Science fiction is a genre that sometimes allows to compare our present day with the way it was imagined in the past. Such predictions are almost always wrong, but in certain cases they can be amusing. An example can be found in Cherry 2000, 1987 film directed by Steve De Jarnatt.
The plot takes place in 2017 California. Protagonist, played by David Andrews, is Sam Treadwell, recycling company executive whose job revolves around aftermath of cataclysmic economic collapse that turned much of America into lawless wasteland. Annaheim, where he lives, is oasis of high tech civilisation and relative prosperity, so Sam can afford nice home and beautiful and loving girlfriend Cherry (played by Pamela Gidley), who happens to be a sex robot. After she malfunctions, Sam learns that she is irreparable. Thankfully, he managed to salvage the chip containing her memory and personality; the robot model is out of stock, but he receives information that one batch could be found in abandoned robot factory deep within wastelands of Mojave Desert. Sam hires professional tracker Edith “E” Johnson (played by Melanie Griffith) who would help him in quest. Two of them soon have to deal with Lester (played by Tim Thomerson), psychotic wasteland overlord whose small army would stop at nothing to eliminate all trackers that wander into Lester’s territory.
One of the main sources of entertainment in Cherry 2000 is script by Michael Almereyda or, to be precise, its speculation about the way sexuality will be handled in our times. Like so many genre authors Almereyda missed social network phenomenon but guessed that people will some sort of Tinder-like experience in specialised singles’ bars where they exchange profiles containing sexual demo videos and negotiating future relations with the help of specialised lawyers. Unfortunately, once the plot moves out of Annaheim into the desert, we are treated with typical Mad Max-inspired postapocalyptic scenario. Director Steve De Jarnatt does somewhat solid job putting Nevada locations, including Hoover Dam, to good use. Some action scenes are spectacular, although some of them don’t make much of the sense. Cast is solid, although main actors leave much to be desired. David Andrews, best known for playing lead characters in BBC satirical crime series Pulaski, simply lacks chemistry with Melanie Griffith, who later said that the role in this film was the worst in her career. Impression is improved by actors in supporting roles, and that includes veteran Ben Johnson in the role of Edith’s mentor, while Tim Thomerson is great in the role of eccentric warlord. Cameron Milzer is also good in the role of Sam’s ex girlfriend who has joined Lester’s ranks, but her underwritten character just shows how poorly assembled this film is. Wonderful musical score by great film composer Basil Poledouris, worthy of all of his 1980s classics, just underlines impression how much potential Cherry 2000 had and how many chances for truly great film were missed. This might be due to Orion Pictures, studio behind the project, which probably insisted that the film dealing with futuristic sexuality be made according to family-friendly PG-13 censorship rating. Later it had its doubts about the film and its initial theatrical distribution was postponed and quite short. Like so many 1980s films, Cherry 2000 found its ultimate success at home video where its combination of action and mild humour pleased anyone viewers to create something of a cult status. Cherry 2000 would later serve as source of inspiration for various works like Fallout: New Vegas video game and Blade Runner 2049.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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