Srikanth Godavarthi

“No, it’s actually the world’s smallest email terminal,” says Mike Lazaridis, a Canadian immigrant originally from Istanbul, during the prototype demonstration, when he, along with Doug Fregin, pitches their first working device to potential investors. It is a make-or-break moment for the young company, as the two engineers unveil a handheld device capable of sending and receiving emails wirelessly, something revolutionary in the ’90s. The investors are initially sceptical, but the vision soon clicks; and with it begins the BlackBerry era.

Set during a period marked by a surge in technology, the two Canadian electrical engineers, Lazaridis and Fregin, portrayed by Jay Baruchel and Matt Johnson, engage in brainstorming sessions while navigating a rather tumultuous professional relationship.

Facing challenges in transforming their invention into a successful enterprise, the duo collaborates with Jim Balsillie, portrayed by Glenn Howerton, a driven and enterprising businessman who propels the company towards a path of growth, financial gain, and dominance in the tech-eat-tech world.

Together, they transform BlackBerry into an $85 billion technology giant of the early 2000s, forever changing communication, until ‘iGod’ Steve Jobs stepped onto the stage with the Apple iPhone, marking the beginning of BlackBerry's decline.

As competition intensifies with the arrival of the iPhone, alongside the success of Samsung and Google phones, rapid advancements in the technology sector, internal disputes, personal egos, and mounting corporate pressures begin to threaten the company's dominant position.

The film highlights the fundamental conflict between the impulsive Jim, who is eager to have products shipped, and the meticulous Mike, who insists on perfecting them while refusing to compromise on excellence. In one of the film's most memorable exchanges, Jim asks, “Mike, are you familiar with the saying 'Perfect is the enemy of good?'” Mike replies, “Well, good enough is the enemy of humanity.” The film has many such razor-sharp dialogues laced with humour, perfectly capturing the clash between commercial ambition and engineering perfection.

A status symbol, a business essential, and the device that made mobile email part of everyday life, BlackBerry was, at its peak, the prized possession of the powerful, the famous, and the wealthy from Barack Obama and Madonna to Kim Kardashian, top business executives, and even technology leaders such as Eric Schmidt. Lazaridis was just 23 when he founded Research In Motion (RIM) alongside his childhood friend and co-founder Doug Fregin, who was 24. What began as the dream of two young engineers would eventually become one of the most iconic technology companies of its era.

For Gen Z, and perhaps even many millennials, it may be difficult to imagine just how dominant BlackBerry once was. The film offers a fascinating look at how a small Canadian startup built the world's first successful smartphone, achieved extraordinary global success, and ultimately lost its place at the top in the face of relentless innovation and changing consumer expectations. More than just a story about a company's collapse, BlackBerry is a compelling exploration of ambition, innovation, leadership, and the unforgiving pace of technological disruption, making it a must-watch for anyone interested in startups, entrepreneurship, business strategy, or the ever-evolving world of technology.