Tag: Bob Seger

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F Review

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is frequently an amusing ride of overt nostalgia mining. It works better than the other two sequels to the 1984 original, especially 1994’s embarrassing III set at an amusement park. Is it good? That might hinge on your generosity level any given moment or reverence for what happened four decades ago. Eddie Murphy is certainly trying harder than he did 30 years ago (and in several mediocre titles between now and then). This is also a notch above Coming 2 America, his other recent long gestating legacy follow-up. Having this premiere on Netflix kinda makes sense. You can check out from time to time and it might not disrupt your overall experience. Does it try too hard to capture a 40-year-old vibe? I guess. Was I still watching? Yes and with more attentiveness than when Axel Foley donned an elephant costume in BHC III (never forget).

The role of renegade Detroit cop Axel Foley is the one that turned Murphy from a movie star to iconic superstar. Part one additionally blended action and comedy in ways that many copied and still do. Beverly Hills Cop II, despite some guilty pleasure high gloss moments courtesy of Tony Scott, couldn’t think of much more to do with the concept. III, despite reuniting its star and Trading Places and Coming to America director John Landis… well we’ve covered that already. Seeing him slide on his Detroit Lions jacket again could’ve been yet another big-budget letdown. Yet just as that team has recently shown signs of life, this series does in part IV.

Foley returns to the West Coast for family business after a cool Motor City prologue set at a Red Wings game (this allows for Paul Reiser to reprise his role as our protagonist’s former partner). His estranged daughter Jane (Taylour Paige) is an attorney representing an innocent man for killing a cop. The dirty police captain (Kevin Bacon) responsible for the murder may need to off the Foley offspring to cover his tracks. So Axel’s ole pal Billy (Judge Reinhold) sends up the 90210 signal before he gets kidnapped himself. His old partner Taggart (John Ashton) is now the Chief. Side note – he was nowhere to be found in III because he probably read the screenplay.

Some of the script allows time for Axel to attempt rekindling a strained relationship with Jane. He also acquaints himself with Detective Abbott (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), his main partner in property destruction and Jane’s ex-flame. Both Gordon-Levitt and Paige are serviceable additions to the proceedings.

I can’t say the same for everyone else. Bronson Pinchot is back as the flamboyant Serge. An art gallery employee in Beverly Hills Cop, he stole two hilarious minutes from Murphy 40 years back. By III (I’m sorry to keep returning to that disaster), he was inexplicably a weapons dealer whose cameo was as unfunny as everything else in the runtime. Now he’s a bleach blonde real estate agent whose appearance feels tacked on. Same goes for Luis Guzman’s eccentric gang leader. Their parts could’ve been eliminated and we would’ve been better off without their 80s vibes.

Perhaps the shameless callbacks to the best franchise moments will leave you cold. I must admit the Pointer Sisters and Harold Faltermeyer and Bob Seger and Glenn Frey needle drops provided joy. Additionally the scaled down nature of the action sequences felt retro positive. Director Mark Molloy often succeeds in making this feel like it could’ve been produced in the era it celebrates. Never mind that everyone looks older and sorer with the notable exception of the seemingly ageless Murphy. This is not an action comedy for the ages. Despite Kevin Bacon as the chief baddie, all four Cop‘s share forgettable villains.

The series that made “Shakedown” an Oscar nominated track doesn’t attempt anything close to a shakeup. Thankfully its megawatt star is in his groove enough that it warrants going back to Cali.

*** (out of four)

Oscar Predictions – Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is out on Netflix today with Eddie Murphy reprising his iconic role as the wisecracking policeman. It arrives 40 years after the original and 30 years behind the unfortunate Beverly Hills Cop III (even its lead has trashed that one). Judge Reinhold, Josh Ashton, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot return to the franchise with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, and Kevin Bacon joining the fourth entry. Mary Malloy directs.

This might seem like a pointless Oscar Predictions posts until you realize there’s awards history with the first two Cop‘s. Part 1 was up for Best Original Screenplay (losing to Places in the Heart). At the Golden Globes, the original competed for Best Musical/Comedy (falling short to Romancing the Stone) and Murphy up for Actor in that category with Dudley Moore (Micki & Maude) emerging victorious. Three years later, Bob Seger’s track “Shakedown” from the first sequel was up for Original Song at the Oscars and Globes. “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” from Dirty Dancing defeated it at both shows. Unsurprisingly, part III failed to generate any nods except the Razzies where John Landis was up for Worst Director (“losing” to Steven Seagal for On Deadly Ground). Wyatt Earp prevented it from taking Worst Remake or Sequel.

