Cherry

Tales of young innocents drawn into the murky world of pornography and adult entertainment are nothing new (Hardcore, 8mm) and this strangely sterile film has little to add, despite a script co-written by an industry veteran. Ashley Hinshaw (Chronicle) stars as the wide-eyed teenager who leaves her troubled home to make something of herself in San Francisco, accompanied by her lovestruck best friend (played in best puppy-dog style by Slumdog Millionaire's Dev Patel). However, the temptation to make quick cash with a bit of harmless soft porn soon leads to harder stuff, just as she embarks on a relationship with a charming, well-to-do cokehead (James Franco). The cast is a classy one with Lili Taylor as Hinshaw's alcoholic mum and Heather Graham as a film-maker, echoing her involvement in Boogie Nights - arguably the best movie about the porn industry and the lost souls within it. But, here, subplots remain undeveloped and in the end, there's just not enough edge or indeed any point to it at all.