BEVERLY HILLS COP III (1994)

MORGAN'S RATING

Axel Foley is back on the beat in this action-packed sequel. In the midst of a car-theft bust in Detroit, the maverick detective and his fellow investigators uncover an underground conspiracy. When the heartless leader of the underground operation kills Axel's boss, he follows the clues to Wonder World, a popular amusement part in Los Angeles to hunt down the killer. Seeking revenge, Axel reunites with old pal Sgt. Billy Rosewood and Jon Flint of the Beverly Hills Police Department. Wreaking havoc at the seemingly wholesome amusement park, Axel will stop at nothing to uncover the deadly crime ring.

Eddie Murphy (Axel Foley), Judge Reinhold (Billy Rosewood), Hector Elizondo (Jon Flint), Theresa Randle (Janice), Timothy Carhart (Ellis De Wald), Bronson Pinchot (Serge), John Saxon (Orrin Sanderson), Michael Bowen (Fletch), David Parry (Taddeo), Stephen McHattie (Steve Fulbright), Al Green (Minister), Hattie Winston (Mrs. Todd), Gregory McKinney (Kimbrough), Forray Smith (Rondy), Dan Martin (Cooper), John Teney (Levine), Joey Travolta (Giolito), Eugene Collier (Leppert), Jimmy Ortega (Rondell), Ousaun Elam (Pederson), Ray Lykins (Nixon), Tim Gilbert (McKee), Rick Avery (Cline), Gilbert R. Hill (Todd), Fred Asparagus (Bobby), Louis Lombardi (Snake), Lindsay Ginter (Holloway), Martha Coolidge (Security Woman), George Schaefer (Mike), Joe Dante (Jailer), Helen Martin (Grandma), Peter Medak (Man at Corner), Arthur Hiller (Bar Patron), Ray Harryhausen (Bar Patron), Barbet Schroeder (Man in Porsche), John Singleton (Fireman), George Lucas (Disappointed Man), Christina Venuti (Disappointed Girl).

IN FOR THE RIDE OF HIS LIFE!

FACTS

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

RELEASE DATE: May 25th, 1994 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $15.2 million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $42.5 million (USA) BUDGET: $50 million (USA) - Director's Trademark: Appearances by directors Martha Coolidge, Joe Dante, Arthur Hiller, George Lucas, Peter Medak, George Schaefer, Barbet Schroeder, John Singleton and Ray Harryhausen. - The theme part in the movie is Paramount's Great America in Santa Clara, CA. Paramount is the production company and distributor. - Famous producer Jerry Bruckheimer helped produce the first two films but had no part in the making of this sequel, although he would return to the franchise for the next installment. - Nominated for two 1995 Razzie Awards for Worst Director and Worst Remake or Sequel.

DIRECTOR: John Landis (Oscar). WRITERS: Steven E. De Souza, and based on the characters created by Danilo Bach and Daniel Petrie Jr. PRODUCERS: Mace Neufeld and Robert Rehme. ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Ray Murphy Jr. CO-PRODUCER: Leslie Belzberg. EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Mark Lipsky. ORIGINAL MUSIC: Nile Rodgers and Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman ("The Wonderworld Song") DISTRIBUTOR: Paramount Pictures.

QUOTES

[The Beverly Hills Police force information computer to Axel Foley] Computer: If you have homeless people on your lawn, press 15

- Followed by a sequel: Beverly Hills Cop IV (2004).

Axel Foley: You know they don't give out Oscars in prison, right?

CRITICAL COMMENTS

"Fast paced and inspired settings can't camouflage the bankruptcy of the concept. Gags are subordinate to action here-- which, given the gags, may not have been such a bad idea." -- Leonard Maltin

"Eddie Murphy is back. Again. This time, though, he's lost the insufferable smugness and the arrogance that have marred his most recent movies, which have been box-office bummers...the most lackluster entry in the franchise." -- Joe Brown, Washington Post

"All this is pretty unoriginal cops-and-robberson stuff, and that's basically what Beverly Hills Cop III is -- routine." -- James Bernardinelli, Reel Views