Berry Entertaining

I recently streamed on Hulu the movie BlackBerry -- the story of the rise and fall of the once ubiquitous smartphone that was a status symbol for all the high-powered executives and tech bros of the world. It's an interesting movie in a few ways.

First is the odd synthesis of tropes at play here. I think everyone is familiar with the "cradle to grave" biopic that tells the story of one noted individual. We're also familiar with the "birth of a great idea" movie; it seems like virtually any great invention you can think of from the last century or so has at least one movie celebrating its creation. BlackBerry is an interesting blend of both these things: it's a "cradle to grave" story about an invention, featured on one of the few inventions that might have such a tale worth telling.

Secondly, it's a distinctly Canadian film. This is fitting, since the BlackBerry itself was the invention of a Canadian company. The movie is written and directed by Canadians, and stars mostly Canadians in the key roles. And the "Canadianness" seeps into the movie in ways big and small -- from the occasional, faintly detectable accents to the inclusion of a hockey subplot to the foreign (to American eyes) approach to business and interpersonal conflict.

The casting I mentioned is a key part of the appeal. The two leads are played by actors known mainly for comedy, which makes their performances here a shocking -- but effective -- change of pace. Jay Baruchel stars as soft-spoken engineer Mike Lazaridis, while Glenn Howerton plays power-broker investor Jim Balsillie. Both are well-suited to their roles, though it's Howerton who really commands the screen, playing a wound-too-tight-for-living asshole. Appearing in minor roles throughout the movie, you'll also see Michael Ironside, Rich Sommer, Martin Donovan, Saul Rubinek, and Cary Elwes. (No, there really aren't any women in this story.)

It's an entertaining movie... and yet there honestly isn't that much "there" there. Despite the performances, the characters border on caricature; there's a certain level at which this could be the story of any technology being supplanted by another, or even (if you squint hard) any clash of "art vs. commerce." The story of the BlackBerry doesn't cry out as one that Must Be Told -- even if here, it is told well enough.

I understand there was enough cut footage from the film that it was repackaged in longer form as a three-part TV series on AMC; if you subscribe to that channel's unique streaming service, you can watch the longer version instead. Maybe that would change my opinion some? Likely not. I would guess it's a fun diversion in either form. If you, like me, have a large "slush pile" of things to watch, this might not ever find its way to the top. But if a certain kind of movie has hit the bullseye for you before -- say, Tetris -- then you'll probably enjoy this. I give BlackBerry a B-.