Paramount Pictures | 1984 | 105 mins. | R
Beverly Hills Cop owes its success to star Eddie Murphy. Murphy’s one-of-a kind, fast-talking personality turned a rather routine, shallow cop comedy into something special. Murphy’s presence is the primary reason for the movies sustained popularity. As many fans already know, the filmmakers originally signed Mickey Rourke for the role, and were later set to feature Sylvester Stallone in the lead, before Sly ended up taking his various rewrites and strictly action-oriented ideas to make the forgettable Cobra.
Murphy plays Axel Foley, a smooth-talking Detroit detective whose disregard for procedure routinely lands him in hot water with his commanding officer, Inspector Todd (Gilbert R. Hill). Foley returns home to find an old friend waiting for him. Mickey (James Russo), is just out of prison and has some news to share. He’s been working in Beverly Hills where he’s managed to get his hands on thousands of dollars worth of untraceable German bonds. The only problem is a pair of Beverly Hills thugs are on to him. Mickey is shot and killed in front of Foley, Denied the opportunity to take the case and avenge his friend’s death, Foley takes a vacation out to sunny Southern California. He meets up with an old friend and Mickey’s one-time employer Jenny (Lisa Eilbacher). It’s not long before the trail leads him to local crime lord, and prominent art dealer Victor Maitland (Steven Berkoff) and a very lucrative drug operation.
However, Foley quickly finds himself in trouble with local law enforcement. Beverly Hills Police Lieutenant Andrew Bogomil (Ronny Cox) wants him run out of town. Victor Maitland ends up having Axel arrested, and Lieutenant Bogomil assigns detectives Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and Taggart (John Ashton) to follow Foley when he gets out on bail. Always resourceful, Axel asks the two detectives for help, but he first must convince them that he’s trustworthy enough to put their lives on the line for what will be a potentially deadly bust.
Murphy’s amazing comic timing is what makes Beverly Hills Cop go. When Murphy was cast, screenwriter Daniel Petrie, Jr. reworked things to match Murphy’s sensibilities, and the result is perfection. While there is some vulgarity, as we know, that’s part of Murphy’s shtick. But the guys got so much charm; it’s hard not to like him. Murphy is joined by an excellent supporting cast, led by the amusing Judge Reinhold as the still wet-behind-the-ears and very enthused Billy Rosewood. His partner is the restless Sgt. Taggart (John Ashton), an experienced police officer who hasn’t seen any real action in a long time.
Props also go out to director Martin Brest (Scent of a Woman, Meet Joe Black) who adds his own flare to the proceedings. While he sets a nice pace for the action, his decision to have music play such a prominent role throughout the film, was genius. Specific song selections, like Glenn Frey’s “The Heat is On” and Pointer Sisters’ “Neutron Dance,” are allowed to drive some of the plot points, amplifying the excitement of many action sequences. One can’t mention the music of ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ without also making reference to Axel’s unmistakable electro theme music by composer Harold Faltermeyer. I broke two cassettes of the soundtrack back in the day!
Beverly Hills Cop comes to Blu-ray in its native 1.85:1 widescreen ratio. There’s a good deal of grain throughout the first half of the film. It appears to be inherent to the print, as it clears up in the second half. Colors are surprisingly vibrant and realistic. Definition is sharp most of the time; black levels are strong; and detailing is very good, even in shadowy areas of the screen.
The audio, presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, sounds clean, if not mind blowing. The dynamics work well, with a well-controlled mid bass always present. Though there’s not much spread to the back speakers throughout the presentation, so one can’t call this an immersive experience.
We get the following special features:
- Audio Commentary: Director Martin Brest looks back at the film some time after its initial release. He discusses the shoot, putting together sets and props, the quality of the performances and the chemistry between the leads, and other interesting insights.
- Beverly Hills Cop — The Phenomenon Begins (480p, 29:11): A piece that looks back at the project’s history, including discussions revolving around the screenplay’s development, actors considered for the lead role, the story’s tone, casting Eddie Murphy and the remainder of the cast, hiring Director Martin Brest, Murphy’s performance, and the picture’s legacy.
- A Glimpse Into the Casting Process (480p, 9:37): Casting Director Margery Simkin discusses her role on the film, the repercussions of Eddie Murphy replacing Sylvester Stallone, and the casting of various other roles.
- The Music of Beverly Hills Cop (480p, 7:49): An in-depth look at the film’s Grammy-winning score and its place in the film.
- Location Map (1080p/480p): Users may select from seven film-specific locations and view brief behind-the-scenes clips about each.
- Beverly Hills Cop Theatrical Trailer (1080p, 2:33).
