Somewhere, a Cop

Beverly Hills might be famous for how hip it is but it's a cop from Detroit who's hippest of all in 1984's Beverly Hills Cop. This action comedy succeeds largely on the strength of its performances, particularly Eddie Murphy's in the lead role. But there are many valuable performances of cluelessness to help convey just how clued in Murphy's Detective Foley is.

The most notable probably being Judge Reinhold as Detective Rosewood who readily accepts as truth Foley's assurances of good intentions and affection. Seeing him crestfallen at the strip club when he realises Foley's making fun of him is effectively hilarious for how honest it comes off.

Two years earlier, of course, Reinhold was caught masturbating by Phoebe Cates in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. '80s cinema was just constantly hazing this guy. But in Beverly Hills Cop, he's the Nigel Bruce Watson to Murphy's Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes.

Foley's talent, drawing on Murphy's committed impressions and comedic timing, is for pulling scams. He can bluff his way easily into an expensive hotel or country club, or pass himself off as a customs agent in a gangster's warehouse. He has a satisfyingly Buggs Bunny-ish, wiseass quality that's all the more satisfying because you can see his victims, particularly Ronny Cox, are conscious of being had even as they're equally conscious of their impotence.

The action sequences are never quite as effective as the comedy, especially in the climax which involves a lot of machine gun fire miraculously missing its target. But the comedy and the personalities at work are so good you forgive it.

The personality of Detroit in the beginning of the film is a lot more interesting than the scenes of Beverly Hills. Beverly Hills is still such an over-exposed place cinematically but it's been a long time since Detroit made regular appearances in American films. It sure seems to have been a popular place for movies in the '80s, though. Just off the top of my head, it wasn't just a setting but highlighted in Flashdance and Dr. Detroit.

Beverly Hills Cop is available on Netflix.

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