5 Questions: Beverly Hills Cop
There is no question that the 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop solidified Eddie Murphy as an A List star in Hollywood and after it brought in over $200 million in ticket sales, it made Eddie Murphy a true box office attraction. The movie spawned two sequels, Beverly Hills Cop II in 1987 and then Beverly Hills Cop III in 1994. A fourth movie in the franchise with Murphy reprising the role of Axel Foley has been teased for years
But after revisiting the film that started it all, I found myself asking some questions…
1. Why did Victor Maitland’s men throw Axel Foley through a window when there was a perfectly good door right next to it?
I am all for a good defenestration scene but why cause needless property damage to your boss’ building? Sure it sent a dramatic message to Axel but now some poor sap has to arrange for the window to be repaired. While they wait for the repair to be completed they are going to need to seal the hole up with plywood and that is an eyesore in any town, let alone Beverly Hills. Unless this is a regular occurrence and there is a room in Maitland’s facility where they store replacement glass panes, this was not a well thought out ejection. If I were Victor Maitland (Steven Berkoff) I would have taken the cost of the repair out of the head of security’s paycheck.
2. How many copycat pranksters did Beverly Hills Cop inspire?
I don’t have the statistics but I would guess people attempting the banana in the tailpipe prank was at an all time high in 1985, following the December 1984 release of Beverly Hills Cop. I would also guess that whoopie cushion sales were down during this same time frame… actually scratch that, fart pranks never get old.
3. Where did Taggart and Rosewood’s fellow detectives get their banana nose novelty glasses?
Is there a Spencer’s Gifts near the Beverly Hills Police Station and they rushed over to get them after hearing of Taggart and Rosewood’s stakeout mishap with the banana? Or did these jerky detectives already happen to own pairs of these glasses hoping one day the opportunity would present itself to wear them? What other novelties did they have on hand? Probably whoopie cushions because fart pranks never get old.
4. Wait a minute, Ronny Cox is one of the good guys in this movie!?!?
After his exceptional work as Dick Jones in Robocop and Vilos Cohaagen in Total Recall, it is hard to believe Cox didn’t play a villainous character in every movie he was ever in. Seriously, has anyone ever played the powerful evil businessman better than Ronny Cox!? It is the role he was born to play.
5. Is the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack one of the greatest movie soundtracks ever?
This questions has a very simple and succinct answer and that answer is YES! Let’s take a look at the line up… “The Heat is On” by Glenn Frey, Patti Labelle’s “New Attitude”, “Nasty Girl” by Vanity 6, the instrumental classic “Axel F” by Harold Faltermeyer. This collection of songs would be enough to make any other movie jealous but Beverly Hills Cop took it to another level with the Pointer Sisters and their hit song “Neutron Dance”. And now before I wrap this edition of 5 Questions up, I proudly present to you, The Pointer Sisters…
