Review of Cherry 2000 (1987) by Steve M — 19 Apr 2008

In a dark future, Sam Treadwell (Andrews) hires tough-as-nails tracker Edith johnson (Griffith) to take him into the ungoverned badlands of Nevada so he can raid a long-lost stockpile of "lovebots" in order to get a replacement for his broken Cherry 2000 mechanical companion/girlfriend.

While "Cherry 2000" is a bit heavyhanded in the delivery of its message of how people in the modern age are growing increasing isolated from real contact and replacing human interaction with technological devices to the point where many of us can't handle the real thing, it's got enough fun and action packed into its dark future, sci-fi action romp side that it's forgivable. One can further forgive the heavyhandedness, beause it's a trend has only gotten worse in the two decades since this film was made, so Sam Treadwell--a man so cut off from real human companionship and emotion that he hardly even notices that he is being escorted by a very beautiful and intelligent woman on his quest for his artificial one--is more believable as a character than ever.

The excellent action story is enhanced by a fine cast, with Melanie Griffith giving the best performance I've ever seen from her, and Tim Thomerson presenting the perfect maniac in a turn as a psychotic leader of a utopian society based in a Nevada hotel and built around an enforcement of the family values of late 1950s American television proramsmes. The film is even more remarkable when one considers that it dates from a time before computer effects, so the chases and the action (including the car dangling over the gorge) are as real as they get.

"Cherry 2000" is worth checking out if you like "Escape From New York"- or "Road Warrior"-type dark futures, or if you're a fan of Melanie Griffith.

Cherry 2000.

Starring: David Andrews, Melanie Griffith, and Tim Thomerson.

Director: Steve De Jarnatt.