Heist films with a comedic touch are a popular choice these days, and when they work well, they can be quite entertaining. However, to really succeed as both enjoyable movies and good filmmaking, creators need to carefully balance all aspects of the story—something director Tim Story doesn’t quite manage consistently in his latest film. The plot centers on Zoe (Keke Palmer), a clever and alluring thief who comes up with an intricate plan to steal money from an Atlantic City casino by intercepting an armored car. To pull it off, she enlists help from various people, including getting information from a somewhat clueless security guard/driver named Travis (Pete Davidson) through what seems like a romantic encounter—though he’s unaware that it's actually a trick. His lack of experience and innocence leads to a wild chase on the highway, resulting in the theft of the car and pulling Travis and his experienced colleague, Russell (Eddie Murphy), into a risky scheme to steal $60 million. To make sure they cooperate, Zoe reveals she’s keeping an eye on Russell's wife, Natalie (Eva Longoria), and threatening her if he and Travis don’t follow through with the plan. The basic idea behind the movie isn't bad, and it could have been good with better writing and execution in certain areas. Unfortunately, “The Pickup” is mostly just average. On the positive side, there are a few exciting moments, some genuinely funny scenes, and impressive chase sequences. Palmer delivers an excellent performance—she deserves more substantial roles—and Longoria and Andrew Dice Clay also do well as Travis and Russell’s grumpy, profane boss. The script, however, needs considerable work because of its numerous plot holes, unbelievable story developments, and predictable elements, which represent missed chances to make the story more original and captivating. Davidson's performance is another issue; he delivers yet another irritating portrayal, while Murphy often seems detached, except for a few exaggerated comedic outbursts that feel out of place. The movie does get somewhat better as it progresses, but ultimately falls short. With some revisions to the script and improved character development and direction, this could have been much stronger. As it is now, audiences are shortchanged, just like the casino.

Source on TMDB