Under the lens takes a deep look at films by focusing in on one or two particular areas of the picture that helped to define it for better or for worse.
Beverly Hills Cop is a 1983 action comedy that stars Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, and John Ashton, directed by Martin Brest it follows the madcap adventures of Axel Foley, a freewheeling Detroit cop pursuing a murder investigation who finds himself dealing with a very different culture of Beverly Hills California.
UNDER THE LENS: Comedy AND Buddy Cops
Buddy Cops: The strength of Beverly Hills cop is the madcap performance of Eddie Murphy who brings an intense energy to Axel Forley, Axel is shown as a very capable officer whose antics and seeming silliness are shown as him putting on various identities as an undercover cop. He uses these antics when he comes to Beverly Hills to solve his case while getting on the nerves of everyone at the police station. The comedic relationship between Foley, Rosewood, and Taggart is the heart of the picture, as we see three different types of cop, Taggart is the grizzled vet, Rosewood is the wide-eyed rookie, and Foley is the wild card. While conflict ensues as Tagget clashes with the wild card nature of Axel, we see slowly that Rosewood and his superior see the value in Axel and his method of investigation. At the end of the picture the three of them are friends and have learned that they each bring something important to the table.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Judge Reinhold, and John Ashton both have incredible chemistry as Rosewood and Taggart they are hilarious and believable as a rookie and vet
- Most of the comedic lines were improvised and this turned out to be the secret ingredient that helped the film become the classic it is today
- At its core is a good crime story that while playing second to the comedy is still engrossing and interesting
QUOTABLE QUOTE
Axel Foley: I’ve never been in a cell that had a phone in it. Can I stay for a while, ’cause I ordered some pizza?
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Have you ever had to deal with someone at work who has a totally different style of getting things done than you do? How did you handle it?
CONCLUSION
Beverly Hills Cop is a classic of the action comedy genre and with good reason, it’s perfect casting, hilarious dialogue, and fish-out-of-water story are one that transcends generations and time. Anchored with strong comedic performances by Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, and John Ashton, Beverly Hills Cop is a picture that can be revisited again and again and still get you laughing. If you enjoy the buddy cop genre or just comedy in general, Beverly Hills Cop is one that must be seen and shared with friends and family.
