R | 1h 59m | Biopic, Dramedy | May 12, 2023
The biopic “BlackBerry” is the story of the rise and fall of the BlackBerry smart phone and it’s titular company, without which you would not be reading this review on your iPhone or Android phone.
Doug Fregin played by director Matt Johnson in the tech biopic “BlackBerry.” (Zapruder Films/Elevation Pictures)
It’s 1996, and geek-flag-flying co-founder of Canadian-based company Research In Motion (RIM), Doug Fregin (played by director Matt Johnson), and his beyond-nebbishy best buddy, tech wizard and co-founding entrepreneur Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel), are in trouble regarding their company.
Which is why they’re preparing a cringe-y, abundantly nerd-rich sales pitch in the office of one Jim Balsillie (Glenn Howerton), about why he should invest in their tech product phone-thingie. It’s a concept that’s far more wishful thinking than reality-based….