Given the subject matter, one might anticipate that a film detailing the origins of a straightforward stacking block computer game would be unremarkable and dull; however, director Jon S. Baird and writer Noah Pink deliver “Tetris” with a polished Hollywood feel. The movie recounts the genuinely astonishing story of how one of the world’s most well-known video games made its way to players across the globe. It's a narrative centered on avarice, deception, manipulation, and control, taking liberties with actual events in order to craft an exaggerated espionage thriller. Following video game designer and publisher Henk Rogers (played by Taron Egerton) discovering TETRIS in 1988, he recognizes considerable potential. Henk locates the inventor within the Soviet Union, Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov), hoping to form a partnership to distribute his game widely. Risking everything, Henk travels to Russia during the Cold War and isn’t greeted warmly. As major players like Nintendo and Atari become involved, his mission becomes increasingly complex. To make matters worse, Henk draws the attention of the KGB, who aim to secure the rights to TETRIS for their nation. The story is quite outlandish and silly, veering into unexpected territory as the history of TETRIS transforms into a frenetic thriller. The numerous twists and turns can be overwhelming, but the film maintains engagement by escalating the stakes with invented situations. After all, there are only so many drawn-out negotiations, licensing agreements, contracts, business dealings, and clandestine government discussions that audiences can tolerate without some thrilling car chases or scenes of the protagonist being bothered by KGB agents. The outcome is a complicated plot where everyone seems to be deceiving each other while they dispute ownership of a computer game. Baird’s directorial choices might strike some as questionable, but I appreciated his incorporation of retro 8-bit animation to convey portions of the story; it felt lighthearted and enjoyable. There's also a good sense of humor that alleviates the more tedious aspects of the film. While the action and thriller elements are admittedly cheesy, most people enjoy a tale of an underdog triumphing over powerful interests with a dash of Cold War intrigue. Egerton largely carries the movie, delivering a strong and entertaining performance. He’s a restrained actor who possesses considerable charm, making him well-suited for the leading role. If you're unfamiliar with the story behind TETRIS, this film offers a reasonable overview of its development. It would be wise to look into what actually occurred, because you will likely be let down by just how much of the depicted narrative is fabricated. But whether or not you’ve ever played one of the most captivating puzzle games in history, you'll find “Tetris” both interesting and quite entertaining.

Source on TMDB