Beverly Hills Cop (1984) * * *

Directed by:  Martin Brest

Starring:  Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, Ronny Cox, Steven Berkoff, Lisa Eilbacher, John Ashton, Gil Hill

Axel Foley (Murphy) is a hotshot Detroit cop with a penchant for doing things his way, which gets him tongue lashings from his superiors.    After a friend is murdered in front of his apartment, Axel traces the case to Beverly Hills, where he butts heads with a police force which does things way too by-the-book for Axel's liking.    Beverly Hills Cop is a swift, funny actioner which relies heavily on Murphy's comic timing and charm.    He is genuinely amused by the stuck-up, affluent rich folks who strut down Rodeo Drive, but is also a fairly convincing action hero.  

There isn't much new in the fish-out-of-water story which was originally slated to star Sylvester Stallone, who dropped out probably to make Rhinestone or perhaps some other lesser movie.    Murphy is the more proper fit for the material so it works.    The sequels, released in 1987 and 1993, focused more heavily on slick action and weren't bad, just not entirely necessary.    But, you know how it is with Hollywood and unnecessary sequels to hit comedies (see The Hangover).

The movie opens with Murphy involved in a long chase through Detroit's streets in which dozens of cars were destroyed and property damage costs would rival those from natural disasters.    Foley is chewed out by his boss, Inspector Todd (Hill), who in real life was a former cop and Detroit politician.    His only three movie credits were the Beverly Hills Cop series and he was a highlight; creatively and comically chewing out Foley in equal parts exasperation and yet, a twinge of love and respect for the young man.   

There are plenty of shootouts, fights, and chases to satisfy those looking for action, (as well as an unconvincing stunt double for Murphy whose moustache is entirely too thick), but I preferred the smaller scale comedy in which Murphy pokes fun at the rich, worms his way out of one tight spot after another, and chuckles at the stiffness of the Beverly Hills cops assigned to tame him.    The cops, played by Ashton and Reinhold, have some nice comic scenes of their own, such as when Reinhold informs Ashton of the dangers of red meat.   

Beverly Hills Cop is too standard to be listed among the truly great Murphy comedies, but it is among his most famous roles.     Murphy is certainly funny here, but never allowed to transcend into a performance which shows us his many comic gifts.     The movie was happy to be an action comedy and on that level, it does the job.