"Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" MOVIE REVIEW.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is a 2024 American action comedy film that brings back the iconic character Axel Foley, played by Eddie Murphy. Directed by Mark Molloy, the film is the fourth installment in the Beverly Hills Cop series, serving as a sequel to Beverly Hills Cop III (1994). The screenplay is written by Will Beall, Tom Gormican, and Kevin Etten, based on a story by Beall. Murphy not only reprises his role as Axel Foley but also serves as a producer. Other returning cast members from previous films include Judge Reinhold as Billy Rosewood, John Ashton as John Taggart, Paul Reiser as Jeffrey Friedman, and Bronson Pinchot as Serge. New characters are introduced, portrayed by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, and Kevin Bacon, adding fresh dynamics to the series.

The film takes place as Axel Foley, who remains a Detroit police detective, finds himself drawn back into the world of high-stakes action and intrigue. The catalyst for his return to Beverly Hills is a grave threat to the lives of his estranged daughter Jane Saunders and his old partner Billy Rosewood. Axel teams up with Jane, who works as a defense attorney, along with her ex-boyfriend Bobby Abbott, and his old friends John Taggart and Serge. Together, they uncover a dangerous conspiracy that puts all of them at risk. The film was released on Netflix on July 3, 2024, as part of the streaming service's growing library of high-profile original films.

At the start of the movie, Axel Foley is still working as a Detroit police detective under the supervision of his longtime friend, Deputy Chief Jeffrey Friedman. The opening sequence sets the tone for the film, with Axel in pursuit of a group of thieves who are looting the locker room of the Detroit Red Wings during a game. Axel’s usual chaotic methods result in significant damage to the city, putting him at odds with the police department. To shield Axel from punishment, Jeffrey retires, and before leaving, he encourages Axel to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Jane, who now lives in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, Billy Rosewood, who is now a private investigator after a fallout with his old partner John Taggart, calls Axel with troubling news. He informs Axel that Jane’s life is in danger as she represents a man named Enriquez, who has been framed for the murder of an undercover officer named Copeland. Shortly after the call, Rosewood is kidnapped by a cartel connected to the case. 

Concerned for both his daughter and his old partner, Axel returns to Beverly Hills. Upon arrival, he finds Rosewood’s office being searched by a mysterious team looking for something. Axel manages to grab a page from Rosewood’s personal organizer before being chased through the streets of Beverly Hills and eventually arrested. At the Beverly Hills Police Department, Axel meets Detective Bobby Abbott, Jane’s ex-boyfriend, and reconnects with John Taggart, now the police chief. Taggart introduces Axel to Captain Cade Grant, a former mentee of Taggart. Axel quickly becomes suspicious of Grant, noticing that he wears extravagant, expensive items, which raises red flags for someone on a police salary.

Jane bails Axel out of jail, but their reunion is tense. The film explores the strained relationship between father and daughter, revealing that years earlier, Axel’s work investigating the Detroit mafia led to threats against his family. Jane and her mother moved to Los Angeles for safety, while Axel stayed behind, leading to the couple's divorce. Axel’s attempts to reconnect with Jane are interrupted when they are ambushed by cartel members on Wilshire Boulevard, only to be saved by Bobby Abbott during a shootout.

As Axel delves deeper into the conspiracy, he confronts Taggart about his suspicions regarding Captain Grant. Taggart initially defends Grant and shuts Axel out, going so far as to suspend Abbott from the case. Axel, Abbott, and Jane, however, manage to recover a camera from the car where Officer Copeland was murdered. They soon discover that Grant’s team is searching for an SD card containing crucial evidence. Following a clue from Rosewood’s personal organizer, they find themselves at a mansion owned by Grant, which serves as a front for cartel money laundering operations.

With the help of Serge, Axel infiltrates the mansion under the guise of a potential buyer, uncovering more evidence that ties Grant to the cartel and Copeland’s murder. Their cover is blown, however, when Grant’s surveillance detects them. 

In the thrilling climax, Axel, Rosewood, Abbott, and Taggart engage in a firefight against the cartel at the port where the drugs are being shipped. During the chaos, Jane is kidnapped by Grant’s men, but she eventually escapes. Axel faces off against Grant in a dramatic showdown, getting shot while protecting Jane. Bobby Abbott ultimately takes down Grant with a well-placed shot.

In the aftermath, the charges against Enriquez are dropped, and Axel, recovering in the hospital, reconciles with Jane. The film ends on a light-hearted note, with Axel, Rosewood, and Taggart reuniting over dinner, their long-standing friendships renewed.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F successfully brings Axel Foley back to the screen after a three-decade-long hiatus. The film delivers the action, humor, and nostalgia that fans of the original trilogy have come to expect, while introducing new characters and plotlines to keep the story fresh. Eddie Murphy shines in his iconic role, and the ensemble cast adds depth and excitement to the narrative.