This just in and boy am I depressed about it: There will be a Beverly Hills Cop IV. The success of Indy 4, 19 years after Indy 3, has opened up a can of worms, proving that it's never too late for greedy grubs to chow down hard on Hollywood's leading endangered species: originality. Yes, my friends, 14 years after Beverly Hillls Cop III, Eddie Murphy will again star as Detroit detective Axel Foley, playing a fish out of water in Tinsel Town. WTF? I mean I liked the first Beverly Hills Cop in 1984 as much as the next guy. Murphy damn near exploded on screen. A young Turk on the Detroit force, Murphy's Axel horned in on Beverly Hills police turf to nose out the killer of his buddy. The movie had heart as well as laughs. The BH cops, dressed like bank tellers with manners to match ("Please put your hands up, Sir"), made a great foil for Murphy's big-city cool. And director Martin Brest, before Meet Joe Black and Gigli helped kill his career, gave the movie a genuine sense of style. And then what?
By 1987 and Beverly Hills Cop II, Murphy had already turned into a slick Hollywood package. He wasn't acting this time, he was doing standup. And director Tony Scott, fresh from Top Gun, was determined to hardsell the Murphy goods, this time with a misogynist twist. "God, that's a big bitch," says Murphy, eyeing Brigitte Nielsens' six-foot villain. The whole movie left a nasty aftertaste.
Beverly Hills Cop III in 1994, directed by a talent exhausted John Landis, is the worst of the lot. Most of the film is set in a theme park in a desperate attempt to be Die Hard in Disneyland since Die Hard writer Steven E. de Souza did the script. But even the special effects — Axel saves kids from falling off a spider ride — are tacky. Murphy shoots bad guys, comes on to a babe (Theresa Randle) and calls a kid a "little muthafucka" to show he hasn't gone soft. But Murphy is hawking a memory and trying to make us buy it as the genuine article. It's no sale.
Which leaves us to guess the motivation for Beverly Hills Cop IV. Could it be that first three BHCs grossed $713 million worldwide? That fact that hack supreme Brett Ratner is negotiating to direct speaks volumes. And Murphy, despite a deserved Oscar nomination for Dreamgirls, and solid comic work in The Nutty Professor, Bowfinger, and as the smartass voice of a donkey in the Shrek trilogy, has been selling out the talent he showed in Cop, 48 Hrs and Trading Places to live the life of a preening fatcat.
So here's your chance to tell me if and why I'm wrong. Bring it on.
[Photo: Paramount Pictures]
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LoveAxl | April 27, 2009 12:52 PM
BHC3 was a travesty, and should've put the killing stake in this franchise. I *loved* BHC1, 2 was OK. 3 was simply insulting and could be one of the top 10 worst movies of all time. The time to "apologize" for BHC3 is long past.
James D | September 25, 2008 9:18 AM
You have to have
Judge Reinhold in it. why did
they take him and the other
balding guy out the movie.
and they should never have
took belkie out the movie.
I will give it a chance.
being i am a die hard
axcel foley fan. give it a little
chance.
Stevie V | July 14, 2008 2:55 PM
Sorry people, just my opinion of course but i wont even get close to this movie..here's why..
First, because BHC 3 totally sucked..
Second, this is a total cash grab...nothing else, so except a stupid rushed script.
Third..i wont support a dead beat dad who cant take care of his responsibilites, we all know the stories.
Fourth..Meet Dave, Daddy day care, Showtime (of with i have issues with De niro too!), Metro, Norbit, and my favorite Pluto Nash
and last but not least...Eddie Murphy is just not funny anymore.
Brandon Finch | July 3, 2008 4:22 PM
What makes this more dishearting is the fact that now Brett Ratner is attached to the project. He's been ripping off Eddie Murphy 80s movies since his first feature Money Talks.
jack english | July 1, 2008 7:43 PM
hey, people.c'mon......give "cop 4" a chance!..i was one of the location mgr's, on "cop 2", & i know that without the big hack, john landis around(he ruined cop 3), & i hope his tacky/lucky career is over for good....(.a reel dick head/jerk).....brett ratner is the perfect choice to do "cop 4".....he & eddie together will make a fun movie.........................jack english II (location mgr/actor........bev hills........
jargandargan | June 10, 2008 1:50 AM
well... i guess it's fine as long as it keeps murphy away from doing anything else.
Nonsequetur | June 6, 2008 6:09 PM
I'm with the White Elephant. Why are so many whiners up in arms about a movie that's not even been made yet? There is an audience for it. That should be enough. No one is sneaking 10 bucks out of anyone's pocket to go see it. It's all voluntary.
What if Murphy played BHC IV straight and it became a kick-as drama? Or better yet, what if he makes a really funny, engaging comedy? $741 million!!! He's earned the chance, don't you think? Maybe he could make Dave Chappelle the bad guy, killing off fat-cats like Peter Travers sitting in their ivory tower talkin' trash about comic actors on the opposite end of the public opinion pendulum.
