Cherry 2000 (1987)

Director:

Steve De Jarnatt

Writers:

Michael Almereyda (writer)
Lloyd Fonvielle (story)

Release Date:

5 February 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

She's Blond, Beautiful and Forever Young.

Plot:

In the future, a man travels to the ends of the earth to find that the perfect woman is always under his nose...

Plot Keywords:

Robot | Android | Tracker | Directorial Debut | On The Road

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

David Andrews	...	Sam Treadwell
Jennifer Balgobin	...	Glory Hole Hotel Clerk
Marshall Bell	...	Bill
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Snappy Tom
Laurence Fishburne	...	Glu Glu Lawyer (as Larry Fishburne)
Pamela Gidley	...	Cherry 2000
Melanie Griffith	...	Edith 'E.' Johnson
Michael C. Gwynne	...	Slim
Brion James	...	Stacy
Ben Johnson	...	Six-Fingered Jake
Jeff Levine	...	Marty
Jennifer Mayo	...	Randa
Cameron Milzer	...	Elaine aka Ginger
Howard Swain	...	Jim Skeet
Jack Thibeau	...	Stubby Man

Runtime:

99 min | Spain:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Australia:M | France:U | Netherlands:12 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:18

Filming Locations:

Death Valley National Park, California, USA

Company:

ERP Productions (I)

Trivia:

In the late 80's the record label Varese Sarabande issued a special limited edition soundtrack CD for this film of about 1500 copies containing the late Basil Poledouris' musical score. It received high collectible status soon after wards. In 1997 an anonymous collector purchased this CD for the then record sum for a CD of two thousand five hundred dollars in an auction. The soundtrack has since been reissued through another label in 2004.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Sam first arrives at the Sky Ranch and sits down with Ginger at the pool she is wearing a pink bandanna. The next seen it has completely disappeared off her head and she is seen picking it up off the chair when she walks off.

Quotes:

Sam Treadwell: The man is a psychopathic killer.
Ginger: Don't impose your values on me, Sam.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Catalina Caper (#3.4)" (1990)

Surprisingly fantastic...a real treat

Okay, "Cherry 2000" has finally achieved "cult film" status. But unlike many other cult movies, it actually deserves the title.

There are many things to like about this flick. The nuanced, likeable Ben Johnson has a good role that even delivers some tragedy (how often do you get that in a b-movie?). The charismatic Griffith is alternately contemplative and kick-ass. Of course, Tim Thomerson as Lester nearly steals the show, providing a truly strange, ruthless villain.

The effects are cheesy, sure, but they never look fake, unlike a lot of the CGI films coming out today. When you see E. Johnson's Ford being dangled over the Hoover Dam, that is an ACTUAL car, not some stupid digital effect.

The movie does lay its message on thick, but considering the obvious budget constraints they were working with, that's a perfectly excuseable flaw. The satire is at times hilarious (watch for Larry Fishburne's turn as a lawyer with Morpheus-esque reflecting sunglasses, and the final exit of the villain is truly visually ironic). I bought this on DVD (having never seen it on TV) and really liked it...maybe you will, too.