Now that we’ve dispensed with that fun trip down memory lane, Axel F is getting mixed reviews with 67% on RT. That’s behind part 1 (83%) but ahead of II (46%) and III (11%). I wouldn’t count on Lil Nas X’s musical contribution “Here We Go!” competing like Seger’s song did. Same goes for any other category. On the bright side, it probably won’t factor into the Razzie conversation either. My Oscar Prediction posts will continue…

Top Ten Summer Music Hits of 1987: A Look Back

As has become a summer tradition on this here blog, I’m taking you back 30 years, 20 years, and 10 years recounting the top 10 tracks of every season.

We begin today with 1987 before moving forward with 1997 and 2007 shortly. It’s a fascinating experience to relive the songs that were blaring (at least in this era) on our Walkmans and cassettes at this juncture.

Just as in years past, I will assign a scale of 1 (summer bummer) to 10 (seasonal classic) for each hit. I will also reveal whether or not said track is on my Apple Music.

As a side note, my series that will cover the summer movies of 1987, 1997, and 2007 will be coming your way soon as well.

Let’s get to it!

10. “Luka” by Suzanne Vega

OK, so you don’t usually pair “summer hit song” with a track about child abuse, but Vega’s largest hit of her career is a catchy little ditty. It earned a number of Grammy nominations. And just to slide a movie reference in, a deleted scene from Pulp Fiction reveals the character of Vincent Vega (John Travolta) may actually be a cousin of hers.

My Rating: 8

Is It On My Apple Music?: No

9. “Heart and Soul” by T’Pau

Not T-Pain for you youngsters. No, this is T’Pau, a British pop song fronted by Carol Decker that had some hits in the late 80s. “Heart and Soul” is a perfectly reasonable track you’d belt out in the car alone.

My Rating: 7 and a half

Is It On My Apple Music?: No

8. “Only In My Dreams” by Debbie Gibson

Teen Long Island pop princess Debbie Gibson (before she changed to her name to the more distinguished Deborah) had a huge hit with this ditty. It’s somewhat forgettable these days, but it’s an OK little pop confection.

My Rating: 5 and a half

Is It On My Apple Music?: No

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IivGqwQvdCI

7. “Who’s That Girl” by Madonna

And now for the real pop princess! This is the title track for Madonna’s 1987 box office dud that still managed to produce this hit. This has never been one of my favorite Madonna songs to be honest, but it’s decent.

My Rating: 6 and a half

Is It On My Apple Music?: Yes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KKGHOdU3HA

6. “I Want Your Sex” by George Michael

The late British pop sensation gave radio programmers heart palpitations with this first single from his heralded solo debut Faith. The track also served as the third single for the soundtrack to Beverly Hills Cop II, which was the summer’s biggest hit movie. As is the case with plenty of other GM tracks, it’s terrific and so are the various remixes that followed.

My Rating: 9 and a half

Is It On My Apple Music? Yes

5. “La Bamba” by Los Lobos

This is, of course, the cover of the Ritchie Valens 50s smash that served as the lead single for the movie La Bamba. Truth be told, this is a track that grates on my nerves and maybe that’s due to its omnipresence three decades ago.

My Rating: 4 and a half

Is It On My Apple Music? No

4. “Shakedown” by Bob Seger

This is Detroit legend Seger’s only #1 single and it came from the Beverly Hills Cop II soundtrack. It was originally intended for the late Glenn Frey, who recorded “The Heat Is On” for 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop. Do I think it’s great? No, but I might not turn the dial if it comes on.

My Rating: 6

Is It On My Apple Music?: No

3. “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” by U2

The second single from their beloved Joshua Tree album, this is one of Irish rock band’s signature tunes and it deserves to be.

My Rating: 9 and a half

Is It On My Apple Music?: Yes

2. “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston

Ms. Whitney’s dance inducing track here served as the first single from her second album and to this day, it will get bridal parties belting out the lyrics.

My Rating: 9

Is It On My Apple Music? Yes

1. “Alone” by Heart

Yeah, very few singers have pipes like Ann Wilson and this power ballad has tested the limits of many who attempt to keep up by themselves while sitting in traffic. Many have tried.

My Rating: 8

Is It On My Apple Music?: No

And there you have it! I’ll be back soon with 1997 and 2007…