Movie Review: Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

★★★★★

Beverly Hills Cop is pure Eddie Murphy magic, funny, fast, and full of attitude. That theme song still slaps.

Jordan T.

Ohio

Some movies work because of their story. Some work because of the direction. And some, like Beverly Hills Cop, work because they’ve got a star who makes every scene electric.

Rewatching it for BoxReview.com, I was struck by how much of this film’s success comes from Eddie Murphy’s performance, but also by how much credit should go to the tight pacing, sharp script, and smart mix of action and comedy. It’s a buddy-cop movie that plays by the rules just enough to break them in all the right ways.

The Premise: From Detroit to Beverly Hills

Murphy plays Axel Foley, a fast-talking Detroit detective whose friend is murdered after a suspicious job in Beverly Hills. Against his boss’s orders, Axel heads west to investigate and quickly runs into the cultural clash between streetwise Detroit grit and the polished, high-end sheen of Beverly Hills.

Along the way, he partners (reluctantly, at first) with two local detectives, Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and Sgt. Taggart (John Ashton), who isn’t used to Axel’s unorthodox methods.

Eddie Murphy’s Performance: Improvisation as a Weapon

This was the movie that made Eddie Murphy a global superstar, and you can see why. His Axel Foley isn’t just funny, he’s smart. His quick wit and fast thinking aren’t just for jokes; they’re tools for survival.

One under-discussed aspect is how much of Axel’s charm comes from Murphy’s improvisation. Some of the film’s most iconic moments, like the “super-cop” story or the fake hotel check-in scene, were at least partly improvised on set. That unpredictability gives Axel a sense of danger and fun that keeps the audience hooked.

The Supporting Cast: Comedy Needs Straight Men

Judge Reinhold and John Ashton are the perfect comedic foils. Rosewood’s wide-eyed eagerness and Taggart’s gruff skepticism balance Murphy’s energy. Their slow transformation from by-the-book cops to willing accomplices in Axel’s schemes is one of the most satisfying arcs in the movie.

And then there’s Ronny Cox as Lt. Bogomil, the calm, fair-minded boss who’s quietly keeping the chaos under control. Without these grounded characters, Axel’s antics might feel too over-the-top, but here they land perfectly.

Villains with Style

Steven Berkoff’s Victor Maitland is a different kind of ’80s villain, not a snarling madman, but a smooth, calculated operator who hides his crimes behind luxury and influence. The choice to make the villain more refined than ruthless in appearance makes his eventual unraveling more satisfying.

The Humor: Fish-Out-of-Water Meets Streetwise Hustle

One thing that stands out on rewatch is how Beverly Hills Cop never leans too hard into making Beverly Hills itself the joke. The comedy comes from Axel’s ability to navigate and manipulate these spaces with confidence, from a high-end art gallery to an exclusive country club.

The humor is situational, not just punchline-driven, which is a big reason the film holds up decades later.

The Action: Not Just a Comedy with Gunfights

Martin Brest’s direction keeps the pacing tight and the stakes high. The action sequences, especially the climactic shootout at Maitland’s estate, are well-staged and genuinely tense. This isn’t a comedy that throws in action as an afterthought; it’s a true action-comedy where both halves get equal respect.

The Soundtrack: Synths, Funk, and Instant Recognition

Harold Faltermeyer’s “Axel F” theme is one of the most recognizable movie themes of the ’80s, but the rest of the soundtrack deserves more credit. The blend of synth-driven instrumentals and funky pop songs nails the movie’s mix of urban grit and California flash.

Under-Discussed Element: Axel’s Emotional Drive

Amid all the wisecracks, it’s easy to forget that Axel’s mission starts from a deeply personal place, the murder of his friend Mikey. Murphy doesn’t let the emotional beats drag, but they’re there, and they give the story a grounding that keeps it from feeling like an aimless comedy.

It’s subtle, but you can see it in the way Axel shifts gears when the investigation gets personal. That balance between levity and genuine stakes is a big reason the film still works so well.

Themes That Still Resonate in 2000's

• Street smarts vs. institutional rules — Axel’s success comes from knowing when to bend or break the rules.

• Cultural clash — not just East Coast vs. West Coast, but working-class vs. elite privilege.

• Friendship and loyalty — Axel’s whole journey is built on avenging a friend, and that loyalty wins over his reluctant partners.

Why Beverly Hills Cop Endures

The ’80s had no shortage of buddy-cop movies, but Beverly Hills Cop has a secret weapon: it feels effortless. The comedy isn’t forced, the action isn’t filler, and the characters feel like people you’d actually want to hang out with.

Murphy’s performance has aged beautifully, the charisma is still magnetic, the jokes still land, and Axel Foley still feels like the kind of detective who could talk his way into or out of any situation.

Final Thoughts

Beverly Hills Cop is more than just an Eddie Murphy vehicle; it’s a perfect blend of action, comedy, and character work that became a blueprint for decades of films to follow.

If you’ve only ever thought of it as “the one with the synth theme,” do yourself a favor and revisit it. The charm, the pacing, and the sharpness of the writing make it one of the most rewatchable movies of the ’80s.