The Pickup (2025)

Heist movies – particularly those with a finely honed comic edge – have become one of the most popular and enjoyable genres in today’s cinematic marketplace. And, when they’re done right, they can be a lot of fun, too. However, to succeed as solid entertainment vehicles (not to mention works of good filmmaking), their creators need to combine their films’ various elements with smart, savvy, razor sharp precision, something that director Tim Story’s latest offering only gets down pat about half the time. When Zoe (Keke Palmer), a shrewd, scheming, seductive thief, hatches an elaborate plan to h…

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://movieswetextedabout.com/the-pickup-movie-review-the-art-of-wasting-good-talent/ "The Pickup is yet another example of how wasted talent, a lack of ambition, and creative laziness result in a film that fails on almost every level. Despite a cast with potential and one or two inspired moments, the movie never manages to rise above its predictable storytelling, inconsistent humor, and complete emptiness - it's hard to justify the time spent watching it. Unless you're a die-hard fan of someone involved, this is one ride you're better off skipping." Ra…

r96sk

6.0

Sep 8, 2025

<em>'The Pickup'</em> ended up being better than I thought it was going to be early on. Still not a good movie, mind you. Obviously the writing et al. lets this one down just as much, but it was more visually that made me care less about it - it's an ugly film, especially 'inside' that damn truck. The world of film didn't feel lived in either, namely on that long highway; I know they mention it'll be a "ghost town" but that's a cop-out. The pairing, meanwhile, of Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson is narrowly passable, albeit arguably. Davidson is the better, Murphy underwhelms. Keke Palmer…