The Pickup Review: Eddie Murphy’s Latest Movie

“Is The Pickup (2025) Worth Watching? Full Review & Breakdown”

Hey, so I just watched The Pickup – and let me tell you right away: don’t waste your time on it. Seriously. Even the title feels fitting because you’ll want to “pick up” the remote and switch to something else five minutes in.

This is one of those action-comedy films that tries too hard but falls completely flat. What makes it worse? It had so much potential with big names like Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson, but the film completely wastes their talent. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up on someone’s “worst movies of the year” list.

The story is about two mismatched security guards – Murphy and Davidson – working for an armored truck company in New Jersey. Sounds like a fun buddy-cop setup, right? But nope. Instead of laughs and cool action, you get awkward moments, dry humor, and a lot of cringey scenes that go absolutely nowhere.

Let’s start with the chemistry. Or actually, the lack of it.
You’d think with such a solid cast, there’d be some spark. But there’s zero chemistry between any of the characters. Murphy and Davidson barely connect. Davidson and Keke Palmer (who plays Zoe, the leader of a heist gang) have no believable spark either, and even the scenes between Murphy and Eva Longoria (who plays his wife) feel forced and awkward. It’s like everyone’s acting in different movies.

The only person who feels remotely interesting on screen is Marshawn Lynch, and he’s barely in the film. He shows up in a few scenes and brings a bit of energy, but there’s only so much he can do in such a small role. He’s the reason this movie gets even one star in my book.

Now, about the writing and direction – that’s where things really fall apart. The script is written by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider, and it’s all over the place. Characters behave randomly, major plot points make no sense, and the jokes are either flat or just weird. The director, Tim Story, who has done decent work in the past (Barbershop, Ride Along), seems like he’s just going through the motions here. It’s like no one on the creative team really cared.

So what’s the actual plot?

Murphy plays Russell, a calm and tired guy just trying to retire and open a bed-and-breakfast with his wife (Longoria). It’s their 25th wedding anniversary (which the movie reminds us like 10 times), but the side story about his wife’s wedding ring doesn’t add any real tension.

Davidson plays Travis, an immature, impulsive guy who randomly turns out to be some kind of secret math genius and wants to become a cop? It’s so confusing. He’s more of a walking set of annoying traits than an actual person. It feels like the writers just threw everything into his character and hoped something would stick.

The movie kicks off when a high-tech gang led by Palmer’s character, Zoe, hijacks the armored truck. Apparently, she seduced Travis earlier to get key info for her plan. But Travis, being clueless and in love, doesn’t realize he’s being played.

And somehow, by the end, we’re supposed to believe Travis and Zoe fall in love? Like seriously? They have zero chemistry and barely any meaningful conversations. It just feels super forced.

There’s one big action sequence in the middle – the actual truck hijacking – which is supposed to be the highlight. It’s fast-paced, and the use of exploding dye packs is kind of clever. But even that sequence feels pointless once you start thinking about it. For example, the truck is supposedly driving through a 100-mile stretch with no phone signal and no other cars, in the middle of the day… in New Jersey! Like, come on – it’s 2025, not the stone age.

And then there’s the big “twist” – Zoe doesn’t care about what’s inside the truck. She wants the truck itself so she can use it to rob a casino and steal $60 million. Why? Because of some personal emotional backstory that’s briefly touched on, but it feels completely tacked on. The whole plan makes less sense the more you think about it.

The movie clearly tries to go for a heist film vibe – maybe something like Ocean’s Eleven – but it falls short on every level. There’s no charm, no cleverness, and definitely no excitement. It just drags.

Performance-wise, Davidson is his usual self – lots of hyper energy and random one-liners that often miss the mark. Keke Palmer shows flashes of intensity, but her character is so thinly written that she can’t do much with it. And Murphy… oh man. He just looks bored. You get glimpses of classic Eddie Murphy here and there, like his funny voices or over-the-top reactions, but instead of making the movie better, they just remind you of how great he used to be.

One of the saddest scenes is when Murphy and Andrew Dice Clay (who plays their boss) are just standing around, exchanging boring dialogue. These are two legends in the comedy world – guys who once took huge risks and created unforgettable moments. Now they’re just cashing checks in a film that feels like it was written by AI.

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Final Thoughts:
The Pickup is a major disappointment. It could’ve been fun, with a wild heist, clever jokes, and buddy-guard chemistry. But instead, it’s dull, awkward, and completely forgettable. Don’t even watch it as background noise. You’re better off with actual silence.

If I had to rate it? One star – and that’s only because of Marshawn Lynch. Otherwise, it’s a big “skip it.”