Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Cherry’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains minor spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Cherry’.
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There are some unfortunate stigmas that surround addiction. In that, modern society tends to view folks that turn to drugs as hopeless losers. The kind that simply don’t care about anyone or anything but their next fix and that they do will whatever it takes to get that, even if it means harming those they love or breaking the law and well, that’s an unfortunate view to have of folks that suffer from addiction. Because it genuinely implies that they have made an active choice to turn their backs on humanity and embrace something evil and really, the issue with this particular view… is that it is utterly and completely wrong. Because addicts aren’t inhuman monsters that hide in the shadows, they are human beings that have either lost their way or are suffering and use drugs to cope.

Which is an unfortunate reality that we are just now starting to understand, since science is making it clear that mental health problems and addiction often go hand in hand, and genetic predispositions don’t exactly help the cause either. And we are also slowly coming to learn the exact science that revolves around why people that suffer from trauma make a point to turn to drugs to cope as well and it just so happens, that particular topic is something that directing team Joe and Anthony Russo (Avengers: Endgame, Captain America: The Winter Soldier) and talented actor Tom Holland (Spider-Man: Homecoming) wanted to focus upon for their next filmmaking collaboration, a movie named Cherry.

Now in this particular motion picture, Holland plays a man named Cherry and we are privy to a great deal of important moments in his life. Such as when he meets his one true love, a woman named Emily, and how their sorted and insecure love affair leads to marriage and temporary heartbreak and an important decision that will change both of their lives forever. Because the heartbreak segment of their relationship, motivates Cherry to join the military when he falsely thinks he is going to lose Emily and well, what he sees in the Iraq War changes him forever. Because he watches good people die horribly on a consistent basis and the resulting trauma that comes from that motivates him to turn to drugs when he returns home, in order to cope with the images and unending terror that haunt his mind and soul. And unfortunately, Emily joins him and with the two of them constantly using and burning through their funds, Cherry is forced to do the unthinkable and turn to bank robberies in the hopes of getting him and his love, their next fix… and a moment of peace. 

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So, it’s best we just get it out there right now and point out the fact that this is a supremely dark film. One that offers up a devastating exploration of how trauma can drive people to use drugs. Since you are privy to every heartbreaking moment that forms the need for Cherry, and eventually Emily, to use drugs to cope and well, that particular storytelling decision allows for some heartbreaking and visceral moments to take place. The kind that shows us the raw power of anxiety and trauma and how difficult they are to control when they’re surging through someone's mind and body, giving us bold new insight on PTSD and its lasting impact on the human mind and psyche. And this part of the story really does make it crystal clear how drugs can provide folks suffering from it, a brief and powerful break from its horrific grip. 

But while that makes for a fascinating journey for certain, one that also holds nothing back in regard to how drug use transforms a person as well, where this motion picture truly shines, is in its commentary on how we view mental health issues in America. Because despite the fact that Cherry and his love are clearly crying out for help, and are genuinely broken by some rough emotional experiences, they never really ever receive the help they need. For the mental health system is quick to provide Cherry with pills and have him move along and their families see them as problematic disappointments at best, that simply need to get their lives together and well, all of that should feel familiar since that is how mental illness and mental health issues are viewed in our world, as problems that need to simply go away and that makes this movie an outright plea to stop that and treat these issues with the seriousness that they deserve.

If anything, all of these elements make this a supremely unique viewing experience. Simply because, you don’t see movies revolving around this subject matter, offer up this kind of care and detail, since they tend to want to focus on the big and moving moments. But this one, really does take you on a sweeping journey. One that allows for you to genuinely understand and care for the characters, and it also features some powerhouse performances as well. Since Holland shows off his acting chops and range as Cherry and Ciara Bravo is electric as Emily and well, this is one that you should definitely check out whenever you get the chance. Simply because this grand American epic, sheds incredible light on a topic that deserves more recognition and discussion, so that stories such as these, can serve as educational tools instead of a harsh reminder that we still have a long way to go to fixing mental health care in the United States of America.

‘Cherry’ will be available to stream on AppleTV+ on March 12, 2021 and will receive a limited theatrical release, starting February 26, 2021.

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