It's Kind of a Funny Story

It's Kind of a Funny Story follows a depressed teen who's having thoughts of suicide so he checks himself in a mental hospital to seek help. Looking for a quick fix of sorts by way of medicine he ends up staying longer than he planned after being fully institutionalized for the time being. It's the adaptation of the 2006 novel of the same name.

16-year-old Craig Gilner, played by Keir Gilchrist believes that his problems are too big for him to handle alone thus checking himself into the mental hospital. What he didn't realize was that not the pills nor the medicine but the people that he would soon surround himself with would be what actually helps him deal with his depression. While there he is introduced to Bobby, played by Zach Galifianakis an adult patient who acts as he confidant throughout the entire ordeal. Craig also forms a relationship with another troubled teen Noelle, played by Emma Roberts who is there after cutting herself numerous times. Craig found someone who he could truly confide in and someone who he could be himself around without feeling like he was being judged or ridiculed. 

Throughout the movie you see Craig work though his problems with help of a shrink, being around other people who have similar problems as he does and just taking a break from his life as that in general, being the main cause of his once overwhelming depression. Reluctant to tell his parents and friends about the problems he is having, Craig eventually opens up to the idea that everyone at one point or another needs help and that seeking that help is nothing to be ashamed of. Checking himself into the hospital and being there for a week didn't automatically make the problems go away but it gave him an outlet at the very least to address them and figure out a way to better handle them. 

It's Kind of a Funny Story is one of those movies that tells a serious story, covering issues that a lot of teens today are dealing with and manages to keep things rather light while still getting the point across. That point being that depression affects everyone whether you're the one who's depressed or not. From Craig's family, to his friends and even the people who he eventually became friends with while institutionalized, it's something that affects a lot of people and in a lot of different ways. 

Movies and cinema in general being a great way to get to get any point across, this movie did so while still keeping both the integrity of the issue and they way it was told in tact. Don't get me wrong this movie had it's moments of hilarity, any movie with Zach Galifianakis usually does. That only added to what this movie already brought to the table with it's opening scene alone but it was also impressive to see Zach in a somewhat serious role as well. Overall a solid movie and one that at the end of the day told kind of a funny story but with a serious overtone that was just right.

4 out of 5 stars