Quartile rating: 5.5/10 · 1 rating
When his boss is killed, Detroit cop Axel Foley finds evidence that the murderer had ties to a California amusement park called Wonder World. Returning to sunny Beverly Hills once more, Foley reunites with Detective Billy Rosewood to solve the case. Along with Billy's new partner, Detective Jon Flint, they discover that Wonder World is being used as a front for a massive counterfeiting ring.
Beverly Hills Cop III is widely regarded as a significant step down from its predecessors. The amusement park setting is a tired substitute for the fish-out-of-water Beverly Hills dynamic that made the originals work. The plot involving a counterfeiting ring at a theme park feels contrived and uninspired, recycling familiar beats without the energy or wit of the earlier films. Eddie Murphy seems disengaged compared to his charismatic turn in the first two films, and the supporting cast is underutilized. The cinematography is competent but unremarkable, typical of mid-budget 90s action fare. The film offers virtually nothing new in terms of concept or execution — it's among the most formulaic entries in the franchise, retreading ground without adding anything distinctive. The ending resolves predictably with little emotional payoff. Overall a formulaic, below-average sequel that squanders its premise.