That wouldn't work... nobody would care.
Hoot | June 6, 2008 5:29 PM
I agree with White Elephant. Reviewing a movie before it's out? Now, I'd say the odds are against BHC4, but who knows?
Maybe Travers can get an African American from the Rolling Stone staff (do they have any?) to help him review the film when it comes out.
JP | June 2, 2008 2:59 PM
They need to stop making sequels to sequels of 80's movies. I don't care if it's Axel Foley or Indiana Jones. I'm not spending one cent on any of the sequels. I might catch some of them on cable, if at all.
I guess this is a part of our culture where we revists what was popular 20 years ago and try to exploit it for more money.
the destroyer of worlds | May 30, 2008 5:11 PM
eddie murphy sucks period... the destroyer has spoken.
Morgan | May 30, 2008 2:04 PM
1 was a classic, through and through- 2 was alright, not even close to the caliber of 1, but an enjoyable flick nonetheless. 3 was a travesty that should have never been made. I can't help thinking that unless they brought ALL the original cast back from the first 2 (which they got away from in 3), there's no way in fuck this movie is going to work. Count me out. Bummer.
JgNY | May 30, 2008 10:20 AM
He was very funny, now he is just a typical actor who refuses to take responsibility for his actions.
In many instances, the personal life of these creeps shows itself on screen. Since he dropped the ball at home, his career has died as well.
White Elephant | May 30, 2008 9:07 AM
When did Peter Travers start reviewing movies that haven't even been made yet? Leave the gossip for Harry Knowles, it cheapens Rolling Stone.
The Intl | May 30, 2008 4:05 AM
This is what happens when you're a has-been who at your peak was unbeatable. Go back to your star-turn. The only thing that could save this is if he plays a half beat-down cop ala Eastwood's Dirty Harry (not necessarily that mean & rough) and acts as a comic foil for some young smartass cop character.
Danger Dave | May 30, 2008 3:54 AM
If there is a movie, lets make it exciting.
Judge Reinhold will reprise the role of Rosewood. However, he'll be a police captain now and have a negative emotion response when someone calls him Billy. Nonetheless, he dies from a cocaine overdose five minutes into the movie.
Here's the catch, the cocaine was laced with a poison planted by the retired John Taggart played by Brett Ratner himself.
John Ashton who played Taggart in the first two movies will play a ruthless but wise-cracking drug lord.
Murphy's part will be comprised of footage from the previous movies. However, Murphy will do a voice over.
Well there you have it Rolling Stone and company, a screenplay for the fourth installment...
Axel Foley and the Kingdom of the Crystal Coke
Jack | May 30, 2008 3:50 AM
I have hope, but not much right now. It's gonna take a good script, and one hell of a director with some killer stunts to pull this one off.
Devinoch | May 30, 2008 3:24 AM
I gotta disagree with you here, Trav. So here's what I know -- BHC4 is going to be a hard-R movie (they've said as much) and that means it's back on the playing field of 1 and 2. I thought 2 was pretty good, personally, and if we can get a nice blend of 1 and 2, then you can sign me up.
Let's be honest here -- Eddie Murphy has been stuck doing family-oriented crap for so long, I'm intrigued to see what he can do when he gets his fangs back, and that's enough for me.
pete is right..... | May 30, 2008 2:25 AM
this is just a bad idea. Beverly Hills Cop 3 seemed alright in 94; when i was 15. watching it years later, it's actually quite terrible.
as for ratner, he isn't as bad as most think--the rush hour films were watchable, even enjoyable, on a certain level, and 'money talks' was alright, BUT, he isn't going to make an edgy sequel, and that's precisely what has been lacking since the original installment.
bad idea, definitely.
Anonymous | May 30, 2008 1:43 AM
The way to do it is to conflate all these complaints about Eddie Murphy with his character Axl Foley.
At the beginning of BH4, have Foley as gone-soft. He stayed in Beverly Hills as a celebrity cop consultant for Hollywood movies and tv shows and he'll have to regain some of his street smarts to solve a particular case.
Steve on Long Island | May 30, 2008 1:42 AM
Part of what made the first two "cop" films great was the chemistry Murphy had with Judge Reinhold and John Ashton. Ashton wasn't even in "Cop 3" and that was a big mistake. Get all three of them involved and that would be a good start for "4."
Luke | May 30, 2008 12:55 AM
To me Eddie Murphy's film METRO will always be BH3, it was different lackluster approach and not an Axle Foley vehicle but it carried some charm of the first BEVERLY and Murphy's performance, prior to his paranoid ego binge.
I think Landis deserves another shot. Sure, BH3 was horrible but considering Murphy's ego trouble behind the scenes antics, we're lucky a film was even released. Besides, the two men (Landis & Murphy)gave us TRADING PLACES & COMING TO AMERICA, two of the greatest comedies ever filmed. To see an ass like Ratner attached smells of a cheap desperation for a quick cash and grab on underage minors roaming the shopping malls.
