Suzanne M

First off, SEE THIS MOVIE. I don't know why so many big and small platform reviewers are panning this one, but Cherry (2021) is REALLY GOOD. Second, it would benefit everyone to read the book first and I can practically guarantee 98 percent of the reviewers I've read slamming this movie did not. What I *think* the Russos and screenwriters were going for was ambitiously to make a FILM as you would a book. Thereby, pulling you into the ride the protagonist gives you as the first person narrator of the novel. And, I don't just mean that they have visuals in the movie where they list sections as chapters, I mean it FEELS like you're reading a book by watching it. I don't know how else to explain it, but if you see it and you recognize it, you'll know what I mean. Now, the movie cuts out and reworks parts of the novel events, but at almost 2 and a half hours as it is, this has to be seen as necessary. I also saw a review which recounted that the 2 main characters (Tom Holland as Cherry and Ciara Bravo as Emily) are so unlikable and all I can say is, you should have read how much MORE toxic, self indulgent, self destructive, hurtful and self sabotaging they were in the novel. They're far more sympathetic here in the film. Further, what a lot of reviewers missed by not reading the novel, is they fail to understand how deeply troubled and barely functioning (but putting on a semi-acceptable front) Holland's character is even before he enlists and heads to basic training and then Iraq, where all his mental issues expand and implode to work up into one giant volcano of PTSD ready to blow after he leaves the service. I remark on this here, because we as viewers have to understand we're seeing everything in the film through HIS filter, and his filter is deeply messed up. He's detached, nihilistic, and to his detriment, myopically in his own head far too much. WE are seeing things only as far as and in ways HE is seeing things. It's subtle, but it's there if you look.  The Russos wonderfully convey some of this by slipping in things like changing the proper names of people and businesses to how he is looking at them - "The Bank," "Dr. Whomever," "Sgt. Whomever." His own uniform just says "Soldier." He isn't connecting with almost anyone or anything around him and feels like they think the same about him. He can't find many real threads of meaningful connection except with his girlfriend, then wife, Emily, and a few choice pals (some doomed) and his dog, who all have actual names. But, even with them, the threads are tenuous - he constantly chooses to buy drugs over dogfood, even his closest friends all have addiction and mental health issues and he and his wife devolve into spending all their couples time high, sick or trying to score. I think everyone in the movie put in great performances, in parts both big and small. Bravo and Holland really work and it pays off. However, I will say this - I think Bravo is a very, very good actress, but I had a hard time with how she looked about 13 for almost the entire film. It was a bit visually...off putting, may be the term I'm looking for, considering the subject matter and content of many of the scenes. I know she's a grown woman and her character is 18 when we're introduced to her, but she looks years and years younger and I think its a misstep here.  In conclusion, ignore the negatives reviews and SEE IT. It's harrowing, but worth it.

Just saw this today. Loved it. Atmospherically spot on to pay homage to classic mystery movies, but original enough to stand out. The cast is great and the whole movie was fun to watch. Highly recommend it.