The Netflix film Axel F, a Beverly Hills Cop sequel, begins with a scene in which the Red Wings’ locker room at Little Caesars Arena is supposedly being robbed, and one Axel Foley, a.k.a. Eddie Murphy, has to foil the caper.
According to NHL.com’s William Douglas, Murphy nailed the scene–in no small part due to the fact that a “hockey guy” wrote the jokes:
Grant Fuhr gave the scene in “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” five stars. In the new Netflix film, wisecracking detective Axel Foley, played by Eddie Murphy, tells a band of thieves that he’s the Detroit Red Wings’ new goalie as they attempt to rob the team’s dressing room at Little Caesars Arena.
“I am a five-time recipient of the Stanley Cup,” Foley says. “… I just want my goalie pads.”
Fuhr, the only Black goalie to win the Stanley Cup five times — with the Edmonton Oilers (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990) — loved the bit.
“I thought it was pretty funny,” he said. “I had a bunch of friends call me and they were like, ‘Hey, you got to see this.’ I’m, like, ‘Why? I’ve seen all the “Beverly Hills Cop” (movies).’ They’re, like, ‘No, no, you need to see this one.’ I think it’s awesome and a great honor.”
The goalie line in the opening moments of the hit action-comedy sequel is one of several that give a nod to Black hockey history.
They are the work of Kevin Etten, the self-described “hockey guy” on the writing staff of “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.” Will Beall, along with Etten and his partner Tom Gormican, wrote the screenplay.
Continued; here’s the trailer:
