Cherry 2000

This sci-fi flick went straight to video in 1987 after sitting on the shelf for two years, becoming a cult hit on VHS. Melanie Griffith (under a mop of bright red hair) stars as E. Johnson, a bounty hunter in a post-apocalyptic future, who is hired by Sam Treadwell (David Andrews) to take him from the protected, safe enclave of the city—where robots take care of manual labor demands, and sex has become a matter of contract negotiations—into the "lawless zone." Sam has found romance with the Rolls Royce of love robots, the legendary Cherry 2000 (Pamela Gidley), and he is desperate to replace the chassis when she short-circuits during an amorous adventure. The lawless zone is a mix of old West frontier (complete with appearances by Western icons Ben Johnson and Harry Carey Jr.) and social satire. The protagonists have to get past a parody of yuppie suburban culture turned totalitarian cult run by a sadist (Tim Thomerson) to reach the robot warehouse. Director Steve De Jarnatt is better with humor than action, and Griffith is unconvincing as a hard-bitten tracker, while Andrews is a colorless leading man. Still, the skewed social commentary and creative production design remain entertaining. Debuting on Blu-ray, extras include audio commentary by De Jarnatt, a new interview with Thomerson, and a vintage "making-of" featurette. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)