FilmSnobReviews

Title: Cherry
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo, Jack Reynor
Runtime: 2 hrs 22 mins

What It Is: Cherry (Holland) is living a dead-end life. That is until he meets Emily (Bravo) who changes his life forever. Now all he wants to do is spend time with her. When the two of them get too close Emily tries to pull away leaving Cherry to make the decision to join the Army. This decision will prove their undoing. Through the horrors of the war in the Middle East Cherry can only sleep when on drugs. Now addicted to heroin he will do what he must in order to get his next high.

What We Think: What a complete mess. First of all, why is this film almost 2 and a half hours long? That’s just unnecessary. Tom Holland does his very best in order to keep this tossed salad of a mess together. He’s unable to. Instead, this is a meandering trudge to get through. As the films developing the characters are also trying to but it’s all just boring. This yarn is a well-worn one, unfortunately. It wants us to care about Cherry and Emily but It just doesn’t work.

Our Grade: C-, I’m not sure what Apple was thinking here. Outside of the major names in the director’s chair and the lead the actual process and execution just aren’t there. At no point, while I was watching this was it enjoyable, which, like a film being as long as this one is, is sort of a key. this is an utter bore to slog through so if you’re on Apple TV+ maybe check out Palmer or Ted Lasso instead. They’re much quicker and take far less of your time. That said this is certainly for audiences who love Tom Holland and don’t care for much else.