Displaying items by tag: Taylour Page

MACK & RITA

US, 2022, 94 minutes, Colour.

Diane Keaton, Elizabeth Lail, Taylour Paige, Loretta Devine, Dustin Milligan, Lois Smith, Simon Rex. Voice of Martin Short.

Directed by Katie Aselton.

This is very much a “Girls Night Out” movie. It features the central character as a young girl, as a young adult, and her 70-year old self. A night out for all the girl generations. (There are a couple of male characters, one romantic, the other something of a magician – and the voice of Martin Short as the heroine’s dog!).

The central character, Mack, seen as a little girl enjoying life with her grandmother, then thirtysomething, an author, a best friend, pestering agent, the friend next door. The main point of the story is one of those identity changes – this time not someone into someone else’s body but rather the central character ageing, from 30 to 70, and finishing up in the form of an exuberant Diane Keaton, channelling something of what Annie Hall might have been at 70!

Lots of misunderstandings, the 70-year-old pretending to be the 30 year old’s aunt Rita, nice encounters with the man next door, search for the magician who was able to transform Mack into Rita, some occasions with all the girlfriends for a wedding shower, and lots of friendly chats with the exuberant older ladies who include Lois Smith and Loretta Devine.

Reviews were not very kind to this film – and, of all things, a Razzie nomination for worst actress for Diane Keaton.

So, it could be said that potential audiences were warned or advised!

BEVERLEY HILL COP-AXEL F

US, 2024, 118 minutes, Colour.

Eddie Murphy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Taylour Paige, Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, Bronson Pinchot, Kevin Bacon.

Directed by Mark Molloy.

Older moviegoers remember and realise that they first met a young 20 something Eddie Murphy as Detroit Cop operating in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Axel Foley, and the first Beverley Hills Cop, 1984. There was a sequel. And the third film was released, in fact, 20 years ago, 1994. Could the franchise be resurrected after 20 years? What is the status of Eddie Murphy and film roles by 2024?

The quick answer is that the older fans are very happy to see Axel Foley again, enjoyed Eddie Murphy screen presence, his grin, brashness, ability to take on major criminals. So, it looks as if he will be welcomed by the younger film fans.

In many of the comments, the word nostalgia is used. The first film was such a hit and Eddie Murphy went on to make such engaging films as 48 Hours, Trading Places, Coming to America… As well as having a very successful career with such franchises as Dr Dolittle and the Nutty Professor. But, in more recent times collapse in popularity but a revival within the last 10 years on screen in cinemas and television.

Watching this film, we would think we were back 30 years, Eddie Murphy just the same, absolutely self-confident, grinning and laughing, wisecracks, willing to take on the world, crusading against the criminals. And, for nostalgia so, three characters from the original films return, the police chief played by John Ashton, the partner played by Judge Reinhold, the eccentric manager played by Bronson Pinchot.

But, this time there is Axel Foley’s daughter, estranged from her father, a lawyer in Los Angeles, taking on a client who has been framed by powerful drug dealers, even pushed from a top story garage and her car dangling high above the street. And Axel gets a phone call from Rosewood, Judge Reinhold, which sets him on the course for Beverly Hills, reconciling with his daughter, getting the criminals – headed by a rather sinister -looking and smug-sounding Kevin Bacon.

But, action sequences were the mark of the previous films and, of course, here they are. A robbery is going on at the ice hockey stadium, leading to pursuit, an elaborate car chase, motorbikes, a huge grader and the smashing of cars galore (which, while spectacular, does seem too much of a bad thing). And there will be chases naturally in Los Angeles. And quite a turn with a helicopter falling down, along the streets, a golf course.

In Beverly Hills, Axel makes such an entry, going to Rosewood’s apartment to find him, thugs ransacking the apartment, pursuit and subsequent arrest. Contacting his daughter, Jane (Taylour Paige) who does not want anything to do with him. And there is also her former boyfriend in the Department played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. And his old boss, Taggart, John Ashton.

Not difficult to see where the plot developments will go – confrontations with the smarmy Kevin Bacon, his thugs, thwarting drug deals, rescuing Rosewood, and all the time the ups and downs with his daughter.

Which means then that this Axel Foley outing is what audiences were expecting, hoping for – and, most seem to be happy with the outcome. And another one?