The Pickup
Amazon’s latest release, The Pickup, unites Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson with Keke Palmer in what transpires to be a largely blasé and generic action-comedy outing. The plot sees Murphy as Russell, a veteran armoured van driver on the verge of retirement who’s looking forward to celebrating his wedding anniversary with his wife (Eva Longoria). He’s paired with newbie driver Travis (Pete Davidson), a perpetual screw-up who recently failed his exam to become a police officer. They’ve been put on a long route that takes them through a stretch of road with no reception. It’s the perfect spot for an ambush, and that’s exactly what happens when Zoe (Palmer) arrives with hired guns to rob them.
Recent films like Coming 2 America and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F have shown that Murphy is still the same charismatic and funny comedy legend. While the star turns on the charm for his latest performance, the script from writing duo Kevin Burrow and Matt Mider doesn’t give him much to work with. The same holds true for Davidson and Palmer, who also feel like they’re going through the motions. Each character is one-dimensional, and there’s little chemistry between the trio of talented performers. Despite the lacklustre script, Murphy and Davidson manage to make the occasional joke land. However, the writers’ insistence on including painfully unfunny running gags right up to the end credits sucks out what little humour the leads were able to muster.
There are some entertaining set pieces here, with the initial pursuit between the armoured van and its would-be robbers containing plenty of creative action. Had the plot centred on this cat-and-mouse heist, then The Pickup might have been a more interesting and focused outing. Unfortunately, events become needlessly complicated as the drivers are roped into aiding Zoe with the rest of her scheme, making this feel like two heist movies stuck together. Attempts to add depth to the characters likewise fall flat when additions like Travis being exceptionally good at maths or Zoe’s true motivations don’t have any significant impact on the narrative before the predictable beats are wrapped up by another fast-paced action sequence.
The Pickup is not the worst film that either Murphy or Davidson has starred in. However, it may be their most unremarkable.
Andrew Murray
The Pickup is released on Prime Video on 6th August 2025.
Watch the trailer for The Pickup here:
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