Eddie Murphy Needs Yet Another Comeback

A new Eddie Murphy movie was an EVENT in the ’80s.

The “Saturday Night Live” alum gave Hollywood an electric star who could mine laughter from any scenario – even “The Golden Child.”

Murphy later flexed his dramatic chops, earning an Oscar nomination for his turn in 2006’a “Dreamgirls.” And, along the way, he starred in one of the most embarrassing flops in modern film history.

“The Adventures of Pluto Nash,” anyone?

Yet director Craig Brewer revived Murphy’s career with “Dolemite Is My Name,” a 2019 Netflix comedy that reminded us just how good the superstar can be on screen.

Eddie’s back … but for how long?

He followed that professional shakeup with a trio of dubious choices – the woke and wobbly “Coming 2 America,” “You People” and “Candy Cane Lane.” All three debuted on streaming platforms. Each made poor use of his singular gifts.

The only gem in the bunch? Last year’s “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” a surprisingly sturdy sequel to his best-known franchise. Even that went straight to streaming – Netflix.

Still, watching Prime Video’s “The Pickup” felt dispiriting, even sad.

The action comedy pairs Murphy with fellow “SNL” alum Pete Davidson, who inexplicably keeps getting work despite being one of the weaker show alums. They play armored truck drivers who get caught up in a scheme to steal millions by a sophisticated crook (Keke Palmer).  

The reviews, to date, have been miserable. The film sits at a sad 29 percent “rotten” rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

It is as generic and forgettable as its title suggests: a bland action-comedy that will surely end up being one of the year’s worst movies, if only for the egregious way it squanders its talented cast. – RogerEbert.com

The audience score isn’t much better – 39 percent “rotten.”

Perhaps the most alarming part of the film’s rollout was the lack of excitement. Amazon released the film’s first trailer just a few short weeks ago, and the film hardly generated buzz then … or now.

“The Pickup” is the top-rated movie at the moment on Prime Video, but as an original film with recognizable stars (including Eva Longoria) that isn’t as impressive as it sounds.

Eddie Murphy knows he helped open doors in Hollywood — but he’s not one to brag. Now starring in “The Pickup” with Keke Palmer and Pete Davidson, he says real mentorship is all about action, not advice. pic.twitter.com/dqIzeXxxDN

— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) August 6, 2025

Part of this is Murphy’s fault, of course. He could be more selective with his film projects. Or, he might team with unsung talents to ensure his projects are worthy of his skill set.

Few stars shine as brightly as Murphy when given the right material. And, no, that isn’t “Norbit.”

He co-produced “The Pickup,” meaning he did more than lend his presence to the action comedy. He helped bring it to life, as dubious as that sounds given the finished product.

Murphy recently confirmed he’ll be starring in a “Pink Panther” reboot, hardly a project that smacks of anything but IP desperation. He’s on more solid ground with the fifth “Shrek” installment, mostly because his voice work in the franchise remains stellar and he won’t be held responsible if the film fails to ignite.

At 64, Murphy has plenty of time to remind us he’s one of our best entertainers. Films like “The Pickup” can’t help but argue otherwise.