About Cherry (2012)

Angelina: "I think I might be a bad person."

By Stephen Elliott
With Ashley Hinshaw, Lili Taylor, James Franco

I chose this snapshot to be the cover of this review because I felt it explained in essence what this film was trying to say all along. The film, which follows a young girl's induction to the American porn industry, is co-directed by porn star/writer Lorelai Lee. This isn't a film warning young girls away from the porn industry, nor does it --arguably-- romanticize the profession in any way. The titular character, "Cherry", is shown here adjusting her shower, and in the slight moment between her entering the shower and stripping away the makeup which constitutes her "work" garb, you can glimpse a powerful girl, haughty and self assured -- about to embark on the smooth transition between "Angelina" and "Cherry". The most important thing to focus on is her position of control, her appropriation of her body, her choice as to how and when she can be viewed as a consumable object.

A bildungsroman in many ways, I still believe the subject matter could have approached more fruitfully. The film sticks to several tiresome tropes: the scrappy, faithful best friend --played by Dev Patel of Slumdog Millionaire (2008)--who is madly in love with her much to her oblivion and who eventually gets tired of being a "pet" and splits, the emotionally manipulative perennially drunk mother, the snooty younger sister, and the sexually predatory, faceless, and threatening step father and so on and so forth. To further complicate matters, "Cherry" falls under the attention of a adult film directer, the charming Heather Graham, who eerily resembles the protagonist and who dismantles her own long term relationship just to have a fair shot at bedding "Cherry".

Nevertheless, there are a few points of interest. The film is full of references and symbolism. Her first cocaine-addicted lawyer boyfriend --played by James Franco-- takes her to a geisha exhibit (though no commentary is made on the similarities of their roles), who later passes judgement on her profession despite his severe snorting-coke-and-hitting-strip-clubs-in-his-free-time habit. Her "innocence" despite her job is transformed into the choice of her show name, "Cherry", to highlight her "virtuosity". I enjoyed the apparent spontaneity of her scenes, and what felt like genuine acting. Her smile was incredible and real, she sparkled in her scenes, and her excitement at trying out the different costumes for different films was palpable.

I liked: The every-day take on a porn actresses' life. Yes, her background may be troubled but it doesn't make her, someone working in the sex industry, unhealthy or sick. It is referenced how everyone working there is tested various times for STDs, something that doesn't happen usually for more normal avenues of dating. Her expressive features, smiles. The ambiguous nature of sexual orientation.

I disliked: The stereotypical characters. The ending which implied she becomes another Heather Graham, and the innuendo that she, too, will eventually dump Heather for a younger actress who comes along -- although of course this could be hinting at the indispensability of porn actresses and actors after they reach a certain age. I also disliked how her best friend was first hinted at to be gay and yet no further developments were made along that story line and it seemed the writers just hastily wrote him out, along with her boyfriend.

52/100
Not a substantial movie, but the actress is charming and a few important issues are raised. If you were looking for a serious film that addresses the current porn industry, I would direct you elsewhere. Otherwise, give this a watch but don't go into it with too many expectations.