This is a fun sequel to "Beverly Hills Cop", though lacking somewhat in the creativity of the original. Eddie Murphy however is as kinetic and funny as ever, as he bowls you over with his quick banter, facial expressions, and farcical dialog that you really have to listen for because it doesn't always make sense. Like the idea of a 'sound seeking projectile' - seems reasonable if you hear it quick, but when you analyze it you know right away that it's nonsense. The Gerald Ford bit with Sergeant Taggart (John Ashton) was a head scratcher for this viewer, but apparently the clientele at the Hollywood hangout gave it a standing ovation. The Hugh Hefner cameo was a neat touch as the film gave his Playboy Mansion a huge promo spot; I'm sure business there picked up a notch after the movie came out. Funny, but even while Taggart and Billy (Judge Reinhold) were busted to traffic duty, they never found their way to a busy intersection except to snarl traffic with a handful of vehicle chases. The whole Alphabet case was handled fairly easily here by the reuniting cop trio, with some of the bad guys getting dispatched just a bit too easily. But you can't keep a good franchise down, as the series moves on to another sequel with "Beverly Hills Cop III" in a few more years.
Review of Beverly Hills Cop II
