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Eddie Murphy ruled the 1980s Hollywood box office in a major way, and it cemented him as one of the cinematic industry’s most important and versatile performers. His feature film debut, director Walter Hill’s 1982 hit, 48 Hrs., has gone down in history as one of the earliest and most impactful instances of a «buddy cop» film. In the wake of that film’s success, Murphy became a major draw with audiences, starring in hits like Trading Places, Coming to America, and, of course, Beverly Hills Cop.
The original 1984 Beverly Hills Cop was an utter sensation, and the film’s effortless sense of style, charm, and action enraptured viewers. The music, clothing, and cars were instantly iconic, and Murphy’s portrayal of the fast-talking, quick-witted Axel Foley made him an even bigger star than he already was. The original Beverly Hills Cop might remain one of Murphy’s most acclaimed films, and certainly a staple of its decade, but its 1987 sequel, director Tony Scott’s Beverly Hills Cop II, might just be more of an action comedy gem.
Beverly Hills Cop Made Eddie Murphy A Superstar
The Comedy Action Flick Shot The Actor Into The Stratosphere
Already famous off the big screen for his incredible energy and style in the world of stand-up comedy, Eddie Murphy’s break into Hollywood was as fast as it was huge. He exploded onto the scene, and within only a few years, he was one of the most in-demand names in Hollywood. His style of frenetic physical comedy, fast-talking quips, and sincere dedication to engaging action made him the perfect movie star, and though he hasn’t retained his status in Hollywood in the years since, the 1980s were utterly ruled by the comedic legend. One of his most iconic films was director Martin Brest’s 1984 comedy cop flick, Beverly Hills Cop.
The film focused on Detroit police detective Axel Foley, as he journeys to Beverly Hills, California, in a bid to find out who murdered one of his old friends. A classic fish-out-of-water comedy combined with a startling and action-packed crime caper, the original Beverly Hills Cop took the world by storm. Its iconic soundtrack, unforgettable supporting performances, and hilarious series of set pieces ushered in a whole new era for on-screen police stories. The blend of action and comedy was so seamless that it made the cop genre shift drastically — an effect that audiences can still feel to this very day. Beverly Hills Cop might not stand up as an action film quite as well as films from the same era, like Die Hard or Lethal Weapon, but what it lacks in complex action set pieces, it makes up for with quick wit and a miraculously charming lead.
The story of Beverly Hills Cop is relatively simple, and with the plot predicated on the fact that Eddie Murphy’s Foley isn’t supposed to be in Beverly Hills, and is instead supposed to be taking time off back home in Detroit, audiences didn’t exactly expect a follow-up film. The idea of the character once again being drawn to California for a mission seemed far-fetched, and despite the film’s popularity, a sequel just didn’t make sense. Beverly Hills Cop works wonderfully as a standalone film, and though audiences were ready and willing to see more of Axel Foley, it was obvious that a sequel would need to work exceptionally hard to justify its own existence. Thankfully, director Tony Scott, hot off the heels of directing the iconic Top Gun, took the reins of the Beverly Hills Cop franchise to deliver one of the most underrated gems of the 1980s.
Beverly Hills Cop II Is A Bombastic Blast of Action and Comedy Spectacle
The Follow-Up Film Took Everything From The First Movie And Made It Bigger and Better
To say that the original Beverly Hills Cop was potentially surpassed by one of its sequels is often a bold claim, and one that not many fans of the franchise agree with, but the 1987 sequel actually proves itself over and over again to be a more than worthwhile successor to Martin Brest’s iconic original. Dragging Axel Foley back to California to investigate the near-fatal shooting of one of his newfound allies from the first film, Beverly Hills Cop II immediately establishes itself as a larger, meaner version of the franchise than what was showcased in the first film. While the comedic elements were still absolutely intact, Scott’s film was more intense, more violent, and actually showcased better control over its action sequences.
Martin Brest is a perfectly competent filmmaker, even if his final film, Gigli, nearly ended the careers of everyone involved, but compared to the action maestro that is Tony Scott, he looks almost amateurish. Tony Scott’s incredible sense of pace and timing in his action sequences remains unrivaled to this day, and Beverly Hills Cop II, even though it was only his third feature film, shows off a level of cinematic mastery that was arguably unparalleled in the era. One major aspect about Beverly Hills Cop II that many audiences and critics felt at the time of the film’s release was the fact that it felt like a simple rehash of what had come before. It treaded a lot of the same ground, found comedy and action beats in a lot of the same places, and generally followed the same structure as the 1984 original. That is all true, but what Beverly Hills Cop II did do, and quite successfully, was up the ante at every turn.
Beverly Hills Cop is almost certainly the superior film on a narrative level, but in so many ways, Beverly Hills Cop II is a bigger, bolder, more beautiful journey. The second film in the series actually, oddly, feels a bit like a third or fourth entry in a franchise, with each of the characters seemingly settling into their respective archetypes, and doing so with great conviction and comedic inspiration. Each supporting character has a real sense of individuality to them, even if that occasionally comes at the cost of subtlety. Eddie Murphy is as charming as ever, and the superstardom that he achieved before this sequel almost makes his Axel Foley even more compelling as a cheeky, full-of-himself police detective.
Beverly Hills Cop II Holds Up The Best Of The Entire Franchise
The Film's Influence Is Perhaps The Most Prevalent of The Entire Series
The original Beverly Hills Cop is arguably one of the most iconic films of the 1980s, and while it is also one of the films that propelled Eddie Murphy to Hollywood superstardom, in the actual technical filmmaking department, it isn’t quite as influential as many might believe. It’s a perfectly acceptable piece of 80s action, but it doesn’t reach the heights that many of its contemporaries achieved. Conversely, its 1987 sequel did. Beverly Hills Cop II was more than capable of taking what the first film established and amplifying it in every way. The action was bigger, stranger, and more intense, the comedy was louder, goofier, and more cartoonish, and the combination of the two aspects was never better.
Unfortunately, none of the subsequent sequels, including the recent legacy sequel, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F., ever materialized on the same level as Tony Scott’s first follow-up. So many aspects of the other films in the franchise feel dated by today’s standards, and while Beverly Hills Cop II certainly has its problems, it has a level of momentum and style that none of the others had. It’s messy and garish and a little stupid, but it certainly does not deserve its reputation as a major step down from the original film. It might arguably be a more entertaining piece of 80s cheese than the original Beverly Hills Cop.
The action remains the high point of Beverly Hills Cop II, with director Tony Scott’s penchant for beautiful artistry among intense chaos only just starting to form. The iconic director’s inclinations toward unique action set pieces, camerawork, and editing styles give Beverly Hills Cop II an almost timeless quality, as if the film is a living, breathing extension of the original film’s relative simplicity. There are so many action sequels that rest on the laurels of the original film and its core concepts, but Beverly Hills Cop II does something entirely different. It’s clearly a prototype for the kinds of action comedy capers that filmmakers like Michael Bay would later master with films like Bad Boys and the tragically underrated Bad Boys II, and it’s a shame that Beverly Hills Cop II is rarely discussed. It’s one of the best films of the 1980s, and it sincerely might be more fun to watch than the 1984 original.
