By Joshua Knopp/entertainment editor
It’s Kind of a Funny Story has to be one of the most deceptive titles in recent movie history.
The film, based on a book of the same name, follows Craig (Keir Gilchrest) into the psych ward of a hospital after a particularly strong bout of depression. He soon realizes that, while he first thinks he doesn’t belong in the loony bin, he sees eye to eye with a few of the people there, such as Bobby (Zack Galifianakis) and Noelle (Emma Roberts).
The title is misleading because the film really isn’t funny at all. It is driven by the character’s suicidal urges, and the gravity of the subject matter isn’t lost in any jokes.
The movie couldn’t be called a drama, either. While it has some elements, it has no overarching issue to be resolved over the course of the movie.
The last genre it could fall under is romance, and while the developing relationship between Craig and Noelle is one of the larger sub-arcs in the movie, a love story it isn’t.
Because of this androgyny and lack of main story arc, the film has more in common with a situation comedy than another movie. It probably would have been better as a limited series, given this structure.
So what is there to make this movie stand out? Three things, mainly.
The most obvious is acting. While Hollywood’s trend of casting young college students as young high school students is not to be trusted, Gilchrest and Roberts do a good job. Galifianakis absolutely shines in his father-figure role.
Also factoring in is this movie’s visual creativity. Audiences are invited into the cartoon world of Craig’s mind. While this tour is painfully limited, the creativity is top-notch.
The primary reason this movie works, however, is that it is about an average kid. Craig isn’t a head-case. He’s a high schooler who’s been pushed too far by competition in school systems, sexual frustration and economic pressures. He is depressed because he is told he must be everything to everyone or he’ll be nothing to no one.
While no one should hope for a fairy-tale ending, It’s Kind of a Funny Story is proof that Craig’s sympathizers aren’t alone. Someone knew this character and cared about him enough to write a story. Further, a script was written and executed about him, and someone knew him well enough to portray him accurately on screen.
This movie is, more than anything, a cry to depressed teens everywhere that they aren’t alone.