I am having trouble sometimes taking the car out of park

1999 Acura TL

Tranny is fine while driving, nothing wrong with that, but when taking it out of park and sometimes when taking it out of reverse it gets stuck and I have to pump the brake or take the key out and put it back in.

My buddy says the locking mechanism is going to crap (the thing that stops you from taking it out of park without pressing the break)

BTW I can take my key out of my car while in drive

Got any other ideas then what he said? I want some unbiased ideas before I go to the mechanic and he lubes up my asshole for how much this is going to cost to fix.