BEVERLY HILLS COP II (1987) Reaction! | First Time Watch | Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhold, Tony Scott
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Eddie Murphy's performance as Axel Foley felt more natural and allowed for extensive ad-libbing, making him more dynamic.
- ❖The sequel's faster pacing and pre-established character relationships improved the overall viewing experience by diving directly into the action.
- ❖The dynamic between Axel, Billy, and Tagert evolved from friction to genuine camaraderie, significantly enhancing the humor.
- ❖Axel Foley's elaborate cons and quick wit are highlights, showcasing his mastery of misdirection and improvisation.
- ❖Minor criticisms include quick villain resolutions and a slightly less impactful central crime compared to the first film.
Insights
1Eddie Murphy's Elevated Performance and Ad-Lib Mastery
The hosts observed that Eddie Murphy appeared more comfortable and "dialed in" as Axel Foley in the sequel, leading to a heightened energy and more natural, ad-libbed comedic moments. This comfort allowed him to "play more" with the character, making his performance feel smoother and more dynamic.
This one I felt like he he was more comfortable in the character... everything was really smooth... Axel was a little bit more heightened... I'm going to mess with these guys and I'm going to have some fun.
2Pacing and Established Relationships Enhance Sequel
"Beverly Hills Cop II" benefited significantly from having established the relationships between Axel and the Beverly Hills detectives in the first film. This allowed for a quicker pace, diving directly into the police work and character interactions rather than spending time building rapport, which improved the overall narrative flow.
The pacing was a little bit quicker on this one... helped... by having already established these relationships... we get into the police work quicker rather than spending time having to get everybody else on board.
3Character Evolution for Billy and Tagert
The sequel provided more depth and an arc for supporting characters Billy Rosewood and John Tagert. Their dynamic with Axel shifted from initial dislike and headaches to a more developed friendship and willingness to participate in his unconventional methods, making them more dynamic and engaging.
I really enjoyed um Billy and Tagard in this one. More than the first one. getting to see them like flesh out a little bit more and like have more of a character arc rather than just, oh, we don't like Axel. He's causing headaches for us. Now it was like, we like Axel, but he's still causing headaches for us, which I think is just like more dynamic.
4Axel Foley's Masterful Cons and Misdirection
A recurring highlight for the hosts was Axel Foley's ability to execute elaborate cons and use misdirection to achieve his goals, often with ridiculous but convincing stories. These scenes were considered the most entertaining parts of the film, showcasing his quick wit and unwavering commitment to the deception.
He's just bullshitting. Like he's so good at it. He's just like a master of it... the way he comes up with stuff on the fly and can perfectly read like what situation... He makes you believe it. He never ever ever drops the con.
Lessons
- When developing a sequel, leverage established character relationships to accelerate pacing and deepen comedic dynamics, rather than re-establishing old conflicts.
- Allow lead comedic actors creative freedom for ad-libbing, as comfort in a role can lead to more natural, elevated, and memorable performances.
- Invest in character arcs for supporting roles to make them more dynamic and engaging in subsequent installments, moving beyond static archetypes.
Quotes
"This one it felt like Axel was a little bit more heightened. He was a little bit more elevated in like his energy and his character and it was less like just like I'm cool at all times. It was more like I'm going to mess with these guys and I'm going to have some fun."
"He's good man. He has the confidence to sell it."
"It's not often that a sequel manages to capture whatever made a first movie really excellent... This took what made the first one really fun and then just expanded on it."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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