As we near the quarter-century mark, Hollywood keeps reaching back and drawing ideas from the 20th century, resurrecting “Top Gun,” “Bad Boys” and now “Beverly Hills Cop.” But while two of those blockbusters opened to big box office in theaters, “Beverly Hills Cop: Alex F” is premiering on Netflix. I won’t weigh in on whether the streamer is leaving money on the table — who can say? — but this is exactly the kind of summer popcorn movie that used to (and maybe still does) motivate people to head out to the cineplex.

Instead, this is strictly a living room affair. Eddie Murphy returns in the fourth installment of the franchise as the playful and authority-thwarting Detroit detective Axel Foley, who makes his way back to the sunny climes of Los Angeles when his daughter’s life is threatened. Her name is Jane and she’s a defense attorney (played by “Zola’s” Taylour Paige) who is working a murder case tied to police corruption. The repercussions for taking this client are swift, as she soon finds her car — with her in it — dangling off the side of a parking garage.

Billy (Judge Reinhold), Axel’s pal from the old days, recently left the police department because he too had similar concerns about in-house misconduct. Taggart, his one-time partner (John Ashton), is now the chief and he’s reluctant to believe any of his guys are up to no good. So Billy goes out on his own as a private detective. And he’s the one that gets Jane into this mess. Naturally, he makes a call to Axel. “I’m on the next plane out there,” comes the reply.

It’s worth stepping back to compare this sequel to the 1984 original, because it is directly referenced over and over again, starting with the opening credits. Same music — Glenn Frey’s “The Heat Is On” — and a similar montage of everyday Detroit life. In both movies, this will be the most Black people to appear on screen during the entire running time.

Is Axel still driving that 1970 Chevy Nova from the original? (Squints) Looks close enough. Once again, the opening set piece has Axel hoping to bust some crooks, resulting in a chase. Once again, it ends with a boss unhappy with the chaos that ensued. Arriving on the West Coast, once again Axel finds himself arrested by the Beverly Hills Police Department, where he eventually convinces everyone that this cop from Detroit knows what he’s talking about, even if it involves some rule-breaking. In the original, it was two straight-laced detectives in suits and ties (Billy and Taggart) rolling their eyes at Axel’s antics; now that narrative function is filled by one guy (Joseph Gordon-Levitt).

Guess where Axel stays? Guess. Once again, it’s the Beverly Palms (the fictional hotel played by Millennium Biltmore). That $235 a night room in the original is now going for $940, which outpaces inflation by a couple hundred bucks, but who’s counting? Bronson Pinchot is back as Serge, he of the unplaceable accent and mangling of names. Once again, the movie culminates with a shootout at some jerk’s mansion, where Axel saves the day, but not before getting winged.

Martin Brest directed the first movie and he had a slim resume at the time. Similarly, “Axel F” is the feature film debut of director Mark Molloy, an Australian who comes from the world of commercials. (He took over when directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah left to focus on “Batgirl,” the movie Warner Bros. killed last year, even though it was already in the can. Hollywood twists of fate are not for the fainthearted.)

The screenplay is from Will Beall (a former LAPD detective-turned-screenwriter whose credits include “Aquaman”), Kevin Etten (who has a background in comedy as a writer for David Letterman as well as “Workaholics” and “Scrubs”) and Tom Gormican (who co-wrote and directed the recent Nicolas Cage movie “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent”). You’d think the comedy bona fides here would give the script some punch, but nothing even close to “banana in the tailpipe” will be entering the lexicon this time out. In place of memorable dialogue, more chase scenes. At least they involve unique vehicles: a snow plow, a helicopter, an urban utility buggy used by parking enforcement.

The writers have also devised not one, not two, but three major events to terrorize Jane — the aforementioned car-dangling, an assassination attempt on both her and Axel in the streets of Beverly Hills, and being kidnapped and held at gunpoint. One of these would have been enough. An action comedy can support only so much violence and suspension of disbelief before it curdles.

The original movie was a marvel of storytelling economy fueled by Axel’s loose-limbed ability to morph into different characters depending on the needs of the moment. I always imagined him as the smart kid and class clown who had turned those skills to his advantage outmaneuvering bad guys. The premise works because the films are a series of set pieces that move the plot along, yes, but also give Murphy a chance to play and riff. He’s the master of the jocular comeback. A year after the first movie came out, “Fletch” was in theaters starring Chevy Chase and there’s a similarity there: Both star “Saturday Night Live” alum using their comedic chops in the service of a crime story.

