Bad Psychiatrist

This movie is infused with gentle humor and is highly satisfying with an uplifting conclusion (a.k.a. "happy end"). I especially enjoyed the outstanding performance of Dario Musso, who is incredibly amusing as a wanna-be psychiatrist. No matter what weird situations he was getting himself into, I couldn't help but root for him. I gave the movie nine stars only because the background of the "bad psychiatrist" character was not hashed out to my satisfaction; like, why is he homeless? Why is his daughter not letting him move in with her? But I guess this was less important than the friendship of the "psychiatrist" and the college kid, who had his own issues. I also liked that the California vibe was more realistic than your typical Hollywood movie, which would usually be all glamor but no substance. On the whole, I would recommend this independent film to people who enjoy intelligent comedies.

An enjoyable, engaging, and endearing debut project from writer/director/actor Andras Ostrom, Bad Psychiatrist follows an aspiring therapist, Dr. Nauberger, who himself struggles with mental health. The personal growth - and hilarity - that ensues when he links up with psychology student Greg are worth the watch! Bad Psychiatrist is a comedic - but not un-serious - look into the world of mental health struggles and the difficult life circumstances that can often arise from them. The feature-length film (~1 hr. 25 mins.) unpacks such complex themes as homelessness, friendship, family, reciprocity in relationships, career aspirations, and more, but does so in a funny and off-beat way which makes it enjoyable to watch. Although Bad Psychiatrist is an independent film, the production value is high, the acting is of a good quality, and the writing is engaging. I look forward to more projects from Ostrom, and the rest of the cast!