Beverly Hills
Cop (Movie Review)
By Britt Gillette
Starring in arguably his most memorable role, Eddie Murphy lights up
the big screen with his 1980's blockbuster hit Beverly Hills Cop.
Showcasing the unique comic talents of a young career on the rise,
the former Saturday Night Live cast member's smiling humor and
charismatic onscreen presence take an adequate screenplay and turn
it into a smash film. Appearances by Paul Reiser and Bronson Pinchot
(as the trendy 'Serge') combine with Murphy's antics to make Beverly
Hills Cop a hilarious and highly entertaining movie…
Eddie Murphy plays the role of Axel Foley, a
freewheeling Detroit police officer who witnesses the murder of a
close friend on the force during a botched drug bust. Linking the
murders back to Beverly Hills, Foley takes an extended vacation from
his job in Detroit. But rather than relax, he makes his way to
Beverly Hills where he plans on conducting his own investigation.
In pursuit of the murderers, Foley uncovers a
massive drug smuggling operation run by one of the elite socialites
of Beverly Hills. Digging for the truth, the Detroit cop is forced
to butt heads with the Beverly Hills police department and confront
the drug ring's various henchmen. Despite direct orders from their
superior, Beverly Hills cops Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and
John Taggart (John Ashton) eventually change from adversaries of
Foley (attempting to halt his illegal investigations) to willing
participants in his uncovering of the illegal drug ring. In the end,
Foley finds the murderer, but will he get his revenge? Will the
Beverly Hills police arrest him before he does? You'll have lots of
fun finding out…
Complimented by a hit soundtrack which
features four smash hits (Glenn Frey's "The Heat Is On," The Pointer
Sisters' "Neutron Dance," Patti LaBelle's "New Attitude," and Harold
Faltermeyer's breakthrough hit "Axel F"), the film's action and
suspense sequences play out to the backdrop of adrenaline pumping
beats and synthetic keyboard sounds. The music itself provides a
small glimpse in the musical experimentation of an age that
witnessed the convergence of high technology and sound. In a way,
Beverly Hills Cop typifies the decade of the 1980s, but it does so
without being so overly engrossed in the cultural fads of the day as
to be outdated and ridiculous in the eyes of a modern audience. This
is one of the core strengths of the film and one of the reasons
millions of fans enjoy watching reruns of the movie on cable.
One of the more unique films of the 1980s,
Beverly Hills Cop created a new sub-genre of film by splicing the
serious action/suspense genre with the comedic personality/comedy
genre. As a rare talent, Eddie Murphy is uniquely positioned to pull
off the coup, carrying the film on the back of his personal
likeability and hilarious brand of comedy. Performances by Judge
Reinhold and John Ashton serve to compliment Murphy, and together,
the three form a relatable, "average guy" click that audiences feel
inclined to root for. As a result, the viewer is never bored,
whether being entertained by mere suspense or hilarious comedy.
Without a doubt, Beverly Hills Cop is one of the top ten comedies of
its decade, and that's why it's a definite must-see movie…
