NOTE: This review was originally published on September 11, 2010 after I screened It’s Kind of a Funny Story at the Toronto International Film Festival.
As someone who isn’t a Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden devotee, I didn’t have any preconceptions or expectations as to what their latest film, It’s Kind of a Funny Story, would be. I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing and directing duo’s Half Nelson, though I did recognize it as a good movie, and I’ve yet to muster up enough interest to watch Sugar, though it’s received primarily positive reviews. As for It’s Kind of a Funny Story, it doesn’t do anything to put me more in their corner and in fact it feels as if they may be regressing with a film that is far more commercial than their previous efforts, though it does do one thing well… proves Zach Galifianakis has more range than just as a comedic sidekick.
It’s Kind of a Funny Story is an adaptation of Ned Vizzini’s 2006 novel of the same name centering on 16-year-old Craig Gilner (Keir Gilchrist). Craig ends up checking himself into the psychiatric ward at a local hospital telling the doctors he’s afraid he may try to commit suicide. As innocent as his intentions may be, he underestimates the consequences of this decision and expecting a quick fix or perhaps a new drug prescription (he voluntarily stopped taking Zoloft three weeks ago), he ends up with a mandatory five day stay. Just enough time to get to know the people there, make friends, find love, find himself and have a pizza party.
I may not be a Fleck and Boden devotee, but I know this is cliche enough to upset those that expect something a bit more down to earth and not exactly so sickly mainstream. Everyone else, such as me, is likely to find it harmless.
Gilchrist (something of a Justin Long clone) brings a dull wit to his character as he wanders the hospital’s psychiatric level finding friendship in Bobby (Galifianakis), infatuation in Noelle (Emma Roberts) and schizophrenia in most everyone else. This film pretty much writes itself and outside of a horribly cliched moment when Craig says something stupid and unbeknown to him Noelle is listening behind him causing an unnecessary five minutes of confusion, the film is fine. Most of the cast fills their requirements with Galifianakis serving as the stand-out only because it’s a much different role than we’ve seen from him before.
Zach Galifianakis has had a quick rise in Hollywood, coming to major prominence with The Hangover in 2009 and most of his roles before and since then have been comedic. While his comedic timing benefits him here it’s his straight moments that work so well as he plays a character that isn’t exactly mentally insane but still has his share of issues.
Fortunately most of Galifianakis’s comedy performances have benefit from his line-delivery rather than prat falls, which means he may be able to transition to drama a bit easier than most comedians. What he shows here proves it’s entirely possible.
Emma Roberts, however, has yet to impress me and while she is a striking young lady, her acting does nothing to convince me she’s got any kind of major talent stored up in her. Her delivery lacks conviction and film isn’t helped by her mundane line-reading, but since It’s Kind of a Funny Story doesn’t seem to be trying for anything too great I guess that doesn’t matter.
This film is a paint-by-numbers hospital tale. Something of a low-rent cross between “Scrubs” and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest without a Nurse Ratched. Nothing out of the ordinary happens and you will likely be ahead of each turn in the story as it moves along. The closer you get to the end the more you’ll be ready to check out. Goofy freeze frames and an inexplicable postcard moment are just evidence of a directing duo trying to make a film that isn’t mainstream, but it just jumbles things up more to the point this film really isn’t much more than a feature length sitcom.
