Parents' Guide to Cherry

With this stylistically spectacular drama, the Russo brothers have made an unforgettable film that rebukes the U.S. military while empathizing with the plights of those who serve. Cherry's cinematography is like a piece of modern art, with bold colors, creative execution, and filters that will make Instagram jealous. The main character's sardonic personality will connect with young audiences, as will the embrace of a type of masculinity that includes weeping at things beautiful, sad, and difficult. The movie's romantic tragedy dives somewhere between Shakespeare and O. Henry. Between the dialogue and Holland's emotive performance, the experience pops like cinematic street poetry.

Not too many mainstream films since the Vietnam era have been blatantly critical of the military experience. That's due in part to filmmakers looking to secure the U.S. military's cooperation. But it's also due to the influence of the type of patriotism that borders on propaganda in times of war -- which the United States has been involved in, in some form, for the last 20 years. Cherry covers this whole time frame, starting in 2003 and reflecting on a military operation that was well-equipped, overly arrogant, and underprepared for the toll it would take on soldiers' mental health. While creating empathy for those suffering from PTSD, the film also encourages compassion for those in the throes of drug dependency. In college, Cherry takes prescribed Xanax for anxiety. He also drinks and parties with friends, taking Esctasy. The film subtly indicates that had he not found early acceptance for his recreational pill popping then, his later dive into OxyContin -- which eventually leads him to heroin -- would perhaps not have been such an easy leap. This is a tragedy that carries no overt messages while still delivering a takeaway you won't forget: Your choices today matter tomorrow. In its thoughtful exploration of mature subjects like sex (within a loving relationship), drugs (with consequences), and violence (in war), Cherry is a film for young adults that's as responsible as it is impactful.