Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

 

Yes, the 80s was the time when young Eddie Murphy could do no wrong. Not only were his stand-up shows a hit, but his appearances on Saturday Night Live also rocked the house. And yes, his films in this era were pretty spot on, focusing on Eddie's charisma and his humour to bring out people in droves. 

'Beverly Hills Cop' is one of those films that is thoroughly enjoyable, even if the story is a bit flimsy. 

Axel Foley is a young police officer in Detroit, but he often goes a little too far in his schemes to trap crooks, much to the dismay of his superior. When an old friend comes to visit him and gets killed, Axel soon discovers there is a connection to luscious Beverly Hills. He goes there, supposedly on vacation, in order to unravel the plot of who and why his friend was killed. It turns out the trail leads to an art dealer named Maitland, and there is more to his nefarious dealings than most people spot at first sight. 

Along the way, he becomes friends with three Beverly Hills officers, Taggart, Rosewood and Bogomil, and their work methods often clash, yet in the end, what does it matter if you get results, right?

Like said in the beginning: this is a very flimsy story. But in truth that doesn't matter. Heck, most action films of the 80s had a plot thinner than Kate Moss during her heyday as a model. But it's the characters and action we all stayed for. Here, this is no exception: it all revolves around Murphy and he does a great job at being a funny scoundrel, one of those guys that on the one hand manages to always get himself into trouble, but he is so endearing that you can't help but support him all the way. This is also played out when the Beverly Hills police officers Taggart and Rosewood at first seem like adversaries, but soon change and become (albeit at times reluctantly) supporters of Foley. 

The bad guys are pretty forgettable, though. Steven Berkoff is one of those recognizable faces, but whenever he plays a villain, it's usually the same sort of styling and this one is no different. The same goes for Jonathan Banks as Maitland's henchman. Heck, it's hard to even remember his name, let alone what he does beside scowl a lot. 

One other thing besides Murphy that this film has going for it, is the excellent music. You get a nice mix between soul and pop and even though the keyboard tunes might feel a bit dated, there is no denying that 'Axl's Theme' by Harold Faltermeyer is one of the most catchy tunes you'll ever hear. Heck, I'm pretty sure almost every kid that once had a cheap keyboard or synthesizer tried to play this tune. You will have no doubt heard it countless times in the meantime.

'Beverly Hills Cop' is a fun action/comedy romp, one of those films that always leave you with a good feeling after you've seen it. It might not be spectacular or high art, but it is damn enjoyable.