Dumb-Bell Letters No. 12: Proof that people have always been weird

Should you watch Dumb-Bell Letters No. 12? Honestly, if you enjoy the feeling of secondhand embarrassment or just want to see how truly creative people can get when they have a complaint, then yes. It’s for the folks who spend too much time reading one-star reviews on random websites. If you prefer high-stakes drama or something that requires an actual plot, skip this one. You’ll probably find it annoying.

It’s essentially a time capsule of petty grievances. Juliet Jowell gathered these letters, and there is something strangely hypnotic about reading these bonafide epistles. Some of them are so thick-headed you have to wonder how the authors managed to find the mailbox in the first place. ✉️

The pacing is fast. It doesn't drag, mostly because it can't—there isn't really a narrative to anchor it down. It feels a bit like watching a slideshow at someone's house who really wants you to see their collection of weird junk. Occasionally, it’s a bit too much. The humor hits hard for three minutes and then you start to feel bad for the poor clerks who had to read these things for a living.

It’s not trying to be Triumph des Lebens, and thank god for that. It’s just a weird little oddity. Some of the handwriting they show—assuming you can read it—is half the fun.

Random thoughts from the back of the theater:

• The sheer confidence in some of these writers is inspiring, in a terrifying way.
• I spent way too long trying to decipher the scribbles on the screen.
• It’s a lot lighter than, say, Vater Radetzky, which is probably for the best.
• The title is a mouthful. Why number 12? I don't know, and I’m not sure I want to know.

It’s the kind of thing you’d stumble upon in a dusty archive. It doesn't have the polish of The Greenwood Tree, but it’s got way more personality. It’s just people being people. Mostly, people being absolute dunces. 🙄

One letter in particular, about a misplaced shipment of hats, went on for so long that I started zoning out. But then they pivoted to a complaint about a goat? Or maybe it was a dog. It was hard to tell. Either way, it caught me off guard. The movie gets noticeably better when it stops trying to be clever and just lets the stupidity speak for itself.

If you're looking for a profound experience, look elsewhere. If you want a quick laugh at the expense of strangers from a century ago, this is perfect.