The Pickup (2025) Movie Review – Where to Watch Online
When you hear Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson headlining an action-comedy, your mind probably flashes to witty banter, sharp comedic timing, and a storyline that balances humor with high-stakes thrills. Unfortunately, The Pickup (2025) doesn’t quite deliver on that promise. Directed by Tim Story (Barbershop, Ride Along) and written by Kevin Burrows and Matt Mider, this Amazon Original film tries to be a buddy-heist adventure but ends up feeling like a flat tire halfway through a road trip.
While it’s watchable enough for a lazy Sunday afternoon, The Pickup never manages to rev its comedic engine beyond a few chuckles. Let’s break down what works, what doesn’t, and where you can stream it.
Plot Overview: When a Routine Job Goes Sideways
The story centers on Russell (Eddie Murphy), a seasoned armored truck driver just days away from retirement, and Travis (Pete Davidson), his new, overly talkative rookie partner. Their job should be simple: a routine cash pickup. But things take a sharp turn when they are ambushed by Zoe (Keke Palmer), a cunning criminal mastermind with a heist plan far bigger than just the cash in the truck.
What follows is a mix of car chases, shootouts, and awkward buddy comedy moments as Russell and Travis try to survive the day. There’s a twist — Zoe isn’t just after the money. She’s targeting the armored truck itself as part of a larger, casino-related score. While this setup could have been the foundation for a thrilling, Ocean’s Eleven-style heist, the script never quite capitalizes on its potential.
Performances: When Talent Meets a Thin Script
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Eddie Murphy: Once the king of quick wit and physical comedy, Murphy seems oddly detached here. While he can still deliver a funny line with ease, there’s a noticeable lack of energy in his performance. It’s less Beverly Hills Cop and more “clocking in for a paycheck.”
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Pete Davidson: His hyperactive, self-deprecating humor is either a hit or miss depending on your taste. In The Pickup, it’s mostly miss. His banter feels forced, and without sharp writing, his comedic style quickly becomes repetitive.
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Keke Palmer: Palmer gives Zoe a spark of charisma, but she’s underutilized. Her motivations are glossed over, making it hard to connect with her character.
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Eva Longoria: In her limited screen time as Russell’s wife, Natalie, Longoria manages to be charming — perhaps the most naturally engaging performance in the film.
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Roman Reigns: Wrestling fans might be excited to see him, but his role is so minor it feels like a wasted opportunity.
Direction & Tone: Tim Story on Autopilot
Director Tim Story is known for balancing lighthearted humor with bursts of action. Here, though, the balance is off. The action sequences, such as a chaotic armored truck chase, are passable but never pulse-pounding. The humor often feels misplaced, interrupting rather than enhancing the tension.
A telling example is the “Neutron Dance” needle drop, a callback to Murphy’s Beverly Hills Cop days. Instead of feeling clever, it plays like a reminder of better movies he’s made.
Writing & Pacing: Generic to the Core
The biggest problem with The Pickup is its script. The story is predictable, the humor inconsistent, and the pacing sluggish — surprising for a film that’s only 94 minutes long. It takes nearly 45 minutes before we get a genuinely funny Eddie Murphy moment, and by then, the movie has already lost most of its momentum.
Some action scenes are undermined by sloppy editing, questionable visual effects, and continuity errors — from magically refilled gun magazines to mismatched props between cuts. It’s the kind of filmmaking that feels rushed, as though it was designed more to fill a streaming service’s catalog than to truly entertain.
Streaming Availability: Where to Watch The Pickup (2025) Online
If you’re still curious to check it out, The Pickup is available exclusively on Prime Video in the United States and several other regions.
You can watch it here: Watch The Pickup on Prime Video (subscription required).
Final Verdict: Fun in Theory, Forgettable in Reality
Is The Pickup worth your time? If you’re a die-hard Eddie Murphy fan, you might enjoy catching a few moments of his trademark charm. If you’re looking for a genuinely funny, tightly plotted buddy-comedy-heist movie… this isn’t it. The film is serviceable background noise at best and a wasted opportunity at worst.
Hollywood’s growing trend of star-driven, direct-to-streaming releases is on full display here — banking on big names to draw views rather than strong storytelling. Unfortunately, The Pickup feels more like a checklist of clichés than a memorable cinematic ride.
If you’re curious about The Pickup, give it a spin on Prime Video and decide for yourself. But if you’re seeking sharper humor and better-crafted action, revisit classics like Beverly Hills Cop or even the underrated Tower Heist. And for more honest, in-depth movie reviews, keep following our blog — where we cut through the streaming clutter so you can watch the best, skip the rest.
