Chicago Critics Film Fest 2023 Review: Blackberry

✰✰✰✰​ (out of five)

Synopsis: Explores the incredible growth and tragic collapse of the world's first smartphone and how it smashed huge enterprises before surrendering to Silicon Valley's fiercely competitive companies.

Review: "Blackberry" can be funny. I just wish it was funnier. However, it's greatest strength is found in the drama. The drama is not unlike other familiar stories involving humans with vivid tech ideas and the corrupting influence it has around them and most of all inside themselves (call it "The Social network" Lite). Jay Baruchel gets to work out some talents we rarely get to see, flexing muscles he's quite good at. But it is Glenn Howerton here who is a truly unexpected brilliant revelation--a riveting, kinetic performance balancing the meek calm of Baruchel that clicks.

Note: This film viewed at CCFF 2023 showing.