The Pickup

The Pickup (2025) — A buddy heist comedy that never quite picks up speed.

The Pickup is a heist action-comedy that landed on Prime Video in August 2025. With big names like Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, and Keke Palmer fronting it, it promised mismatched partners, fast money, and chaotic turns — the kind of movie that leans into formula but hopes star power and a few twists carry you through. Directed by Tim Story (Barbershop, Ride Along, etc.), it trades spectacle for laughs, trying to reboot the old Eddie Murphy buddy-cop / odd-couple formula in a streaming era.

Cast & Key Players (“How many cast in this movie?”).

Here are the main cast members and supporting players, plus some of the minor roles:

Principal cast:

• Eddie Murphy as Russell Pierce — veteran armored truck driver.
• Pete Davidson as Travis Stolly — the rookie partner who wants to become a cop.
• Keke Palmer as Zoe — mastermind criminal and twist in the plot.
• Eva Longoria as Natalie Pierce — Russell’s wife.

Supporting cast (some of them):

• Jack Kesy as Banner
• Ismael Cruz Córdova as Miguel
• Andrew Dice Clay as Clark
• Marshawn Lynch as Chop Shop
• Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i as MMA Fighter

There are a number of smaller roles: armored truck guards, casino staff, mechanics, etc.

All told, the full credited cast list includes around 20-plus named actors (including bit parts). But the story revolves mostly around the four leads (Murphy, Davidson, Palmer, Longoria) and a few supporting antagonists.

Who is the “means character of The Pickup Movie”

The central character is Russell Pierce, played by Eddie Murphy. He’s the veteran armored car driver who is nearing retirement, wants to enjoy a quieter life, expects his shift with his wife Natalie, etc. The plot kicks off when he and his rookie partner Travis get ambushed; Russell is forced to respond, improvise, and ultimately make choices that affect not only him but Travis, Zoe, and others.

Travis (Davidson) has a secondary but significant arc (rookie, wanting more, getting in over his head), and Zoe (Palmer) is the antagonist (but with some revealed motivations). But Russell is the emotional touchstone: his relationship with his wife, his sense of duty, his moral balance, and whether he “breaks” or adapts under pressure. So yes — Russell is the means character.

Box Collection / How it “performed”

Because The Pickup is a streaming original (Prime Video release on August 6, 2025), there is no theatrical box-office collection in the usual sense. Instead, performance is measured by viewership and chart placements. Here’s what is known:

• It premiered exclusively on Prime Video.
• The film has been reported in media sources as part of Amazon MGM’s “action-comedy” push, but there is no public data yet for how many streaming hours or how many viewers it drew.
• Critical reviews and public response have been mostly negative, particularly criticizing the script, execution, and waste of talent. Rotten Tomatoes shows a fairly low critics’ score (~25%) and a low audience “popcorn” score (~35%).

So in short: no box-office, and the early reception suggests underwhelming impact despite star names.

What niche does the film occupy?

The Pickup occupies a specific niche combination: action-heist buddy-comedy for streaming platforms. It leans on:

• veteran star (“old school”) + rookie energy = mismatched pair dynamics
• chaotic heist tropes: armored truck, double cross, criminal mastermind, big stakes cash
• romantic / personal subplots (ex-relationships, marriage, moral dilemmas) mixed with physical action
• over the top set pieces, comedic tension, car chases etc.

This is the kind of genre movie built for viewers who like light-hearted action with recognizable faces, more “fun ride” than deeply thoughtful. It’s part of the trend where streaming services produce mid-budget spectacles targeted at loyal platform subscribers rather than theatrical profit. It’s also a Murhpy revival attempt: pairing his comedic persona with action backdrops.

Deep details: Plot, tone, themes, strengths & weaknesses.

Plot & Storyline

The movie opens with Russell Pierce (Eddie Murphy), seasoned armored truck driver, finishing work, hoping for a peaceful evening with his wife Natalie (Eva Longoria). He’s weary but conscientious. Then Travis Stolly (Pete Davidson) — a younger driver with dreams of being a cop — becomes his partner on a shift. The job seems routine: pick up cash, drive the route, deliver. But very quickly, things go wrong.

They are ambushed by criminals led by Zoe (Keke Palmer), along with Banner and Miguel, among others. There are high-speed chases, a supposed surrender that turns out to be a trap, and the revelation that the truck’s cargo isn’t what Russell believed. The plot twists include:

• Zoe and Russell and Travis get into a major chase where a car flips etc.
• Zoe, it turns out, was previously involved with Travis (one-night stand) and leveraged knowledge of his schedule etc. to set up her heist.
• Zoe’s deeper motivation: her father died in a fire at a casino where he worked security; during that incident, she believes the casino’s negligent safety or security protocols contributed; the casino refused compensation; she decides to take $60 million cash as revenge.
• There is betrayal, hostage situations (Russell’s wife Natalie is tied up at some point).
• The armored truck is hijacked; there are several narrow escapes; double crosses from Banner & Miguel (who feel Zoe abandoned them).
• Climax involves police chase, explosion of the armored truck, Russell and Natalie reuniting, Zoe escaping in a prepared plane, and six months later seeing Travis become a deputy sheriff, Russell retired running a bed & breakfast, Zoe wealthy in Bali, and some money being sent to Russell.

So it’s a fairly conventional heist + revenge + buddy formula, with personal stakes layered in.

Tone, Pace & Direction

Director Tim Story aims for high tempo: action and comedy in roughly equal parts. The pacing is brisk (runtime is ~94-96 minutes), so there’s little downtime. Scenes shift quickly from banter to chase to betrayal. The style tends to favor spectacle: chase sequences, explosions, gunfire, armored trucks, etc., sometimes at expense of character depth or logic.

