After 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop solidified Eddie Murphy’s superstar status, a sequel seemed inevitable. And although Beverly Hills Cop 2 perhaps lacks the cultural significance of its predecessor, it does bring a ton of fun additions to the franchise, particularly as director Tony Scott’s follow-up to the previous year’s highest-grossing movie, none other than Top Gun.
On this episode, Lauren Knight of That Movie Is Fine joins the show to discuss how Beverly Hills Cop 2 doubles down on Murphy’s specific comedic sensibility. We also weigh in on what this franchise would have looked like had original choice Sylvester Stallone taken the role and how Beverly Hills Cop 2 plays like Murphy’s take on James Bond.
It’s impossible to imagine a world without Eddie Murphy. Throughout his career, he evolved from stand-up comic to Saturday Night Live breakout and finally, an Academy Award-nominated A-list movie star. And though Murphy had appeared in a few previous films, his ascension to the comedy star hall of fame didn’t truly kick into gear until 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop.
On this episode, Phoenix Clouden of Film Code joins us to discuss how director Martin Brest’s action-comedy redefined the genre for the modern age, how it serves as an unlikely launchpad for Murphy’s own stardom, and — of course — the iconic theme song. So cue up your Harold Faltermeyer (or Crazy Frog, if you prefer) as we start our Beverly Hills Cop mega-series!
Tom Cruise made his film debut in 1981’s Endless Love. But it wasn’t until five years later in Top Gun that Cruise truly emerged as an A-list leading man. That film — directed by the late Tony Scott — sparked a phenomenon that has endured for more than three decades. Case in point, 2022’s long-awaited sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, became the year’s biggest hit.
On this episode, film critic and podcaster Karen Peterson of Citizen Dame and The Watch and Talk joins us to talk the legacy of both films. We’ll discuss how Top Gun developed into a franchise, what the two movies say about Cruise’s career, Top Gun: Maverick‘s wild box office run and awards chances, and explore whether we’d want to see a third installment.
