BlackBerry (2023) Comedy Movie Review
Think of 'BlackBerry' as a blockbuster movie in the world of finance, up there with classics like 'Wall Street' and 'The Wolf of Wall Street.' Despite featuring characters who are either charming crooks or followers, operating in a corrupt capitalist system, the film is gripping, the performances are captivating, and the dialogue is memorable. It's like an action movie, but instead of fights and chases, the characters engage in verbal battles, intricate traps, and schemes to climb the corporate ladder.
Some say 'BlackBerry' could be a cautionary tale for business students, but it's more likely to be a favorite among young professionals in suits, quoting lines after a night out. It's a unique portrayal of losers headed for obscurity, with a soundtrack that's spot-on for big corporate commercials.
%20Comedy%20Movie.jpg "BlackBerry (2023) Comedy Movie")
Directed and co-starring Matt Johnson, inspired by the business history in 'Losing the Signal,' 'BlackBerry' has a shaky, handheld style, reminiscent of 'The Office' with a touch of David Mamet. What sets the script apart is its structure—it shows the start and end of the story, leaving the middle part out. This unconventional approach adds an extra layer of intrigue, making the film more captivating than a traditional rise-and-fall narrative. It's like watching only the first and last episodes of a great TV show or the financial world's version of 'Full Metal Jacket,' skipping the middle part and focusing on the transformation of characters.
"Remember the BlackBerry? It was that nifty handheld device that got overshadowed by the iPhone and its look-alikes. The first part of the movie dives into the story of Mike Lazaridis and his partner Douglas Fregin, the brains behind the BlackBerry. They cracked the code to make lots of them work together on a cellular network without crashing it. The BlackBerry started spreading like wildfire, making Mike and Doug seem destined for tech stardom.
However, being creative wizards didn't equip Mike and Doug with the cutthroat skills needed to thrive in the business world. They were geeky types, often pushed around by clients and dealing with financial troubles. Along comes Jim Ballsillie, a forceful executive and hockey enthusiast, sensing an opportunity to elevate their company. He becomes co-CEO, bringing a no-nonsense attitude to protect the duo.
The movie zooms through the rise of the company, packing the story into lively montages with a touch of Steven Soderbergh's flair. The film's humor shines when Jim orders everyone to become "male models" and flaunt their BlackBerries in public, no matter what they're doing. There's tension over whether the surge in BlackBerry sales will crash their network, but a clever solution emerges.
Around the movie's midpoint, we fast-forward to the mid-2000s, a time when BlackBerry faced oblivion in an era it helped define. The story unfolds like Heraclitus's philosophy—character becomes destiny. No big surprises, just the characters dealing with new circumstances, becoming complacent, and struggling to adapt.
'BlackBerry' doesn't just narrate the events; it turns them into an art piece. It's a fun re-watch, revealing subtle details that might be missed the first time. For instance, early on, Mike resists Jim's push for a quick prototype, setting the stage for a later disaster when he gives in. Similarly, Jim's confident, 'dream it, make it happen' approach that fueled early success becomes the company's downfall, even tying into his love for hockey.
Imagine overlaying the first and second parts of the movie to see if certain scenes align perfectly, just like the key moments in the first and second "Star Wars" trilogies. Both films explore how a person's fate is set early in their life's story. In this movie, many adults often act like oversized kids. When the iPhone threatens the beloved BlackBerry, Mike, played by Jay Baruchel, experiences a mental glitch, clinging to the click-click sound of the BlackBerry's buttons and denying the inevitable.
Baruchel, known for his role as a smart, sensitive teen in "Undeclared," brings some of that vibe here, even at 41, with silver-dyed hair to match the real Mike. He and co-star Johnson convincingly portray long-time acquaintances with limited influence over each other's major decisions.
Glenn Howerton steals scenes as a classic jerk, with a shaved head, narrowed eyes, and pouty lips—reminiscent of a young Bruce Willis. All three actors capture the '90s and 2000s vibe in technology and finance, embracing a self-flattering warrior spirit. Their antics, akin to satires like "American Psycho," are shockingly funny because they're so appalling. This movie delves into people whose triumphs and failures originate from the same source—a tragedy presented in the style of an action comedy.