Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F review: Mildly amusing, mostly forgettable

In Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Axel Foley returns to Beverly Hills and investigates a case with his estranged daughter. The film is now streaming on Netflix.

Story 

Axel Foley, a detective who solves cases but wreaks havoc along the way, is contacted by an old friend, Billy, because he is concerned about Axel’s daughter, Jane.

Axel has not spoken to his daughter in years. She pushed him away after Axel’s wife divorced him, and Axel did not make an effort to be in her life.

Billy informs Axel that Jane, a lawyer, has taken on a case that is putting her life in danger, leading Axel to travel to Beverly Hills to protect her. 

By the time Axel gets there, Billy goes missing. Jane, who wants nothing to do with her father, must now work with him to find Billy and prove her client’s innocence.

With the help of his old friends and some new officers, Axel hopes to crack the case and protect Jane. While he may succeed in that, earning Jane’s forgiveness could prove to be much more challenging.

Performances

Eddie Murphy revives his role as Axel. He performs his role well, portraying Axel as an entertaining and likable character, and he makes it look effortless.

Taylour Paige, as Jane, comes across as a smart, confident, and no-nonsense woman, so unlike her father, yet her dynamic with Axel is sweet.

John Ashton and Judge Reinhold form an amusing and somewhat unhinged duo, balanced by Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s sensible character. All three actors perform their parts adequately.

Positives

Murphy’s charm and his dynamic with Paige make the otherwise bland father-daughter relationship quite pleasing. Axel’s natural wit wins his daughter over, no matter how much she pretends otherwise. 

This addition might be a treat for fans of the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, as it brings together Axel, Billy, and Taggart once again—a perfect recipe for comfort and nostalgia.

Negatives

The film’s writing is subpar. Unlike the previous installments, it offers nothing unique and fails to stand out among other action comedies with detective protagonists. 

The subplot involving Axel’s relationship with his daughter is predictably simple, making the audience wish for more complexity in their arguments and reconciliation.

Similarly, the murder mystery also lacks complexity, which makes it rather insipid. It fails to engage the audience.

Furthermore, Jane and Bobby’s half-baked romance fails to impress and feels like an unnecessary addition the film could have done without.

Overall, the film is only slightly amusing. It draws a chuckle from the audience here and there, but even with Axel’s chaos, the humor is mediocre. 

Verdict

While Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is another run-of-the-mill action comedy, it might still entertain fans of the franchise with Eddie Murphy reprising his role as Axel.

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Also Read: Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F summary and ending explained