Cherry movie review 2021

MOVIE TITLE: Cherry

Releases on February 26, 2021 in select theaters and then on Apple TV+ on March 12

RATING: R

LENGTH: 2 hours 20 minutes

Movie Review Mom GRADE: A

IN A NUTSHELL:

This dramatic movie is based on the novel Cherry by Nico Walker and is directed by the famous Russo brothers. It’s their first R-rated film since Welcome to Collinwood, which they filmed in 2002. They absolutely love Tom Holland and collaborated with him in Captain America: Civil War (Theatrical), Avengers: Infinity War, and Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame.

This is a super sad portrayal of people whose lives sink into the gutter. I hope it serves as a cautionary tale, as well as increases awareness and support for Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome for our country’s soldiers. It’s a hard movie to watch because of the content, but rewards the viewer with a career-making performance by Tom Holland.

THINGS I LIKED:

The movie begins with a prologue and adds title cards for the different chapters of Tom Holland’s character’s tale. His character breaks the 4th wall to tell you his journey in life and the lessons he has learned.
Tom Holland will never be type-cast as just Spiderman. He’s so charming and has continued to pump out incredible performances. This is his finest work yet. I hope that when awards season comes around next year that his performance in this role will be remembered and honored. He gives us an impressive range of emotions, all of them raw, believable, and powerful. The Russo brothers have said that Tom has an incredible work ethic, which impressed them on top of his talent. He had to gain 30 pounds for his look at the beginning of the movie and then lose 30 pounds so he would look like a drugged-out loser. His American accent is so good that you completely forget he’s British. The movie was shot in only four months, showing you how quickly Tom Holland’s weight change occurred. Fun fact: Tom Holland’s brother in real life actually makes an appearance in the movie as one of the drug dealers. And by the way, real needles were used in the drug scenes.
Ciara Bravo is a fantastic match for Tom Holland’s performance. She’s so doggone cute and they make an adorable couple that you want to root for. I just wanted to hug them both. The writing and storytelling benefit because they successfully created characters that you immediately become engaged with.
I thought the bird’s eye views were a lot of fun and there were some impressive no-cut scenes, a filming technique I love and highly respect.
The musical score by Henry Jackman is beautiful.
I don’t want to give you any spoilers about how the title of the movie came to be, but I thought it was a great choice.
The movie is long but you become so engrossed in the characters that time flies by.
I don’t mind nepotism in movies too much. Ann Russo, who just happens to be the wife of Anthony Russo, one of the directors, plays Tom Holland’s mom in the film.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

So much fighting and yelling and drug use and profanity and terrible decisions and…
Lots of throwing up. Bleh.
Is it really that easy to rob a bank? If so, I worry that people are going to give it a try after watching this movie!
The plot itself has been done many times before, but it’s a pleasure to just watch Tom Holland give a masterclass in acting.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Tons of profanity, crude language, and 378,412 F-bombs
Talk and use of drugs many, many times
You see an unmarried couple in bed in many scenes.
You see a bunch of soldiers strip down to their underwear.
Lots of blood, gore, violence, and death during the war scenes
You see a woman in her underwear several times.

THEMES:

PTSD
Addiction and recovery
Loyalty
The Opioid Crisis in America
Military service
Death

FUNNY LINES:

* “The thing about robbing banks is that you’re mostly robbing women, so the last thing you want is to be rude.” – Cherry (Tom Holland)

INTERESTING LINES:

“I’m 23 years old and sometimes I wonder if life was wasted on me.” – Cherry (Tom Holland)
“Sometimes I feel like love doesn’t actually exist. It’s just pheromones playing tricks on people.” – Emily (Ciara Bravo)
“You don’t ever to have to apologize for your feelings.” – Emily (Ciara Bravo)
“I know you’ve got problems. I know you’re broken, but please don’t break my daughter.” – Emily’s mom (Presciliana Esparolini)