Moneyshot | May 30, 2008 12:54 AM
Dead duck...who the feck cares about Axle ?
Eddie stop being such a cheese dick and do some stand up and get some fans back if you have any, after the decade of shite movies you have given us.
Chuck Jones | May 29, 2008 11:46 PM
Eddie definitely needs to do one more true "Eddie Murphy" movie before he kicks the bucket...one that is true to his comic roots, movies that Travers mentioned "Cops" "Trading Spaces" et al.
I think this is the ticket.
But having Brett Ratner direct means this will be another film-by-committee, showing enough rehashed comedy to appease test-market scores and be all things to all people.
LukeL | May 29, 2008 11:44 PM
This is a bad idea, but. If Eddie just stepped away for one half second and thought about why he is in the mansion (and supermodel) that he is... maybe he will get that spark of nasty dont-give-a-f•ck that he once had. Pretend kids aren't watching!!!! Maybe it would work...but then again, remeber that vampire movie? Neither do I.
sarah | May 29, 2008 11:43 PM
why make the assumption it will be dog doo? maybe Murphy is looking for that old heart again? he doesn't need the money so maybe he wants to make up for BHC3..like how Stallone gave us Rocky Balboa to make up for number 5.
Anonymous | May 29, 2008 9:20 PM
BH3 was PG-13. For those of you keeping score at home...
Three Waterfalls? | May 29, 2008 8:04 PM
They should call it "Beverly Hills Cock," and feature Murphy gloriously humping a boring but busty babe named Franchise. The catch: SHE pays HIM!
Gold.
No More Haters | May 29, 2008 7:23 PM
This is EXACTLY what Eddie Murphy needs. There's no way this movie is PG13. Axel Foley can't go 20 seconds without saying MutherFucker. If Eddie can get his edge back, this is the vehicle.
Justin | May 29, 2008 6:41 PM
Beverly Hills Cop dosen't nearly have the drawing power that let's say Indiana Jones has. I'm 21 and an avid cinema fan and I haven't seen any of the Beverly Hills Cop flicks. I think that if this movie is made it woulden't attract a younger crowd, just a wornout audence that is sure to be dissapointed.
Anonymous | May 29, 2008 6:41 PM
Damnit.I forgot to mention Ratner! Ugh.What a disaster just waiting to happen.The second that hack of a director (as Mr Travers so nicely put it) even heard the possibility of a Beverly Hills Cop 4,this movie was doomed.RIP.
Anonymous | May 29, 2008 6:39 PM
Hmm.Peter Travers,you are a god among men.You always seem to just nail it,whether it be a deserving shit-review,or an equally deserving "bad" idea,such as this.I agree that the first installment was a gem,the second,not so much ... And the 3'rd,even less so.So what the hell do we have to look forward to with a 4'th flick? I know! Judge Reinhold!! I say they ditch Murphy all together,start from scratch and give 'ol Reinhold his own spinoff.In my opinion,he was just as important as Eddie.You take Judge out of the equation,you've got nothing more than Murphy.Might as well tag it with "Metro 2".Anyways.I love your stuff,Mr. Travers.
Amphetadex | May 29, 2008 5:43 PM
Maybe Brett Ratner hasn't been able to sign on his precious stars for the bloated mess that is the Rush Hour series, and is looking at this as an alternative opportunity to cash in on America's craving for the twenty-first century equivalent of the minstrel show. If Ratner thinks he can direct Murphy into doing "crazy negro antics" on par with Stepin Fetchit, just the way he's directed Chris Tucker into such a discriminatory caricature.
Maybe I'm taking my reading of this too far, but I'd hate to see what Murphy's troubled career would become in the hands of Brett Ratner.
Joe | May 29, 2008 5:33 PM
An Eddie Murphy movie is not a bad thing. Even if he has lost his edge as he has gotten older, he is still very, very funny.
Harry Parratestes | May 29, 2008 5:32 PM
This sounds like a phenominal idea. I think we've been waiting much too long to see what crazy antics Mr. Axel Foley has been up to. Bring it on I say!
Brett Ratner's Mom | May 29, 2008 5:18 PM
What's worse the news that there will be a 4th or that it will be directed by Ratner - essentially assuring it will suck a la Rush Hour 3 (and 2... and 1)?
Movie Mike | May 29, 2008 3:44 PM
Yep...for sure it will be PG-13. Too many "muthafuckas", means potentially to little $$$.
What a joke.
Sean Hillary | May 29, 2008 1:00 PM
And i geuss it will be PG-13 like all other new fourths from R rated orginals, like Die Hard 4 and the new Terminator movie
Jon Bryce | May 29, 2008 12:04 PM
You're absolutely right. Beverly Hills Cop IV will be terrible. What killed this series is that each sequel brought Murphy back to Beverly Hills. Why? Each sequel should have brought him to a different city or a different country. Same old same old...another bore from Murphy.