The Pickup is the latest feature from acclaimed comedy actor Eddie Murphy, with Pete Davidson and Keke Palmer joining him for this high-octane ride. However, despite The Pickup’s impressive cast, the film mostly fails to take advantage of these comedic talents with a thin screenplay and messy storytelling.

As many reviews of The Pickup have pointed out, the film often feels like a derivative, unoriginal piece of action comedy that 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 in The Pickup that manage to at least keep audiences invested in these characters, the project is nowhere near as compelling as it should be considering the level of talent on display. Compared to some of Eddie Murphy’s best movies, such as Beverly Hills Cop and Trading Places, Prime Video’s new action/comedy feels very underwhelming.

The main problem with The Pickup is 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, but its 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, it is a notable step down for actors like Davidson and Palmer, whose recent filmographies have been admittedly impressive. From comedies like The King of Staten Island and Bodies Bodies Bodies, to big-budget blockbusters like The Suicide Squad, Davidson has a fairly good track record of choosing projects that suit his style.

The Pickup doesn’t always feel like that, and the script often forces him into a goofy, slapstick archetype that 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.

The ending of The Pickup is arguably the film’s strongest part, as it finally lets these characters exist outside of 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 for The Pickup to get there.