Type Casting: Helvetica, The Movie - review

So, I just watched Helvetica, the movie. In all honesty, the DVD should have come with a free t-shirt that says: “I watched HELVETICA, start to finish, and didn’t fall asleep (but now I grind my teeth at night)”. It should all be set in Arial, that becomes Verdana, as the t-shirt stretches over time.

The movie is one of the best arguments for asking - no, begging - the Film Academy to change its rules for feature documentaries. Currently they have to run at the requred 80 min. minimum, to qualify for an Academy Award nomination (and, for movie-theater distribution). Not that Helvetica, the movie, would ever stand the chance (sorry to be so unkind). For most documentary topics (as Helevetica, the movie, so effortlessly proves), 80 minutes is pure torture, beyond the usually interesting first 20, 30 or (OK - we are pushing it here) maybe 40 minutes. It’s not that it’s not interesting - it is - but needs shortening and editing as badly as an average freebie online font needs kerning. That’s all I’ll say. Yes, I am into (*seriously* into) type, fonts, design, and all that :). And yes, it was fun to see and hear many people whose work in type design I know and often admire. But, I guess Helvetica (the movie) is just not my type.