[.ca] Beverly Hills Cop II (Widescreen)

From Amazon.com:
The 1988 sequel to one of the most successful movies of all time finds Eddie Murphy reprising his role as Detroit police detective Axel Foley, and once again playing a fish out of water as he tries to solve a series of heists in Beverly Hills that may be connected to the attempted murder of his friend, a Beverly Hills police captain (Ronny Cox). Constructed in a much flashier and faster-paced visual style than the first film, the song still remains the same as Foley tries to keep his job in Detroit while solving crimes for the Beverly Hills cops. Murphy again makes the most of culture shock for comic effect, and the easy rapport between Murphy and Billy (Judge Reinhold), now a cheerfully over the top Rambo-esque figure, is still the centerpiece of this series. While not the least bit original, director Tony Scott (Crimson Tide, Top Gun) puts his own stamp on this installment and keeps the action and the laughs coming. --Robert Lane

Worthy of it's stars:
Not as good as the first, but Good.

This is not funny.:
THE SCREENPLAY HAS WRITTEN FOR THIS MOVIE BY LARRY FERGUSON WAS TOO SHALLOW. EVERYONE PLAYS THE PARTS IN A VERY SUPERFISCAL WAY. THERE IS NO HUMOR NOR STYLE TO THE JOKES. IT'S JUST THERE AND IT DOES NOT AMOUNT TOO VERY MUCH, BUT THEN AGAIN EVERY EDDIE MURPHY FILM HAS TURNED OUT TO BE ALL STYLE AND NO SUBSTANCE 9OR HUMOR).

Murphy and Company Keep It In Check!:
After the gargantuan success of "Beverly Hills Cop" it was inevitable that the executives at Paramount demand a sequel. So here you have it: "Beverly Hills Cop II," an unquestionably inferior sequel that still manages to be fun by rehashing some of the original's formula. The main problem with "Beverly Hills Cop II" is the fact that Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is now friendly with at least half of the Beverly Hills police force. Not so the case the first time around, since it was the very fact that he was unwelcome to begin with that made his tearing up of the culture the crucial crux of the comedy. Another weakness is the fact that this film's script places more focus on the action than it does on the laughs. This was a mistake for sure, since the comedy element is the original's greatest strength, as well as that of the cast. All is not lost however. This movie still manages to pull off some very funny gags thanks to the energy and timing of Murphy (still in his heyday) and of co-stars John Ashton and Judge Reinhold as the loveable Taggart and Rosewood. It is clear that the actors are enjoying these characters and it shows in their scenes together. There is a priceless moment at the Playboy Mansion featuring a cameo from Hefner himself. Interestingly enough, according to an included interview with Hef, this was the first time that he allowed a major motion picture to be shot on the infamous property. Most of the cast and crew are also interviewed as they look back on the making of what ended up being another major hit for Paramount in 1987.

A Mess:
Murphy should have held out. Not for more money but for a better script. BH2 is just dumb. Asinine plot and everything that was fresh and cool about the original is trotted out all over again. Lame.

"Beverly Hills Cop" is back in business for sequel:
Detriot cop Axel Foley returns to Beverly Hills to once again show "square" cops Rosewood and Taggert how real police work is done. This time, they're after a group of bank robbers known as "The Alphabet Bandits" who are responsible for shooting their boss. While this one is more dedicated to action than comedy (thanks to Top Gun director Tony Scott), Murphy is still in rare comedic form and manages to keep this sequel from being a waste of time. Too bad the same can't be said for the third entry in the "Beverly Hills Cop" franchise. Number two is a bit of a rehash but seeing all the characters from the fist go-around (with the exception of Bronson Pinchot and Lisa Eilbacher) back in action makes it excuseable.