Directed by:
Martin BrestScreenplay:
Daniel Petrie Jr.Cinematography:
Bruce SurteesComposer:
Harold FaltermeyerCast:
Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Lisa Eilbacher, Ronny Cox, Steven Berkoff, James Russo, Jonathan Banks, Stephen Elliott, Gilbert R. Hill, Art Kimbro (more)Plots(1)
Detroit cop Axel Foley is delighted when he receives a surprise visit from his best friend Mikey Tandino, who lives in California. Not long after Mikey arrives in Detroit, Mikey is killed, right in front of Axel, by a man named Zack. Axel follows Zack to Beverly Hills, California, where Beverly Hills police department Lieutenant Andrew Bogomil assigns Detective Billy Rosewood and Rosewood's partner, Sergeant John Taggart, to keep an eye on Axel. Axel visits his friend Jenny Summers, who works in an art gallery. With Jenny's help, Axel discovers that Zack works for Jenny's boss, Victor Maitland, the man who owns the art gallery. Maitland is a drug kingpin who is using the gallery as a front, and Maitland had Zack kill Mikey after Maitland accused Mikey of stealing some of Maitland's bonds. With the help of Jenny, Billy, and Taggart, Axel does what he can to make sure Maitland and Zack won't kill any more people. (Umbrella Entertainment)
(more)Reviews (2)
Eddie Murphy is the only thing worth paying attention to, without him, it's just an average and ordinary-looking action B-movie with zero ambitions. But Murphy's verbosity and a ton of gags (though sometimes awkward) at least make the film somewhat decent, with a screenplay as naïve as the rest of the cast. The nostalgia of the 80s is pleasant even today. Axel Foley is undoubtedly one of the best roles in Murphy's not particularly likeable and stunning career, but for those who don't appreciate his mild sarcasm, contagious laughter, and a million words, I recommend switching the channel.
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I'm catching up on my backlog, and as it turns out, this film is part of it. I probably caught glimpses of this action comedy on TV now and then, but I didn't watch the whole thing, and it didn't leave much of an impression on me. Now I've finally seen the whole film and I have to admit it's pretty good in places and Eddie carries it well, but I didn't see much else in it. Except for that great melody that everyone knows thanks to the frog.
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