Cristina Vasquez Muniz
Entertainment Columnist
It’s Kind of a Funny Story, the movie, is adapted from the teen novel by author Ned Vizzini. The movie is enjoyable, but it didn’t live up to expectations.
The story is based on a depressed, suicidal teenage boy who checks himself into a psychiatric hospital for treatment.
Vizzini’s book is based on his own brief experience in a mental hospital for depression in 2004.
This PG-13, Focus Features film was directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck stars Keir Gilchrist, Emma Roberts, who stars in thriller 4.3.2.1., and comedian Zach Galifianakis.
Keir Gilchrist, who stars in Showtime’s United States of Tara, plays Craig, a 16-year-old who checks himself into a psychiatric ward after a year of depression and some suicidal thoughts. Craig is under major stress from school and completely in love with his best friend’s girlfriend. When he arrives at the home, he finds himself way over his head but is required to stay at least five days.
Since the teen ward is under construction, Craig is sent into the adult ward, where he meets Bobby, played by Zach Galifianakis.
I love Zach Galifianakis in every movie he’s been in, from his stand-up comedy Live at the Purple Onion to The Hangover, for which he won MTV’s Best Comedic Performance for 2010. This movie proves Galifianakis can handle a role that creeps on dramatic, and is deeper than what he’s done before.
Galifianakis’ character Bobby soon becomes Craig’s mentor in the loony bin and teaches a few lessons about life, (all stolen Bob Dylan quotes, but they have the intended effect).
This movie is witty and awkward, a perfect combination in my opinion.
I went in expecting a funny mood lifter like any other comedy, but I came out with a sickly grin and gooey “aww” feeling. It’s sweet and amusing, but with all the talent, good story and everything else, it should have been more than just “amusing.”
