Sherrybaby - Region 2 DVD

Sound a little bit TV movie of the week? Then you’re not counting upon the considerable force of the film’s leading lady. Here, Gyllenhaal gives a career-best performance as Sherry Swanson, dragging the film single-handedly into a feature of real note. It’s an award-worthy turn, and one that casting directors would be well advised to take note of.

The rest of Sherrybaby, inevitably, can’t live up to Gyllenhaal’s standards, but it has quite a go. Writer-director Laurie Collyer makes a sound feature film debut (basing it loosely around the experiences of one of her friends), delivering an emotional flick with genuine depth and feeling to it. Layering in the various obstacles that sit in Sherry’s way, her script gives her lead actress plenty to get her teeth into, and the movie gels well as a result.

Running to just over an hour and a half, Sherrybaby is wise too not to outstay its welcome. Because as it stands, when the end credits role, you’ll have been treated to one of the best performances by a Hollywood actress in leading times, and a tight, memorable drama too. --Jon Foster