It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010)

A clinically depressed teenager gets a new start after he checks himself into an adult psychiatric ward.

Directors:

Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Writers:

Anna Boden (screenplay), Ryan Fleck (screenplay),

Stars:

Keir Gilchrist, Dana DeVestern, Zach Galifianakis

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keir Gilchrist	...	Craig
Dana DeVestern	...	Alyssa (as Dana De Vestern)
Lauren Graham	...	Lynn
Jim Gaffigan	...	George
Karen Chilton	...	Nurse Harper
Zach Galifianakis	...	Bobby
Aasif Mandvi	...	Dr. Mahmoud
Jared Goldstein	...	Ronny
Alan Aisenberg	...	Scuggs
Zoë Kravitz	...	Nia
Thomas Mann	...	Aaron
Jeremy Davies	...	Smitty
Rosalyn Coleman	...	Monica / 'Under Pressure' Nurse #1
Viola Davis	...	Dr. Eden Minerva
Lou Myers	...	Jimmy

Storyline

Craig is a high-school junior, in the gifted program, infatuated with his best friend's girl. When he realizes he's suicidal, he checks himself into the psychiatric ward of a hospital, thinking they'll do an observation, help him, and send him home in time for school the next day. Once in, however, he must stay for a week; the juvenile ward is being renovated, so he's in with adults as well as a few youths. Bobby, a man with a young daughter, shows him around; Craig notices Noelle, about his age. He tries to keep his friends from finding out where he is. Little things: he draws, goes to therapy, sings, helps Bobby rehearse an interview. Is this the stuff of insight?

---

Plot Keywords:

psychiatric ward | insight | therapy | preparatory school | mental illness | 

---

Taglines:

Sometimes what's in your head isn't as crazy as you think.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic issues, sexual content, drug material and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 January 2011 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

5 giorni fuori

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£82,056 (UK) (7 January 2011)

Gross:

£82,056 (UK) (7 January 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Focus Features, Wayfare Entertainment, Misher Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Paramount and MTV Films acquired the rights to the novel in May 2006. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck were hired to adapt the screenplay with a view to direct after. After a while, Paramount changed their mind and put the production into turnaround. Focus Features then stepped in to acquire the property, keeping Boden and Fleck on throughout.

---

Goofs

The soundtrack which made Moqtada get out from his room wasn't Egyptian. It was a Syrian song composed and performed by Syrian artists.

---

Quotes

Bobby: Well, well, well! Still working on it, Cool Craig?
Craig: It's not what you think.
Bobby: I think the two of you were playing the question game outside, that's what I think.
Craig: ...Well, I... guess it is what you think then.
Bobby: I thought so.

---

Connections

Featured in Richard Roeper & the Movies: It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010)

---

Soundtracks

"Major Label Debut (Fast)"
Written by Kevin Drew, Brendan Canning, Justin Peroff, Andrew Whiteman and Jason Collett
Performed by Broken Social Scene
Courtesy of Arts & Crafts Productions Inc.

User Reviews

Let's have some fun with this....

A depressed teen admits himself into a psych ward & meets some colorful folks.

Complex issues switched up and told in a free-spirited way. There's nothing sugar-coated about these characters, which is probably why I like them so much. Pluses for having them relate to our current society; these characters could be someone on your own street.

With a narrative & creative style similar to 500 Days of Summer, this is an oddly inspirational tale.

Comic relief provided by the excellent Zack Galifianakis.

Great music, great film!