Summary
Warning: This article contains spoilers for Beverly Hills Cop: Axel FBilly Rosewood’sRamboknife inBeverly Hills Cop: Axel Fcontinues a clever franchise trend of nods to Sylvester Stallone. Netflix recently released the newest installment of the 40-year-oldBeverly Hills Copfranchise, returning Eddie Murphy to the role of Detective Axel Foley as well as featuring a cast ofnew and returningBeverly Hills Copcharactersfor yet another enjoyable, action-packed investigation. This time, Foley must crack down ona criminal conspiracy that threatens the lives of his estranged daughter, Jane Saunders, and his longtime former partner, Detective Billy Rosewood.
Overall, the legacy sequel has been generally well-regarded by viewers, having earned itself an approval rating of 62% with critics and 80% with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes,theBeverly Hills Copfranchise’s second-bestcritical and audience scores under the original movie. Much of the sequel’s appeal comes from its deft use of nostalgia, from more obvious sentiments, such as the 80s and 90s era hits ofBeverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ssoundtrack, to more subtle references that recall the previous movies. One such reference maintains aBHCfilm trend and is a brilliant ode to the franchise’s history.
Billy Rosewood’s Rambo Knife Is A Tribute To Lost History
Rosewood’s Rambo Knife Recalls BHC’s Missed Sylvester Stallone Casting
InBeverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Foley returns to Beverly Hills after Rosewood is kidnapped for snooping on a cartel shipment. The cartel has been in cahoots with Beverly Hills Police Department’s Captain Cade Grant, using his mansion as a front to launder money. Hot on the case,Rosewood recovers an SD card containing evidence of the conspiracy, whichBeverly Hillsreveals him to have hidden in the hilt of hisRambobowie knife. The detail accompanies a number ofBeverly Hill Copodes to Stallone, who very nearly fronted the franchise as Detective Foley before being replaced by Murphy.
Stallone was set to play the lead in the firstBeverly Hills Copup until two weeks before production started. However, Stallone had strong opinions aboutBeverly Hills Cop’stone and story, preferring a more high-octane version of the movie than the action comedy Paramount Pictures desired. Because of creative differences,Stallone walked away fromBeverly Hills Cop,and Murphy stepped up for the role. Ultimately, it doesn’t seem like any bad blood was spilled because of Stallone’s exit, as the franchise has and continues to honor the actor with fun references and Easter eggs.
Stallone once compared hisBeverly Hills Coptake to the opening beach storming scene ofSaving Private Ryan.
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Billy’s Rambo Easter Egg Continues A Beverly Hills Cop Trend
Nods To Stallone Are Prevalent In The BHC Franchise
Besides Billy’sRamboknife,Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Fincludes another gratifying StalloneEaster egg. Foley goes looking for answers about Rosewood’s disappearance and ends up at his former partner’s office. Cartel associates are already there rooting through Rosewood’s belongings when Foley arrives. Although the commotion of the ensuing confrontation distracts from theRamboEaster egg,a movie poster forRambo: First Blood Part IIcan be seen strung up on the wall of Rosewood’s office. The detail is also a direct callback to anotherBeverly Hills Copmovie.
A poster ofRamboand one from the 1986 Stallone-fronted action filmCobraare seen displayed at various moments.
InBeverly Hills Cop II, scenes set in Rosewood’s home unveil thatStallone posters are the detective’s decor of choice. A poster ofRamboand one from the 1986 Stallone-fronted action filmCobraare displayed at various moments.Beverly Hills Cop 2also directly referencesRamboby name and features Stallone’s then-wife Bridgette Nielsen as Karla Fry.Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Fupholding the trend of Stallone Easter eggs after 37 years is not only cool but is a testament to how influential the actor has been to it and the action genre.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Cast
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Foley is the fourth film in the popular comedy franchise starring Eddie Murphy. Murphy returns as Axel Foley in the Netflix film alongside returning cast members Judge Reinhold and John Ashton and Bronson Pinchot as Serge. Kevin Bacon and Joseph Gordon-Levitt also star in the sequel as new characters.