But is the new movie any good, I hear you asking. It’s … alright-ish? Perfectly fine, even. Murphy might be one of the most talented performers of any generation and it’s thrilling to see him back in the role that turned him into a movie star. The supporting players seemingly exist only to exchange lines with the leading man, but there is immense joy in watching Murphy use his wits rather than violence to get out of a sticky situation. When he stumbles upon some thugs rifling through Billy’s office, the film doesn’t expect him to take them on single handed. Instead, he comes up with a distraction, then runs.

But too often the new film traps the character in amber. He launches into one of his phony personalities and then he stops himself; he’s too tired for this nonsense. I wish there was more of that. A guy in his 60s might be over some of the shenanigans he pulled in his 20s. Axel doesn’t complain about his knees or his back or carry reading glasses and there’s not a gray hair on his head. I like that the script doesn’t play into the typical tropes about aging, but he’s operating more or less the same as he always did, rather than a guy who’s learned a few things along the way.

Ultimately the film functions as an elbow to the ribs: “Remember this? Remember how fun it was?”

Within the first 10 minutes, the needle drops include not only “The Heat Is On” but also Bob Seger’s “Take Down” (from the second movie) just to situate us firmly within the BHC sonic universe. By minute 11, we get a few bars of the familiar electronic instrumental track “Axel F” just to underscore the point. The nostalgia doesn’t stop there. The Pointer Sisters’ “Neutron Dance” accompanies yet another chase and you realize the movie is tapping into every melodic sense memory it has at its disposal. And why not? I’m not complaining. I like this music. But the reprise of it all is a conspicuous and intentional stoking of affection for the original in the hopes that audiences will associate the movie with a better one that came out 40 years ago.

‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’

2.5 stars (out of 4)

MPA rating: R (for language throughout, violence and brief drug use)

Running time: 1:55

How to watch: Netflix

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Minnesota United at L.A. Galaxy

When: 9:30 p.m. Central Time on Sunday
Where: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, Calif.
Stream: Apple TV Season Pass
Radio: KSTP-AM 1500 ESPN
Weather: 73 degrees, partly sunny, 8 mph east wind
Betting line: Galaxy minus-170; draw plus-340; MNUFC plus-360

Series history: The Loons came from behind for a 2-2 draw with L.A. on May 15 at Allianz Field. They are 3-7-5 against the glitzy club since joining MLS in 2017.

Form: MNUFC (8-8-5, 29 points) has lost a club-record five straight MLS games. Galaxy (11-4-7, 40 points) had won four in a row before a 2-1 loss to crosstown rival LAFC at Rose Bowl Stadium on Wednesday.

Absences: Dayne St. Clair, Tani Oluwaseyi and Carlos Harvey (international duties) are out. Hugo Bacharach (knee), Clint Irwin (groin) and Wil Trapp (hamstring) are also out. Teemu Pukki (knee) is probable.

Projected XI: In a 5-2-3 formation, LW Sang Bin Jeong, CF Teemu Pukki, RW Bongi Hlongwane; CM Hassani Dotson, CM Robin Lod; LWB Joseph Rosales, CB Devin Padelford, CB Micky Tapias, CB Michael Boxall, RWB DJ Taylor; GK Alec Smir.

Check-in: With Canada’s win over Venezuela in Copa America on Friday, the Loons top goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and leading scorer Tani Oluwaseyi will remain away from MNUFC through the Houston match on July 13.

If Canada would have lost in Texas, the plan was for the pair to fly to L.A., maybe in time to train Saturday and play in match Sunday. Instead, MNUFC remains without two of its best players.

Player to watch: Galaxy midfielder Riqui Puig is a menace. Going into the weekend, the 5-foot-6 Spaniard leads MLS in passes into the final third (200), progressive carrying distance (4,324) and fouls drawn (51), per FBref.com.

Another player to watch: Pukki scored twice for Finland against Portugal on June 4, but hurt his knee in the next friendly against Scotland and missed all five losses in the Loons’ current skid.

