After teaming up for multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe installments, directors Joe and Anthony Russo reunite with star Tom Holland on Cherry, a project wildly different from their previous superhero epics. Based on the novel of the same name by Nico Walker, Cherry finds Holland shedding his boyish Peter Parker persona to play a war veteran suffering from undiagnosed PTSD and a crippling drug addiction. The material is certainly compelling, which is why distributor Apple TV+ was keen on putting together an awards campaign for the film. Those aspirations are understandable, but it doesn't quite get there. Cherry is a fairly standard drama that hits the expected beats, but is still elevated by Holland's strong lead performance.
In Cherry, Holland stars as the titular character, who is a directionless youth who joins the U.S. Army in search of a sense of purpose. Cherry serves overseas in the Iraq War as a medic, where he becomes emotionally scarred by the atrocities he witnesses in combat. Upon returning home, he struggles to adjust back to civilian life, sending him and his wife Emily (Ciara Bravo) down a dark path of drug addiction and financial ruin.
Cherry is broken down into multiple chapters to tell its story, each one sporting its own aesthetic to stand out. This ensures the film stays interesting from a visual perspective, as the Russos play around with aspect ratios, cinematography, and shot composition throughout the course of the runtime. The styles of the chapters help complement whatever emotional points the narrative is going for at the moment. For instance, early sequences of Cherry meeting and falling for Emily almost have a dream-like quality to them, while later scenes of drug abuse are cold and dark. It's a simple, yet effective, way of conveying the movie's key feelings and plot points. This directorial approach may not bring anything all that new to the table, but it still makes Cherry engaging to watch.
Likewise, the script by Angela Russo-Otstot and Jessica Goldberg gets the job done, though falls short of reaching another level. Primarily, the overarching story feels undercooked, as the screenplay frequently touches on the surface level of topics like the horrors of war and dangers of drug addiction, but doesn't fully explore any of them in a way that's particularly effective. At times, it feels like Cherry is merely retelling the broad strokes of its source material, taking viewers from one outrageous situation to the next (culminating with Cherry robbing banks to support his drug habits) to illustrate how crazy the story is. There is a deeper subtext present about how the U.S. fails its military members by not providing the support they need, but like the core narrative, that message ultimately feels simplified. This isn't to say anything in Cherry's story is bad, it just follows a very familiar trajectory to make its points.
What does help raise Cherry is Holland's performance, as the young actor demonstrates strong dramatic chops in what's a departure from other roles. Holland carries the film with a heartbreaking turn as a broken man and puts himself through the wringer. Cherry is a character that doesn't utilize Holland's trademark youthful exuberance, but his boyish appearance is still a benefit here, as it makes Cherry's downfall all the more devastating to watch. With Holland in the role, it feels like one is watching the loss of a young man's innocence and he's definitely capable of leading more films like this in the future. Elsewhere in the cast, Bravo has some nice moments as Emily, but the romance between her and Cherry feels half-baked as the emotional core. Other supporting actors like Jack Reynor as Pills & Coke and Forrest Goodluck as James Lightfoot serve to round out the ensemble, but aren't given much to work with. Cherry is Holland's show through and through.
As the Oscar precursors come in during this delayed awards season, Cherry has been absent from the nominations and it doesn't look like it will be a major contender. The film has some admirable qualities, and it's nice to see the Russos attempt this as an ambitious palate cleanser following the grand spectacle of Avengers: Endgame, but it never reaches the heights of the other titles in contention this year. Still, Cherry is worth watching for those interested in either the story or Holland's exceptional performance. It may not drive waves of new subscribers to Apple TV+, but those who already have the service or want to use a free trial could get something out of it.
Cherry opens in U.S. theaters on February 26 and starts streaming on Apple TV+ March 12. It runs 150 minutes and is rated R for graphic drug abuse, disturbing and violent images, pervasive language, and sexual content.
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