The Pickup (2025) Movie
Overview
"The Pickup" is a 2025 action-comedy directed by Tim Story, featuring a star-studded cast led by Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, and Keke Palmer. The film follows Russell (Murphy), a veteran armored truck driver nearing retirement, and Travis (Davidson), a bumbling rookie, as their routine cash pickup spirals into a chaotic heist orchestrated by the cunning Zoe (Palmer). Set against a backdrop of car chases and comedic misfires, the movie aims to blend high-octane action with buddy-comedy charm but struggles to deliver on its potential.
Plot Summary
Russell, a seasoned driver dreaming of a quiet life running a bed-and-breakfast with his wife Natalie (Eva Longoria), is paired with Travis, a well-meaning but incompetent rookie who failed the police exam. Their day takes a wild turn when Zoe, a savvy criminal with a personal vendetta, ambushes their armored truck. What initially seems like a cash grab reveals a larger plan to use the truck to rob a casino in Atlantic City for $60 million. Forced to cooperate, Russell and Travis navigate a series of action-packed sequences and clashing personalities, with Zoe’s motives adding a thin layer of emotional depth to an otherwise predictable narrative.
Strengths
Action Sequences: The film’s early heist scene, featuring creative use of exploding dye packs and vehicular stunts, delivers genuine thrills. The action, while not groundbreaking, is competently staged and keeps the pace brisk.
Cast Charisma: Despite the script’s shortcomings, the leads bring moments of charm. Eddie Murphy’s deadpan delivery and occasional exasperated outbursts carry the film’s humor, while Keke Palmer shines as the sharp, commanding Zoe. Pete Davidson’s familiar stoner-goofball persona lands a few laughs, particularly in banter with Murphy.
Soundtrack: The mix of funky R&B and modern hip-hop, including tracks by Silk Sonic and Jack Harlow, adds energy and highlights the generational gap between Russell and Travis.
Weaknesses
Lack of Chemistry: The film’s biggest flaw is the absence of palpable chemistry among the leads. Murphy and Davidson’s buddy dynamic feels forced, lacking the spark of classic pairings like Murphy and Nick Nolte in 48 Hrs. Similarly, the romantic subplot between Travis and Zoe feels implausible and underdeveloped.
Weak Script: Written by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider, the screenplay is paper-thin, relying on tired tropes and predictable beats. Attempts to add depth, like Zoe’s backstory or Travis’s math skills, are introduced but abandoned, leaving characters one-dimensional.
Missed Comedy Potential: For a comedy, the film is surprisingly light on laughs. Murphy, a comedic legend, is underutilized as the straight man, while Davidson’s juvenile humor often falls flat. The script fails to capitalize on the cast’s talents, making the humor feel recycled and uninspired.
Tonal Inconsistency: The movie struggles to balance its action and comedy elements, unsure whether it wants to be a heist thriller, a buddy comedy, or a romantic caper. This indecision results in a disjointed experience that feels like “two heist movies stuck together.”
Critical Reception
The film has received mixed to negative reviews, with a 34% score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 35 critics. Many praise the cast’s potential but lament the squandered talent. Christy Lemire of Roger Ebert calls it “generic and forgettable,” citing the egregious waste of its stars. Others, like Flickering Myth, find it a “rousing success” for its nostalgic 90s action-comedy vibe, though even positive reviews acknowledge its lack of originality. On X, sentiments range from disappointment over the lackluster story to appreciation for the cast’s chemistry, though the former dominates.
Verdict
"The Pickup" is a frustratingly average action-comedy that fails to harness the comedic firepower of Eddie Murphy, Keke Palmer, and Pete Davidson. While it offers a few entertaining set pieces and fleeting moments of charm, the weak script, lack of chemistry, and tonal inconsistency make it a forgettable streaming diversion. It’s not the worst film in its stars’ filmographies, but it’s far from their best. For fans of the cast or 90s-style buddy comedies, it might serve as a mildly diverting watch, but there’s little here to justify the talent involved. Skip it for a rewatch of Beverly Hills Cop or Ocean’s Eleven instead.
Rating: 2.5/5 stars
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