Disc Reviews

Beverly Hills Cop 3 Movie Collection Blu-ray

BHCTRILOGY_3DISC_BD_RETAIL_2DNot content with covering the release of Beverly Hills Cop on Blu-ray – we take a look at the whole trilogy here also available on Blu-ray.

Eddie Murphy starred in the lead role of Axel Foley for a decade period up to 1994. The original film finds the Detroit cop in Beverly Hills for the first time – seeking revenge on the men responsible for the death of a close friend. Working outside the law, but hardly keeping a low profile, the foul mouthed/wise-cracking young cop does the business his way, with a heavy reliance on using his smarts to outwit and undermine the rich society that would otherwise see him as a bit of a lowlife.

The original is quite simply still the best, aged very well and is always worth revisiting – even more so these days with friends who grew up on it.

The producers wasted little time in green lighting a sequel for a 1987 release which was also directed by their recently new hot-thing director Tony Scott. This film served as an extension of Scott’s filming style, and stands up against today’s Hollywood cinema with ease.

Sure logic and plotting go right out the window – but the montage of images, and the way Scott shoots more than makes up for anything that is lacking in the story departments.

This time Foley is in town to pull vengeance on the people responsible for the shooting of a close friend. Sound familiar?  Well why not.  Only this time Foley’s Ego has grown that much bigger along with the star himself. He dresses even smarter this time. Instead of jeans and knackered T-shirts; it’s a varsity jacket and sunglasses.

Again he has the LA Police in his way, but at least he has friends in the face of the men who opposed him in the last film having gained each other’s trust. But it is still one joke set piece to the next as Foley navigates a fairly easy breadcrumb trail. But again the laughter comes out of Foley’s 9interaction with the people he comes up against – be it the smug owners of gun clubs, or the snooty receptionists at the door on the way in. The bad guys are a collection of ciphers, with Bridgette Neilson standing out of the crowd.

It’s bigger, louder and yes it is dumber than the first film, but it retains a similar flavour of the original so can easily be swallowed.

For Beverly Hills Cop 3, director John Landis stepped in to take over the directorial reins. Landis had previous worked with Murphy on two previous paramount releases Trading Places and Coming to America, both still firm fan favourites. BHC3 was sadly not to be of this pedigree. But to be fair to the film it is a departure from the first two. Yes Foley is back in town causing chaos. Yes he is out seeking revenge against a murdered friend. This time though the action is relegated to the fictional amusement park called Wonder World.

There is however also a change in tone. The action (as evidenced from the opening car chase is much more cartoon-like and comedic.  Although Foley is still throwing out the F-Word like no body’s business, the film is much more light in its tone.

Judge Reinhold is back, and even he is amping the tone up in his new role as head of a certain department that we are not even going to try to recall the name of (JDGIOSE…whatever!). But sadly John Saxon did not return, so instead they have slotted in a similar character to fill his shoes, who isn’t half as much fun.

There is also a return from the character of Serge from who may have been a fan favourite of the first film, but here he is a gleefully over excited arms dealer? A joke that falls flat on its face, as does the extended cameo of the character.  Invented accent aside, the morose character has been given a 180 turnaround and is now just plain annoying.

Murphy may be striding too confidently as the character in this film, but to be fair to BHC3 it is not without its charms, its one liners and its bits of business that keep the film bouncing along, if a bit erratically. And look out for George Lucas getting denied a ride on a park ride thanks to Foley cutting the line. Yes so watch out for those Landis inserted cameos from other directors!

EXTRAS:

There are only extras on the first film disc.  Commentary, a  few making of featurettes that accompanied the single disc edition we reviewed here.

Sadly there are none for the other two films – a shame as there was some available on a previous DVD set. But at least both films look much better on their Blu-ray home. Surprisingly for vanilla discs to look so good. But shine they do.

4 Stars

 

 

 

Steven Hurst

 

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