Beverly Hills Cop 4: Worth Watching or Not?

It has been 28 years since the last Beverly Hills Cop movie, and the wait for a new addition to the series remains a contentious one. Will Beverly Hills Cop 4 be worth watching? Frankly, my answer is no, and here’s why:

1. Lack of Freshness and Originality

As we have been without a new Beverly Hills Cop film for almost three decades, the market is saturated, and the audience’s patience wears thin. The last film in the series, most notably Beverly Hills Cop III, was met with mixed reviews, though the original film was a huge hit due to its innovative and fresh approach. The key to its success was the great improvisation, particularly from star Eddie Murphy. However, as Eddie gets older and has more money to secure his paycheck, he plays it safe and sticks to a script. He is no longer the energetic, improvisational actor who once controlled the entire screen.

2. Political Correctness and Watered-Down Humor

The original films relied heavily on political incorrectness, and you could get away with almost anything. It was a fondly remembered era of humor where black comedies were daring and off-the-wall. The comedies of the 1980s were brash and clever, and audiences weren’t as mindful of politically incorrect humor as they are today.

However, humor in 2023 demands a more politically correct approach. This leads to a more sanitized, less impactful version of the comedy, making the overall experience much less exciting. The audience of today is accustomed to humor that is both timely and relevant, whereas the humor that made Beverly Hills Cop memorable isn’t as accessible in today’s climate.

3. Age Gap and Suitability

A fundamental aspect that can’t be overlooked is axel foley’s age. In the first Beverly Hills Cop movie, he was a young, cocky character who was out of his depth in Beverly Hills. Eddie Murphy was in his prime, bringing in youthful energy that resonated with the audience. However, in the new incarnation, he is older, thus in an age where he’d be more suited for a character like Oliver Winchester from Trading Places or Akeem Jehle from Coming to America. His role as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop 4 doesn’t seem as appealing or evolved as it did in the earlier films.

4. Unlikely Launch and Streaming

Interestingly, Beverly Hills Cop 4 is currently in production, and its working title is “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley.” While I had no idea it was in production, it’s safe to assume it will be released on a streaming platform such as Netflix. Whether it will be worth watching is another question. Conventional wisdom seems to suggest that it won’t hit the same cultural mark as the original trilogy, due to the reasons previously mentioned.

There is a chance that I could be proven wrong. The film will likely appeal to a select demographic of Beverly Hills Cop fans and die-hard Eddie Murphy devotees. Nevertheless, the film will surely be a dull experience for many.

Therefore, unless you are a die-hard fan of Beverly Hills Cop, it would be better to pass on this potentially uninspired entry into the franchise. Enjoy your streaming subscription, or perhaps rent another classic film for that night of comedy and nostalgia.