The Pickupis the latest feature from acclaimed comedy actor Eddie Murphy, with Pete Davidson and Keke Palmer joining him for this high-octane ride. However, despiteThe Pickup’s impressive cast, the film mostly fails to take advantage of these comedic talents with a thin screenplay and messy storytelling.
As manyreviews ofThe Pickuphave pointed out,the film often feels like aderivative, unoriginal piece of action comedythat audiences have seen time and time again, particularly over the past few years. However, it really felt like Murphy, Davidson and Palmer’s involvement would be enough to elevate this project to something entertaining and impressive.
The Pickup Doesn’t Properly Utilize Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, & Keke Palmer
While there are plenty of funny jokes inThe Pickupthat manage to at least keep audiences invested in these characters,the project is nowhere near as compelling as it should beconsidering the level of talent on display. Compared to some ofEddie Murphy’s best movies, such asBeverly Hills CopandTrading Places, Prime Video’s new action/comedy feels very underwhelming.
The main problem withThe Pickupis that it doesn’t effectively walk the line between action and comedy. There are plenty of jokes sprinkled throughout the project, and the actors consistently do a good job of delivering them, butits high-octane story often feels like it’s taking itself a little too seriously.
While this certainly isn’t Murphy’s biggest misfire in recent years, itisa notable step down for actors like Davidson and Palmer, whose recent filmographies have been admittedly impressive. From comedies likeThe King of Staten IslandandBodies Bodies Bodies, to big-budget blockbusters likeThe Suicide Squad,Davidson has a fairly good track recordof choosing projects that suit his style.
The Pickupdoesn’t always feel like that, andthe script often forces him into a goofy, slapstick archetypethat restrains his comedic talent. Palmer’s character admittedly gets some more depth, with a complex backstory and some morally ambiguous intentions, but she’s not as involved with the comedy as Murphy and Davidson.
Theending ofThe Pickupis arguably the film’s strongest part, as it finally lets these characters existoutsideof the context of the casino heist, and that’s where the actors really shine in their roles. The jokes feel much more natural, and the script does a good job of bringing the characters’ storylines to a meaningful close. Unfortunately, it takes a long while forThe Pickupto get there.