The comedy is often in the mismatched personalities (Russell’s veteran seriousness vs Travis’s rookie hotness/inexperience), in Zoe’s confidence and twists, and moments of absurdity. But many reviewers point out that much of the humor falls flat—lines feel forced, one-liners predictable. The banter isn’t as sharp or fresh as expected from this kind of cast.

Visually, the film does what a streaming action-comedy would: some wide road shots, chase visuals, nighttime city lighting, practical effects in crashes. But a critique is that many sets don’t feel lived-in, that some of the action is CGI or composited in ways that reduce the visceral tension. According to reviews, the action looks decent but isn’t “wow” in the way a big budget theatrical stunt film might be.

Themes & What the Film Tries (But Often Misses) to Do

There are a few thematic threads:

• Generational contrast / old vs new: Russell vs Travis is the veteran vs the younger hopeful. The film explores (lightly) what that means when they are forced to cooperate.
• Revenge / Justice: Zoe’s motive turns on perceived injustice toward her father. The film raises (but doesn’t deeply examine) questions of who is responsible, how much suffering justifies crime, and whether violating law is vindicated morally if the law is unfair.
• Betrayal and trust: Between Zoe and Banner/Miguel; between Travis and Zoe; and between the criminals and the armored truck partners.
• Responsibility: Russell’s sense of responsibility—both personal (his wife) and professional (his job, doing right). Travis also learns the cost of naivety.

However, many reviews suggest the film doesn’t fully put weight on any of these themes; they exist more as plot devices than deep explorations. For example, Zoe’s background is only partially developed, so her revenge feels more like a twist than a character journey. Russell’s moral growth doesn’t feel sharply earned in many viewers’ eyes. The comedy often undercuts serious moments, making thematic resonance weaker.

Strengths

• Star Power & Chemistry: Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson bring name recognition and viewers will come for that pairing. Some critics say they do have moments of chemistry; Murphy’s veteran persona helps ground absurdity at points.
• Action & Set Pieces: For a streaming-original, the action is serviceable; car chases, armored truck threat, betrayals, explosions. Some of the stunt work (especially crash scenes) do deliver spectacle.
• Fast Pace: With a relatively short runtime, the film moves briskly, which helps avoid getting too bogged down. If the tone doesn’t always land, at least you often don’t dwell in scenes that overstretch.
• Supporting Cast Moments: Keke Palmer’s Zoe, Eva Longoria, and some secondary characters (like Banner, Miguel) get some colorful moments that pop, even if they aren’t fully fleshed. Some viewers appreciate Zoe’s ambition and twist.

Weaknesses & Criticisms

• Script & Originality: Critics widely agree the script is predictable. The heist/revenge formula, mismatched duo set-up, twist betrayal etc. have all been done many times — The Pickup doesn’t do enough to reshape those tropes. Rotten Tomatoes’ consensus notes “fatally unbalanced comedy chemistry” and that the movie “puts down too little.”
• Character Depth: Russell and Travis are broadly sketched; Zoe has motivation but limited emotional layers; Natalie (Longoria) exists largely in function of Russell’s stakes. Viewers who want more character arcs or emotional nuance may feel shorted.
• Tone Inconsistency: The film sometimes can’t decide whether it wants to be serious or absurd. There are moments meant for emotional weight but undermined by the comedy. Elevating stakes (e.g. the father’s death) but then going back to comedic banter makes tonal whiplash.
• Suspension of Disbelief / Logic Gaps: Some of the heist mechanics feel thin; some chase scenes or plot twists rely on coincidences. Also, the motivations, the logistics of the robbery, and the law enforcement response are often glossed over in favor of action. Critics call out the film as being “cheap on logic” in service of chaos.
• Underused Cast: With names like Andrew Dice Clay, Marshawn Lynch, etc., many were expecting more standout moments that didn’t arrive. Supporting roles often feel padding or cameos rather than fully realized characters.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, The Pickup has a low Tomatometer (around 25%) and similarly low audience “popcorn” score (≈35%).

Reviews are mostly negative or mixed. The Guardian, for example, called it “critically panned” and suggested it might be one of Murphy’s weaker recent films, citing “dated writing and absurd action sequences stifling potential.”

Some reviewers praise the cast chemistry (or at least the attempt) and action sequences, but often say the movie never quite coalesces into something memorable.

Summary Table

Element	Details
Principal Cast	Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Keke Palmer, Eva Longoria; supporting cast includes Jack Kesy, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Andrew Dice Clay, Marshawn Lynch, etc.
Main Character	Russell Pierce (Eddie Murphy)
Performance / Box-Collection	Streaming original; no theatrical box office; negative critical reception; chart / viewership data not publicly detailed yet.
Niche	Heist action-comedy / buddy comedy; mismatched partners; streaming spectacle; mid-budget action for prime-video subscribers.
Strengths	Star power; action set pieces; fast pace; some supporting character moments.
Weaknesses	Predictable plot; shallow characters; inconsistent tone; logic gaps; underused opportunities.
Critical Reception	Largely negative; Rotten Tomatoes low; many reviews say the film squanders its cast.

Final Take.

The Pickup tries to recapture the old buddy action-heist magic — veterans + rookie, big money, betrayal, getaway — but it never quite picks up momentum beyond that formula. For fans of Eddie Murphy or Keke Palmer, there are moments of enjoyment, especially when the action or banter works. If you like lightweight action films to stream, with car chases and some twists, this will serve. But if you want more than surface level — deeper characters, surprising narrative, emotional stakes that land — The Pickup isn’t going to deliver.

It’s the kind of film that may be forgotten soon after its streaming run, notable mainly for its promise (cast & premise) rather than its execution. Still, it provides a few laughs, a few chase scenes, and enough spectacle for a lazy evening’s watch. Not terrible, but definitely not its cast’s best work.