Cherry

If you are patient, there are some good things about this movie. There are some really good actors in this cast. I myself was looking for something with Jake Weber in it as I've been bingeing Medium (again). Of course I've seen Dawn of The Dead, Meet Joe Black, and U-571. BUT don't be drawn in for the cast. I'm not wild about the writing but I really think it could have been better with some editing. Matt Servitto (once you see the ending) really should have been the narrator of the movie, as A) the narration was pretty bad, B)Uneven and C) colorless like the character. The role of the customer needed a touch more development and the expansion to narrator would have been great for that. Watch the end scene as Servitto talks about his gift for Leila. All the supporting characters needed more development but as presented, entirely superfluous. The late David McCallum and Gil Rogers are trying but Rodgers doesn't have a lot to work with.

Really, the worst thing about this movie was the cinematography and framing. Soft focus, over exposed, mostly static shots where the framing is really obvious. I streamed it on Amazon and it looked awful.

Anyway, this is NOT the romantic comedy you wanted but it may be of value to anyone who has a flawed understanding of marriage to stop and really think about things before actually getting married.

Leila (Shalom Harlow) is a muffin shop owner with a sad past. As an innocent 20 year old, her fiancé failed to show up on their wedding day. Since then, she merely exists with her dog, Paxil, never venturing into another romantic attachment. However, she does want to become a mother and visits a new gynecologist to determine if her organs are working properly. Somewhat smitten, the physician tries to discourage Leila from the auditions she plans to hold to find a father for her potential offspring. Is a sperm donor the closest thing to true love that Leila will find?

This sweet, sweet movie has attractive leads and a humorous script. While the overall concept of the film may be far-fetched, the audience won't quibble with it's presentation. The setting and costumes are quite wonderful, also. If you and your friends pant over kisses and laughs in the search for true love, get the gang together and have a giggle and sigh fest.

Overall, I enjoyed this movie. I thought that Jake Weber did an excellent job as the shy but obviously love bitten ob/gyn, Dr. Beverly Kirk. He was sweet, a little wistful but brave enough to keep trying because he really felt that he was meeting a very good thing [Leila Sweet]. While I wish the producers hadn't cut some of the scenes where he gave a little more personal detail of his character while at the bar, I think viewers will still be able to see that Jake makes a perfect leading love interest.

Once you agree to suspend belief over a few minor points in the script(that the beautiful main character would still be a virgin at 29 and that anyone can pick up orphans off the street and keep them for example) you can curl up with your date and enjoy this breezy romantic comedy. Leila Sweet has rejected love because she was stood up at the altar 12 years earlier. As her sister, Evie,prepares for her wedding, Leila realizes her life is empty and seeks to have a child wihout the muss and fuss of finding someone to fall in love with first. Everyone from her gay uncle and his delightfully cheerful better half, Mammy, to the quirky characters who fill her muffin shop, try to fix her up. The uncles (Gil Rogers and David McCallum) have some of the best lines in the show and are worth a whole movie unto themselves as are the cafe patrons and the dim but likable waitresses. As Leila flounders along in her quest for a baby, she encounters a struggling clown who pops over in a variety of costumes to win her heart. He's charming and a nice guy but he's not the "one" Her gynecologist, Dr. Beverly Kirk, has the hots for her and struggles to keep his cool as he attempts to guide her through her quest for a child. Along the way Leila rescues some kids who are literally dumped on her doorstep. As the wedding plays itself out, Leila realizes she's gotten it all wrong and completely blows her sister's wedding out of the water. All ends well of course or it wouldn't be a comedy. The supporting characters and the New York scenery alone would make it worth a rent. Curl up with a muffin and someone eccentric and watch it.

The film is somewhat entertaining, but the greatest feature is Shalom Harlow's laughable performance. It has been 4 years since this movie was released and hopefully Harlow has gone through more training. Perhaps she should stick to the more worldly, somewhat corruptive characters that she has generated in other performances.