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?

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Plot Keywords:

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

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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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

Shot over a period of six weeks.

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Goofs

When Bobby and Craig are in the gym after playing basketball, Bobby is laying down on the floor. Bobby's shirt is covering and then is not covering the bottom of his stomach with each alternating shot.

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Quotes

Craig: Do you like music?
Noelle: Do you like breathing?

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Connections

References Cribs (2000)

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Soundtracks

"Beyn Rebin's Sude"
Written by Robin Jeffery and Roddy Skeaping
Courtesy of APM Music

User Reviews

Kind of nice that Hollywood can still offer a non-commercial, very moving film like this one

Craig (Keir Gilchrist) is depressed. Although his parents (Lauren Graham and Jim Gaffigan) are nice, they are a mildly over-achieving duo who try to gently push their teenage son in a certain direction. This means going to a competitive high school and following a specific curriculum. But, even though Craig is quite intelligent, his stress level is very high and he dreams of "jumping off a bridge". One morning, before sunrise, he sneaks out of the house to contemplate his own suicide but ends up going to a hospital emergency room. The teen insists they admit him. They do. However, the adolescent ward is undergoing renovations and doesn't have room for Craig. Instead, he is placed in the adult psych ward, with a nearly catatonic roommate, Muqtada (Bernard White). In short order, Craig wants to go home but his new shrink, Dr. Eden (Viola Davis) says that is impossible, he must remain for five days. Fortunately, he soon makes friends with an affable patient named Bobby (Zach Galifianakis) and casts his eye on a lovely young female Noelle (Emma Roberts), who bears telltale scars on her wrists. These three strike up a friendship, with Bobby schooling Craig on how to "dress up like an employee" and leave the ward, at least temporarily! It is quickly evident, however, that Bobby has some dark secrets, as does Noelle, and Muqtada seems to be going nowhere fast. Can Craig get the help he needs, even as he helps others? This is a lovely film which highlights the topic of mental illness in a sensitive, intelligent way. Yes, there are patients with more severe troubles than others but all remain part of the human race, as shown here. The cast is great, with Gilchrist doing a fantastic job as the film's main character. Galifianakis, Roberts, Davis, and especially White, do great work too, as do all of the lesser actors. The setting is fairly limited, as most of the action takes place in the hospital, and the costumes are suitably drab, although Roberts looks very pretty in whatever she wears. Then, too, the script is comically insightful while the direction and camera work are quite nice. All in all, if you are hoping to watch a great film that touches the heart, with depth, view this one kind of soon.