After more than a decade of superheroes saving the world in cinema, Eddie Murphy is bringing back the character he describes as “everyman.”
Murphy reprises his role as Axel Foley in “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” a new installment in the action-comedy franchise that began 40 years ago in 1984. The film hits Netflix on Wednesday.
“For 10 to 15 years, it was all about CGI, big visual effects, superheroes and people saving the day in capes and tight suits,” Murphy said in an interview.
“I knew that one day or another, we would have to come back to that,” he added. “Movies used to be character-driven and story-driven, and that will always work.
In the new film, the vivacious Foley is working as a detective in Detroit when he learns that his estranged daughter is in danger in Beverly Hills. He returns to town to reconnect with her and help her solve a case.
Foley “is not Superman,” Mr. Murphy said. “He represents all men, all those who don’t play by the rules. He’s the kind of guy you want to have a beer with.”
The film – the fourth in the franchise and the first since 1994 – aims to replicate the look and feel of the original without modern special effects. The action takes place against the backdrop of real-life stunts, such as a helicopter chase through Los Angeles.
“The hardest part was the physical stuff,” Murphy said. “I’m in my 60s now and I made the first movie (at) 21, so you can imagine the differences.
Previous stars Judge Reinhold and John Ashton reprise their roles in the film. The newcomers are Kevin Bacon and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
Bacon said he liked the old-school stunts in the new film, feeling it was difficult to impress today’s audiences with computer-generated effects.
“If you put a truck behind you and it hits the door of a police car, and you see Joe in the middle saying, ‘There’s no seat belt,’ to me that’s a surprise,” Bacon said.
“It’s a lot more satisfying, I think, for people today, because I think we’re a little numb to all the other things.
Murphy said there have been attempts over the years to resurrect the franchise, but none of the scripts had the “emotional hook” of the story between Foley and his now-adult daughter.
“The movie is about a father reconciling with his daughter,” Murphy said. “Once we added that, it all came together. It’s the glue that holds the whole movie together.”
