Review of Beverly Hills Cop (1984) by Alexander D — 19 Oct 2012

The film is nothing groundbreaking, nor is it truly anomalous as an action comedy, but damn, if it isn't ten tons of fun. You wouldn't believe how glorified the synthesizer piece "Axel F", performed by Harold Faltermeyer, still is today. If nothing else, we associate it with Beverly Hills Cop so much, hearing it played in the film's often farcical context feels like driving giddily around a popcorn machine, in which Murphy is extra butter. The film itself isn't consistently funny, and numerous attempts at humor fall flat, but Murphy, as the story's hero, always adds a bit more flavor. There are, however, a few major faults I must address, all complaints related to the script. When establishing the plot, writer Daniel Petrie Jr. proves a shade off genius. We can forget the madness and bare lack of realism because of the clever look at the plot we are given. Upon continuing the plot, Petrie begins beating around the bush. These several scenes are madly funny, but they focus less on plot, and more on ensuring a "hard R" rating. The raunch-over-story agenda transforms what could have been a dynamic ending into a tune-out session.

Beverly Hills Cop isn't a classic. It's stylish, energetic, and humorous enough to leave a colorful mark on a viewer's memory, but as far as substance, the gap only expands (filled in part with coffee grounds).