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Title: It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010)
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| 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 | |
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? Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden are, in this reviewer's opinion, the best writer / director team working in film today. Both Half Nelson and Sugar (Which made my top 5 for 2008) were good and here they go more mainstream and produce a simple yet vibrant low-fi comedy. If you go expecting the Hangover, a full on comedy, then this might take some adjusting to - it is more than that. It reminded us most of the same vibe Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist had.
Craig (Keir Gilchrist) is an angsty teen and checks himself into a psych ward for 5 days. He is excellent, like a cross between Justin Long and Michael Cera and should get good work off the back of this. Here Craig meets the wizened Bobby (Zack Galifianakis), who has a complete emotional range here, his hangdog is perfect and watched closely you'll see every thought and facial gesture with real pleasure, and a teenage girl his age, Noelle (Emma Roberts). The supporting cast have groupworked this really well and it all just gels nicely. The film is a journey of self- discovery.
What lifts this is it doesn't have a mean bone in its body yet delivers beautifully - this film is firstly, optimistic about pessimism and abounds with humor, laughter, and originality, and secondly, Fleck again coxes the the actors to simply act, without excess.
It does a wonderful balancing act of making us see the world afresh too. In addition to all this it is totally refreshing to see a teen movie that is about teens and their world and not just another slapstick sex comedy.
I could only wish for 20 films a year like this, rather than the cookie cutter production values that govern Hollywood. The common trait in all three films are honesty, struggle, and eventually, something more. That's three in a row for Fleck / Boden - and I, for one, can't wait to see the fourth...