BEVERLY HILLS COP 2

US, 1987, 100 minutes, Colour.
Eddie Murphy, Judge Reinhard, John Ashton, Jurgen Prochnow, Ronny Cox, Alan Garfield, Paul Reiser, Dean Stockwell, Bridgette Neilson.
Directed by Tony Scott.

Beverly Hills Cop 2 is much the same as the original, Eddie Murphy strutting his cheeky stuff, coming from Detroit to solve a case that LA police can't, fighting with authorities, street smart, doing his impersonations, getting sentimental. There are chases, crashes, explosions. The first time round there was a freshness in Eddie Murphy's pattern and performance. But it's familiar now and, although it is enjoyable, it is too obviously a sequel. There is a strong supporting cast led by a well-mannered Jurgen Prochnow (The Boat, Dune) as the villain, assisted by Brigitte Neilson and Dean Stockwell. There are humorous performances, as in the original, by Judge Reinhard and John Ashton.

1. Popular entertainment? Repeat of the original?

2. Eddie Murphy and his persona, quips, values, stand-up comic style, mimicry?

3. Los Angeles, the atmosphere of the city, police precincts, clubs, the races, the underworld? Style and pace? The score and songs?

4. Audiences liking Axel Foley: humour in Detroit with his boss, Los Angeles with his friends, his buddies, the action, unconventional behaviour, funny, tracking the criminals, the violence, emotion?

5. Los Angeles, detective work, his being injured, the reconciliation at the end? Taggert and Rosewood and the familiar jokes, buddies and the effects of Axel's presence? The chief and his criticisms, pushing, the irony of his being sacked by the Mayor?

6. Maxwell- Dent and his style, suave, the gun-running, his cover, friends? The final confrontation at the racecourse, the battle? Karla and the initial killing? Brigitte Nielson and her size and strength? The robberies, skills? Chip Cain and his violence, madness, being framed? The variety of
crimes and violence?

7. The gun club, the arsenal and its explosion?

8. The interlude in the Playboy Club and the presence of Hugh Hefner?

9. The popularity of police stories in the '80s? The values of crime and detection? Law and order? With tongue in cheek?