BlackBerry

Jay Baruchel and Glenn Howerton in BlackBerry

I found the critical huzzahs accorded to Matt Johnson's Blackberry to be baffling. The film tells the rise and fall of the titular company in a fashion that is half a critique of predatory capitalism and half a celebration of techno geeks. Johnson mindlessly applies verite techniques that call to mind the mise-en-scene of The Office. Perhaps Johnson wanted to evoke a sense of immediacy, but the film is haphazardly filmed and cut. Some scenes are overly reminiscent of sketch comedy. Both the dramatic and comic beats of the film are off. Performances are all over the place with Cary Elwes and, significantly, Johnson himself overacting terribly. Glenn Howerton, Saul Rubinek, and Michael Ironside acquit themselves well. Jay Baruchel, the nominal lead, wrestles his performance to a draw.