https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/beverly-hills-cop-axel-f-netflix-movie-review-2024
A shockingly entertaining diversion, the best in the series since the film that helped make Murphy one of the biggest stars of his generation.
Saw it. It was okay. Expect everyone to be old. Expect the writer to take the same beats as previous movies. There were a few lines that were funny, but Murphy is obviously not the same young kid from the first movies.
I liked it better than 3, but that's not saying much. 1 and 2 were far better. Don't expect a Top Gun: Maverick experience by any means.
My father noticed this movie existed, and he asked me "I wonder what the premise of the movie is?" And my immediate reaction was "Here's an IP we haven't monetized in awhile."
Was anyone asking for a new Beverly Hills Cop movie? The first one was pretty cool, 40 years ago. The second one was okay, the third was basically self-parody, then 30 years went by during which I think the brand devolved in people's minds to being the Axel F theme (which still comprehensively slaps) and "Remember when Eddie Murphy was edgy?"
My father then turned to the computer, started looking up the cast (he's the kind of guy who, while watching a movie, will see someone walk in and then talk over the movie "That's Fleeg Fleegerson, he's Glipper Glunderdung's ex husband, he played three insensitive racial stereotypes on a black and white cowboys and indians show I grew up with.") and he goes "Someone Someoneson plays his daughter...I wonder if she's black keyboard noises, pause while the page loads Yep!"
Boomers, man.