Movie Time! 'It's Kind of a Funny Story'

"Being a teenager is too much for 16-year-old Craig (Keir Gilchrist), who shocks his parents (Lauren Graham and Jim Gaffigan) by checking himself into a mental health clinic for a little R&R.  But when the youth ward is unexpectedly closed, he's forced to live among the adult patients.  Zach Galifianakis, Viola Davis, Emma Roberts, and Aasif Mandvi co-star in this quirky drama written and directed by the screenwriters of Half Nelson."

And based on the novel written by Ned Vizzini!  Netflix conveniently forgot to mention him, though the directors didn't.  Allow me to explain... in the late beginning of the movie, Craig is explaining what kind of people are in his school.  He introduces this random girl with test scores higher than the moon, a boy that does a whole bunch of smart-looking stuff for extracurriculars, and then himself, who is holding one of Ned Vizzini's books that I recognized as 'Be More Chill.'  I couldn't finish that book... I think that I should try again sometime.  When I'm in that sort of state of mind.  Maybe.

I really liked the format of this movie.  Transitions were sort of laid out like they are in 'The Shining' where they tell you when a day has passed (they never go to specific times though).  Not only the transitions, but also the strategic pauses in the movie that are used to help Craig explain certain things (the dreams where he jumps off the Brooklyn Bridge), to emphasize points that come with the tangents he sometimes goes on (why he was attracted to Nia.... mostly because she was hot), and also to have a stealthy speed-up of time (towards the end).  I feel like it really worked for this story.  It seemed to mirror the jumbled thinking of someone with a lot on his mind and a lot of baggage to deal with, so it was perfect.

From what I can remember, it was mostly true to the book.  Of course it's not a carbon copy, the writers and directors added new scenes and their own touches, but I really believe that what they added didn't crush the integrity of the original story.

The romance, while at one point felt like it was going too far (because that's how it went in the story), was innocent; just the beginning of falling in love, which is the greatest feeling one can hope to experience.

This movie was funny on many occasions as well!  I found myself laughing out loud several times.

This movie was also humbling because of the stories of these characters.  Solomon who did too much acid at once, Bobby who is very secretive and hard on himself, Noelle and her scars... they've been through a lot, whether that's what life handed to them or because of the choices that they made.

Overall, this movie will make you laugh, despite the serious undertones.  A very well-made movie!

Thanks for reading!

--Jude