Photo by Courtesy of Prime Video – © Prime Video
Blending seemingly diverse elements on screen can ultimately create a comprehensive story that thrives on its various components. Heist is one such genre that thrives in combining distinct elements, and the new action comedy, The Pickup, is no exception.
The Pickup is the latest action comedy that was directed and produced by Tim Story. The filmmaker is known for helming such entries in the genre as the Ride Along series and the 2019 sequel in the Shaft franchise.
Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows wrote the script for Story’s latest movie. Eddie Murphy served as the lead actor and a producer on the comedy. He’s joined on screen by Pete Davidson, Eva Longoria, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Jack Kesy, Andrew Dice Clay, Marshawn Lynch, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i and Keke Palmer.
The Pickup follows a routine cash pickup that takes a wild turn. Two mismatched armored truck drivers, Russell (Murphy) and Travis (Davidson), are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by a savvy mastermind, Zoe (Palmer). The robbers’ plans go way beyond the cash cargo. As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities and one very bad day that keeps getting worse.
Murphy, Davidson, Palmer and Story generously took the time recently to participate in a press conference over Zoom. The director and performers discussed their experiences making the film. The Pickup will premiere globally on Prime Video this Wednesday, August 6.
Photo by Courtesy of Prime Video – © Prime Video
Press Conference with Actors Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Keke Palmer and Director Tim Story
Q: The trailer for the movie was recently released. Pete, if you had to describe the film to someone who hasn’t seen the trailer yet and doesn’t know anything about the story, how would you describe it?
Pete Davidson: I think it’s one of those fun, early 2000s action comedies that’s fast-moving! There’s not a dull moment.
The story picks up literally from the jump, and it’s always moving. It’s an hour and 40 minutes of pure fun. It’s the kind of movie you can watch it with everybody. There’s someone in it for everyone to like. So I think it’s just a right-down-the-middle fastball.
Eddie Murphy: I feel the exact same way Pete feels. But it reminds me of the movies of the 1980s, not the 2000s. It’s like the ’80 buddy movies.
Q: Yes, that’s true – the movie has a familiarity while also putting us in this all-new environment. The casting is so great, too.
Eddie Murphy: Yes, that’s true, because I’m from those movies.
Q: Tim, what it was like when you heard that you secured this incredible cast? One of the other stars is Eva Longoria, who’s away overseas right now and unable to join us. But when you first saw this cast represented with such different approaches to comedy but similar approaches to work ethic and wanting the best movie for audiences, what was it like for you when you saw them all together?
Tim Story: It was like a dream come true. I want to say my career has a little bit pf me trying to chase this man (turns to Murphy) and do a movie with him.
So when you get that, and then you see him with Pete, that’s great. It’s the pairing that you didn’t realize you needed so much. Then you see them with Keke, and it was just a bag of riches.
As Eddie said, it’s a movie of the ’80s, and I’m an ’80s comedy kind of kid. So I just felt like I had a dream come true.
Q: It’s very clear that the chemistry with all of you is real. Keke, you’ve spoken about what it was to act in front of one of your acting and comedy idols, Eddie Murphy. So what did the chemistry feel like for you? Was it like this on set?
Keke Palmer: It was a dream come true, honestly. I worked with Pete before, so it was great to work with him again, and this time, face-to-face. The last thing we did was a podcast during COVID, so we were really not near each other.
Q: What did you all do on the podcast?
Keke Palmer: We did a murder mystery kind of show, so we kind of had the same relationship we have in this, which is funny.
Pete Davidson: It was during COVID, so we didn’t even get to say hi to each other. We were just in between sheets of glass. But we so desperately wanted to do something, and this thing came along. We had a good time.
Keke Palmer: It was really fun. He’s really funny and makes me laugh.
Then with Eddie, I think I was just observing and watching him the whole time. I was just seeing how he worked.
Eddie Murphy: I felt that.
Keke Palmer: So you were watching me watch you!
Eddie Murphy: Yes, you were always taking little peeps at me.
Keke Palmer: Then I was happy because I asked him what his favorite movie that he’s ever done is. It was the same movie of mine that he’s ever done, which is The Nutty Professor.
Those characters that he made were so real. For years when I was little, I was like, “Is that really Eddie playing all the characters? That’s not a real mama?”
Every single character was so truthful. It was comedy, but it was truthful.
I really do feel like working on The Pickup was like watching a masterclass of him continuously playing the truth. In every improvisation and joke, the situation was the comedy. He just always knew how to add to it in just the right way. So it was an honor, and I can’t wait to do it again.
Q: Eddie, when you think about all of the things that you have done in your career, you really can say, “Yes, no, I don’t want to do this, I don’t need to do that.” What was it about The Pickup that you said, “Yes, let’s go ahead with this one?”
Eddie Murphy: I said yes because the script was solid when I read it. Usually. these pieces take years to develop. I see a bunch of different drafts of the script.
But this script was about 90% there when I read it the first time. I thought, hey, this could work.
Then we got Tim, and I was like, “Okay, we’re making this movie.” It just came together really quick. That’s what made the script solid, which is why I jumped on it.
Photo by Courtesy of Prime Video – © Prime Video
Q: You’re paired with Eva Longoria in this movie, and she plays your wife. I can’t recall a time where you two worked together before. What was it like to be able to work with her on this?
Eddie Murphy: She’s wonderful, and she’s funny. She’s a good actress. I loved working with her.
Q: There are scenes in this movie where the characters shift perspective and approach. Where there some of the great performers or films that you channeled in preparation for this film?
Keke Palmer: I don’t know if there was anyone in particular that I thought about for this character. I just wanted to play who I thought this character was in an honest way. She’s a villain, but she’s also somebody that has a reason.
In my mind, I felt like she was a bit of an anti-hero. She’s honestly trying to get these guys on board with what she’s trying to do.
So there’s a bit of a romance that’s happening between her and Pete’s character, even if she’s not fully admitting it. She also kind of wants Eddie’s character to believe in her. She’s looking for somebody to validate what she’s doing. So the relationship keeps growing.
Their scenes together were a lot of fun to film. There was a lot of improv going on between Eddie and Pete, as always. We were just riding each other’s waves, honestly!
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Here’s the trailer of the film.