by Tim Gordon
A routine armored truck run goes wildly off the rails in The Pickup, a chaotic action-comedy that boasts a flashy cast but never quite figures out what kind of film it wants to be.
Eddie Murphy stars as Russell Pierce, a no-nonsense veteran driver just trying to make it through one last shift before celebrating his 25th wedding anniversary. Paired with him is Travis (Pete Davidson), a mouthy, unpredictable rookie who seems to attract chaos with every breath. When the pair is ambushed during a cash pickup, what follows is a high-stakes, low-sense caper through chop shops, double-crosses, and diner shootouts.
Keke Palmer is the standout as Zoe, a mysterious wildcard whose connection to the heist adds intrigue and energy. Palmer has always had the kind of screen presence that elevates material, and here she brings style, swagger, and a surprising amount of heart. She shares electric chemistry with Davidson and carves out the film’s emotional center, even when the script doesn’t give her much to work with.
Murphy, meanwhile, is frustratingly restrained. Cast as the straight man, he rarely gets to tap into the kind of comic dynamism audiences crave from him. His dry delivery and withering looks land here and there, but they’re not enough. The film puts him in neutral, and that’s a shame. He’s a legend who deserves better than being a comedic traffic cone for Davidson to bounce off of.
Director Tim Story, known for hits like Barbershop and Ride Along, is no stranger to blending action and humor, but The Pickup never settles into a consistent tone. It’s not gritty enough to be a gripping heist thriller, nor zany enough to be a screwball comedy. Instead, it awkwardly straddles the middle, resulting in a film that feels more like a half-hearted experiment than a fully realized vision.
Davidson does his usual shtick, part charm, part chaos, and while some of it works, much of it feels like improv looking for a purpose. The supporting cast, including Eva Longoria, Marshawn Lynch, and Andrew Dice Clay, is largely sidelined, with only fleeting moments to make an impression.
To its credit, The Pickup has its fun moments: a diner face-off, a botched car chase, and a running gag involving Marshawn Lynch’s character that almost pays off. But those highlights are few and far between in a movie that feels like it’s constantly shifting gears but never reaching top speed.
In the end, The Pickup is a middling ride. It might offer a few cheap thrills and familiar faces for a casual weekend watch, but those looking for either a tight heist flick or a Murphy comedy showcase will likely walk away disappointed.
The Pickup debuts on Amazon Prime, August 6, 2025
Grade: C+