Without him and Oluwaseyi, the Loons have been using wingers as strikers and success has been scant. Pukki will help tie together the formation, but finding the net in MLS has been a struggle for him, too. He hasn’t scored across 12 league games since March 9.

Scouting report: L.A. is fourth in MLS with 42 goals this season and four players have scored six or more. MNUFC continues to have a leaky defense with at least three goals allowed in three of its last four matches.

Question: United’s front office is “really active” in preparing for the summer transfer window and the goal is to bring in a multiple players. Given the skid, they need help immediately, but will the newcomers be available to play ASAP when fist eligible on July 20?

Prediction: The Loons defense has been porous, while the Galaxy offense has been a problem (for others). L.A. is 6-1-3 at home, while Minnesota hasn’t won away from St. Paul since May 4. Everything points to another lopsided Loon loss, 3-1.

Amy Lindgren

It’s summertime and millions of students across the country are engaged in a traditional rite of passage: the summer job or internship.

These are two different things of course, but they bear similarities. Both jobs and internships teach valuable work skills while offering opportunities to network and meet new people. Both may provide income, although neither is likely to make anyone rich. And, by tradition, both have an end date, which is often Labor Day or the week before.

Which means (shockingly) that students may already be one-third or even halfway through their work schedule for the season. If this includes you or a student in your life, now is a good time to take stock of the situation. These summer gigs can be a tremendous opportunity, but only if they stay relatively on track.

Here are some things to check, to be sure this engagement goes as well as can be expected.

For summer internships

Is learning taking place? Since internships by definition are meant to be learning experiences, they should include some elements of structured training or guided hands-on experience. Standing at a copier for days on end doesn’t meet that criteria, while working on a team to copy and bind handbooks could.

Has there been feedback? It’s difficult to improve at something without receiving at least minimal feedback or coaching. In some settings, a supervisor or more experienced team member will assess the intern’s work to ensure he or she is making progress.

Is the school staying involved? If the internship is part of a larger school program, or if it will result in credit, then an internship coordinator/adviser from the school is likely part of the picture. By now that individual should have been in contact or perhaps have conducted a site visit.

Have expectations been communicated? If the internship is one-third or even one-half completed, the student should have received confirmation of what is needed for final credit. That could be as straightforward as arriving on time and staying on task all day or it could involve a more complex threshold of competencies to demonstrate by the end of the internship.

For summer jobs

Is the student getting enough shifts? Despite the ongoing labor shortage, it’s not uncommon for employers to send workers home without pay if business is slow. If that’s been happening, it’s time to either speak up or consider a different job with steadier employment.

Is there ongoing training? Some summer jobs consist of a rote task (think ditch digging or dish washing) that doesn’t call for much training. But even in those cases, there’s likely an opportunity to learn a new piece of equipment or to take leadership of a crew. The key to making this happen is for the worker to express interest in handling more responsibility.

Has there been feedback? Even though a summer job isn’t expressly designed for learning, as an internship is, feedback is still important. Without hearing from the boss or crew leader, summer employees have no way to know if they’re hitting the mark for productivity or quality in their work.

Is the pay handled appropriately? Seasonal workers can be an extra shock to the system for smaller organizations with no payroll department. That’s one reason that summer workers need to keep good records. Comparing these personal time logs with the actual paycheck (including online pay stubs) is an important way to be sure all of the time on the clock is being counted.

For both jobs and internships

As things wind down to the final few weeks of the summer commitment, it’s time for both interns and employees to implement a short to-do list:

• Check in with supervisors to ensure they are satisfied with how things have been going.

• Ask for letters of recommendation that can be used in future hiring processes.

• Inquire about future prospects for employment, including the possibility of weekends or evenings during the school year.

• Gather contact information from team members or workers, to help with future networking.

• Create a short list of people to thank more formally, including the boss and the school contact if this was an internship. Then follow up with a handwritten note in a thank-you card, expressing appreciation for the opportunity. It’s an old-fashioned touch that carries an outsized impact, especially when conducted by a younger worker.

• Congratulate yourself! And then update your résumé to include this latest experience. With fall career fairs just around the corner (!) you’ll need something to share with recruiters to help you nail down next summer’s gig.

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Amy Lindgren owns a career consulting firm in St. Paul. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecareerservice.com.

