Review of Beverly Hills Cop (1984) by Del T — 13 May 2010

Eddie Murphy reached the summit of his film career with this 1984 Xmas present. It was all downhill after this. This is the Eddie Murphy audiences loved on SNL, and in 48 Hrs and Trading Places : the brash, crude, funny profane comic volcano who is never caught off guard.

The juxtaposition of Eddie's streetwise Detroit cop in swank phony Beverly Hills was enough to sell the movie. It's a brilliant satiric hoot.

Rudimentary drug smuggling plot is just a frame to hang Eddie's take no prisoner jokes, and characterizations ( race card playing Rolling Stone reporter, Herpes simplex 10 gay lover, foul mouthed customs inspector ), that help him con his way through the pretentious Rodeo Drive glamour.

Also a nice rapport and respect develops between him and his fellow by the book BH cops. Most notably Judge Reinhold.

All this in your face comedy and take charge action scenes, are powered by 80's pop funk songs. Soundtrack album ( remember those ?? ) was a huge seller, and movie's theme music, "Axel F" by Harold Faltermeyer became a big radio hit.

Trivia : movie was supposed to be a vehicle fo Sly Stallone. He bailed. Eddie stepped in.