-fueled tack as Top Gun: Maverick.
“This is gonna be fantastic—trust me!” exclaims the hero at the end of this long-awaited return engagement, and while that’s not exactly true, Mark Molloy’s action comedy is far better than anticipated (or has any right to be), thanks in large part to Murphy recapturing some of the wisecracking magic that originally made Axel a sensation.
Full of the cameos, callbacks, car chases, and shootouts expected of such a legacy sequel, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F follows a familiar template that proves, against all odds, to have a bit of life left in it. Though a sexagenarian, Axel is still the same old rebel, as he demonstrates at a Red Wings game attended with colleague Mike Woody (Kyle S. More), who’s stunned to hear that they’re not there to hang out but, rather, to bust a group of thieves.
