Plot: What’s it about?
Sam Treadwell (David Andrews) had the perfect life and the perfect wife, but that all changed after a passionate jaunt in some soapy waters. He and his lover Cherry were rolling in the suds, when she shorted out and left him high & dry. You see, Cherry is not a normal girl by any means, she is the robotic female Cherry 2000, the perfect robotic girlfriend. Sam still has her memory disc however, so as soon as he finds a new Cherry body, he is back in business. But he soon learns that no Cherry bodies can be found, unless he wants to enter Zone 7 and that wouldn’t be too wise. But he loves Cherry and wants her back, so he hires tracker E. Johnson (Melanie Griffith) to enter the zone and bring back his new woman. But this is the single toughest mission she could think of, so Sam is forced to ride shotgun and help out when he is needed. Sam and E. Johnson couldn’t be much more different, but with a lot of money and a new honey on the line, perhaps even they can manage to get along…or can they?
This review marks a special release for me, as my personal favorite film. Yes, I love this movie and while I admit it isn’t the greatest film of all time, it is my favorite. From Six-Fingered Jake to Lester and his goons, I love every minute of this movie and always have fun as I watch. The budget seems decent, as some nice action sequences are present and the location work looks very good also. I know the whole post apocalyptic scene has been done before, but I love the robot love angle and this one just clicks with me on all fronts. I like the action, I love the visuals, and in the end, it all seems to work for me with Cherry 2000. This one might not be the highest profile title out there, but I am pleased it has been given a proper release. I’ve been looking forward to this release for some time and I am pleased to report, the wait was worth it here.
I haven’t liked most of her performances, but I simply love Melanie Griffith’s turn here, as she seems natural within the role. At the time, it was cool to see her in a more masculine role and though not a flawless performance, her work here is more than solid. She brings the main elements of her character to notice, which is important and she also plays the tough, but sexy angle very well here. I know she catches a lot of flack for her performances on the whole, but I feel she was the perfect choice to bring E. Johnson to life. Other films with Griffith include Cecil B. DeMented, Another Day In Paradise, Milk Money, Pacific Heights, Working Girl, and Body Double. The cast also includes David Andrews (Apollo 13, Hannibal), Harry Carey, Jr. (Tombstone, Gremlins), Tim Thomerson (Volunteers, Iron Eagle), Brion James (The Fifth Element, The Player), Jennifer Mayo (Summerspell), Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix, Event Horizon), Ben Johnson (Red Dawn, The Last Picture Show), and of course, Pamela Gidley (The Little Vampire, S.F.W.) as Cherry 2000 herself.
Video: How does it look?
It’s been quite some time since this disc initially hit DVD and now we’ve got the Blu-ray to judge. Truthfully, the print used shows some wear at times, but not that much and I think fans will be very pleased here. The colors seem brighter than before, but never too rich and flesh tones are dead on. The real change here lies with the contrast, as the DVD was too dark and murky. But here, black levels look sharp and opened up and in turn, the detail is much more evident than before. This is not pristine or flawless, but it is very good and a tremendous improvement, which counts for a lot.
Audio: How does it sound?
This disc includes DTS HD Master Audio 2.0 track, which seems to handle the elements in decent enough form. I wasn’t blown away by this mix, but I think it comes up strong and does the material justice. I do think the track sounds a little limited in a few action driven scenes, but not to an extreme degree, as the basics come through just fine. I think some dynamic range would enhance those scenes, but I think this track is more than adequate in the end. The musical soundtrack is excellent and here, it sounds richer and fuller than ever, very cool indeed. No issues with dialogue either, the vocals are crisp and always at a proper volume balance.
Supplements: What are the extras?
Offering a bit more than I’d expected, this Blu-ray does have a decent spattering of extras.
- Audio Commentary – Director Steve De Jarnatt offers up another commentary track as he did with Miracle Mile. I personally preferred his track for that one, but this movie having preceded it – there’s a bit of nostalgia there. It’s chock full of little tidbits about the shoot and the production as a whole, so fans will get a kick out of it for sure.
- Interview – Tim Thomerson shares a few things about the shoot and working with Melanie Griffith (as well as her scuffles with co-star David Andrews).
- Making Of… – Bear in mind this was back in the day when behind the scenes features weren’t really done. It has a vintage look and feel to it for sure, but we do get some insight into the shoot as well as the Nevada locations used in the film.
- Theatrical Trailer
The Bottom Line
Ok, maybe Cherry 2000 isn’t the best movie out there, but it’s got a certain panache to it that makes one viewing a must. Kino has done a nice job with the disc, adding in some supplements and giving the audio and video a nice upgrade. Check it out.