Howard Chua-Eoan | Bloomberg Opinion (TNS)

One of the most traumatic moments in my life was being forced to eat a tangle of bean sprouts. These were not mung beans: They were thicker and twisted ominously out of their crunchy yellow seeds, looking like imploding tribbles from the classic Star Trek episode. They also gave off sulfuric fumes that made all the kids gag. But there was no escape.

“You can’t leave the table until you have this,” my uncle declared. It was 1979. My family had just immigrated to California and was staying with him and my aunt. That evening, he was in charge of feeding me, my siblings and his own kids because mom and her sister — the usual and very accomplished cooks — were away. If the smell was bad, it was worse going down. We ate these during the war, he said sternly. That made us feel worse: thinking about all the starving children in Japanese-occupied Asia who had nothing else on the menu.

I’d always been more of a carnivore, and those sprouts didn’t convince me to give up on chops and steaks. In the ensuing years, a generation of vegan and vegetarian activists didn’t sit well with me either. They were well-meaning with their catalogs of nutritious facts and save-the-planet statistics. But they often ended up strident, talking down to meat eaters as if we were pre-sapiens and then literally offering us pablum. “Would it kill you to have vegetables?” they’d say. I’d respond: “Maybe not, but that thing you put on my plate just might.”

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So I was intrigued by a new initiative being introduced in Denmark to promote vegetables among a population that prefers meat and fish (and deep-fried camembert!). What’s fascinating, as my Bloomberg News colleague Sanne Wass says in her deliciously reported story, is that the literature being distributed by the Plant Fund avoids words like “vegetarian” and “vegan” — and it hasn’t set numerical or statistical targets. Instead, its $100 million in government funds are being directed at encouragement and nudging and the difficult art of convincing people that ingesting a few more greens actually enhances your gastronomic experience. No one is demanding that you give up meat — just to vary your diet. As Sanne says, “Getting people in high-income countries to eat less meat has been singled out as a key way to help the planet. Swapping out beef for a single meal can almost halve a person’s carbon footprint for that day.”

That uncoercive, flavor-forward approach to vegetables is completely preferable to the doctrinaire. The example of India comes to mind where religious groups are trying to force vegan menus on public school children, who are already among the least nourished in the world. An egg is the most efficient way to get protein into growing kids, but that’s forbidden in many parts of the country. Ironically, India also has the largest population of cattle in the world because the animal is considered sacred and allowed to wander freely everywhere. Cows produce a large part of livestock’s 14.5% share of global greenhouse gas emissions.

In Denmark, the Plant Fund is using food festivals and chef training to help increase the presence of vegetables on the national dinner table. Some of the most prominent and critically acclaimed Danish restaurants have been at the forefront of this, notably Rene Redzepi’s Noma (which holds an annual vegetable season that I will savor once more in a couple of weeks); and Geranium, which Sanne cites in her piece. But perhaps the key restaurant in the slow pivot to eating vegetables is Blue Hill at Stone Barns in New York. I used to hate carrots until chef Dan Barber served me a single, tiny carrot from his upstate farm. It was like candy — a sweetness all its own and unlike any other carrot I’ve had. That was about 20 years ago. I still approach carrots with some trepidation but no longer with outright loathing — and I am always overjoyed when Barber sends them out to me. Blue Hill raises (and serves) its own animals too. But the vegetables are outrageously good.

London has its cutting-edge vegetarian restaurants as well. I had the opportunity to sample the fare at Plates, a new spot by Kirk Haworth, who was crowned “champion of champions” in the latest iteration of the BBC’s Great British Menu. The menu isn’t vegan but almost completely plant-based (with a house ricotta the closest reference to animal protein). Even the butter that comes with an astonishing laminated bread is concocted from spirulina algae. It is green but absolutely winning. The restaurant has just opened, but it’s already booked up for months.

I’m not giving up meat, but my vegetable love should grow vaster, to steal a line from Andrew Marvell. As chefs turn their talents toward plants, more of my meals will be vegetarian — without feeling I’ve sacrificed enjoyment. I can have my steak, and eat it too. Just less often.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Howard Chua-Eoan is a columnist for Bloomberg Opinion covering culture and business. He previously served as Bloomberg Opinion’s international editor and is a former news director at Time magazine.

©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com/opinion. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.