| CHERISH |
 2002 - USA
Director: Finn Taylor - Reviewed by Jennifer
Wrongfully accused of killing a police officer, Zoe (played by Tunney), is so hated by the staff at the jail that she is placed under house arrest through the bracelet program. A tracking device on her ankle monitors her exact location at all times. In order to pay her legal bills, she is forced to sell her condo and relocate to a bad neighborhood. To make matters worse, her lawyer (Nora Dunn) is completely apathetic to her claim that someone else was in the car the night the police officer was run down. No one believes that she is being stalked, and she must fight to clear her name within the limited radius afforded by her ankle bracelet. The bulk of the movie takes place in the crummy apartment as Zoe hatches escape plans. She makes friends with her wheelchair-bound neighbor, and gradually wins over even the "bad" kids in her neighborhood. She also receives frequent visits from Daly (played by Tim Blake Nelson), who keeps tabs on the condition of her ankle bracelet. He assumes his usual creepy-little-man role, but I thought this time he might just turn out to be likable. Of course I was wrong, and should have trusted my gut instinct after he blackmailed Jennifer Aniston in The Good Girl. The guy is bad news. I can't figure out why a man who looks like a cross between Lady Elaine Fairchild from Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood and Mr. Peanut (and is apparently about as tall) wants to be such an insidious presence in film after film. Wouldn't he like to spice up his resume by playing a nice guy? I know it's evil to judge someone on their appearance, but come on Tim, give us some inner beauty! Even Steve Buscemi knows know to work it. Robin Tunney is witty and likable as Zoe, which makes up for the slow and rather limited scope of the plot. I never did figure out if Cherish was a dark comedy, a drama, a thriller, or all of the above. That said, at least it is interesting enough to follow to the end, which is exceedingly unsettling. I think of this movie as a bit of a wolf in sheep's clothing, because it hints at something quite sinister. Like Mary in There's Something About Mary, Zoe seems to be one of those girls destined to become the object of obsession. Though these spunky women triumph, it is an alarming notion that someone is bound to be stalked simply because they are funny, cute, and sweet. Each simple act of human kindness leaves them vulnerable to unwanted attention: but that's not funny. Building a comedy around this notion is disturbingly close to blaming the victim and condoning the stalker. I can't say much for the plot of this film, but Robin Tunney did do a great job with what she had to work with. |
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Cherish is a weird little movie packaged in a deceptively cheerful box.
It
features Robin Tunney in rollerskates licking a giant pink lollipop and
touts a fun 80's soundtrack. If you're already singing "cherish is the
word
I use to remind me oo-of your lo-ove" like Madonna, you can stop. This
"Cherish" is from the 70's, and we've all heard it in elevators, but I
can't
think of anyone who'd listen to it on purpose. As for the rest of the
soundtrack, I guess it's fun as long as you never again want to listen
to
"Private Eyes" by Hall and Oates without a bodyguard. Not since the
paranoia-inducing use of "Every Breath You Take" in Cat's Eye has a pop
song
sounded so creepy. And that shot of Robin Tunney on the cover pretty
much
sums up all the fun she has in the movie.
