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, Cherry 2000 has been issued on our beloved format. 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. The video is a vast improvement over the laserdisc and while extras are slim, this disc covers the basics and as such, is well worth a look. If you’re a fan of the genre or just dig on robot chicks, this disc is highly recommended.
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?
Cherry 2000 is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. This is not a perfect transfer, but it does improve over the previous laserdisc and in truth, the image looks terrific and cleaner than I expected. 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, another improvement to be sure. The real change here lies with the contrast, as the laserdisc was too dark and murky, which meant obscured detail throughout. 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 a stereo surround track, which seems to handle the elements in decent enough form. I wasn’t blown away by this mix to be sure, 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. This disc also contains a French mono mix, as well as Spanish and French subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer, as well as a six minute featurette with some interviews.
