Review: Cherry

Since becoming Spider-Man, it’s hard picturing Tom Holland as anyone other than the famous web-slinger. That being said, with every darker and more mature role he takes, Holland is proving he’s more than your favorite neighborhood superhero. But as great as his acting is, I don’t think it can help Cherry from being just okay.

Directors Anthony and Joe Russo decided to bring Nico Walker’s novel “Cherry” to life in a feature film on Apple TV+. 

Cherry stars Holland in the title role as a man who meets the love of his life, Emily (Ciara Bravo), and enlists in the army. 

Cherry makes it through a brutal boot camp and sent to the frontline. In Iraq, he experiences the tragedies of war. Through the tough times, the one thing keeping him grounded is knowing Emily is there.

When he finally does return home, he’s left with invisible wounds that haunt him at night, wounds Emily can’t heal. Sadly, as he battles the demons of PTSD, he falls into a drug-addicted spiral and takes Emily with him. 

Strapped for cash and desperate for drugs, Cherry starts to rob banks. Addiction consumes their lives and leads them down a path of heartbreaking consequences. 

The story is good, but the impact is lost through the storytelling. It’s a visually stunning film filled with beautiful cinematography and masterful camera work, but it seems like the Russo brothers chose style over substance.

The beginning of the film starts at the end. Through narration with a few fourth wall breaks, it’s told like a “How did I get here?” Moment. Then it just stops, and the tone completely shifts. 

It’s also unnecessarily long, with a run time of 2 hours and 20 minutes spent on long artistic shots instead of focusing on the script. I get that directors don’t have a strict time limit with streaming services, but this is an excellent example of the saying, “Just because you could, doesn’t mean you should.”  

In fact it was so long, I forgot what happened in the beginning. 

Tom Hollands is phenomenal. He has truly jaw-dropping moments. Unfortunately, fantastic acting can’t save the lack of chemistry between him and Ciara Bravo or this movie. 

In conclusion, the smoke and mirrors of great acting and stylish visuals can’t hide this film’s weak spots. The inconsistent tone and dragging run time is its downfall.

Cherry wanted to showcase severe issues. Unfortunately, the opioid crisis was glazed over, as well as PTSD. You never feel the weight of the situation, leaving the viewer feeling emotionless by the end. Basically, this film will not hit you in the feels.

It’s worth a watch if you’re a Tom Holland fan and are already subscribed to Apple TV+.