Directed by:
Tony ScottCinematography:
Jeffrey L. KimballComposer:
Harold FaltermeyerCast:
Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Jürgen Prochnow, Ronny Cox, Brigitte Nielsen, Allen Garfield, Dean Stockwell, Paul Reiser, Gilbert R. Hill (more)Plots(1)
Detroit cop Axel Foley is watching the news on TV when the reporter tells a story that Axel's friend, Beverly Hills police Captain Andrew Bogomil, has been shot by a tall woman. Axel heads out to Beverly Hills to visit Bogomil in the hospital, and this is where Axel is reunited with Bogomil's daughter Jan Bogomil. Axel is also reunited with Detective Billy Rosewood and Sergeant John Taggart. Billy and Taggart decide to let Axel help them find the woman who tried to kill Bogomil, even though abusive police chief Harold Lutz has been deliberately trying to find a reason to fire Billy and Taggart. Axel, Billy, and Taggart soon discover that the alphabet robberies, a series of robberies that have been going on in the area, are masterminded by weapons kingpin Maxwell Dent, and Dent had sent his fiancee Karla Fry to try to kill Bogomil because Bogomil had been after Dent. With this information, Axel, Billy, and Taggart try to find Dent and Karla. (Umbrella Entertainment)
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Reviews (3)
Axel's second outing stays true to the Hollywood strategy that a proper sequel must have more of everything. It's a shame that it's true to that strategy even in the significant loss of fun.
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Yeah, this is an '80s hit. The first installment didn't impress me, but Tony Scott truly understood how to make an action film in the 80s, infused it with his drive, and just let the film flow. He succeeded, creating a sharp ride where Eddie Murphy fully showcases his abilities and is truly entertaining. Plus, he's got good pitchers on hand.
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The sequel much more resembles a typical American big-budget blockbuster full of fast cars, nightclubs, fast music, beautiful women, and shots of a city at sunset, but unlike its predecessor, it is at least heading somewhere. Tony Scott doesn't try to come up with something new and instead serves us a healthy and tolerable dose of true 80s America with all the trimmings. The action is surprisingly often confusing and chaotic (mainly due to the editing), but at least there is no shortage of it. Eddie Murphy delivers even more wisecracks than before, and it suits him much better. The track “Shakedown” is excellent, it oozes nostalgia. This cop tries too hard to be cool, and essentially, it doesn't really matter at all.
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