It's Kind of a Funny Story [Blu-ray]

When I started the movie, I almost stopped it. It wasn’t my thing. I paid for it so I thought just hang and see. I’m so glad I did. Great movie!

This is an enjoyable story showing that being genuine and giving, can help yourself as well as others. This is NOT just another "teen angst" movie. It shows how dropping all the defensive walls many people think they need to project, and being a real version of yourself can help move your life in a genuinely better direction.Spoiler alert: (Kind of . . . depending on how strictly you define "spoiler")A teen with typical adolescent tunnel vision on his own problems, makes the "mistake" of demanding admission to a hospital psych ward, mistaking his suicidal ideations for an actual suicidal intention. While inside he develops some real relationships with real people in the ward with him, helping them because he is a giving individual with the ability to think of someone besides himself. In meeting and getting to know real people with real and far more extensive problems than his typical teen stresses, helps him gain perspective into his own problems in return.I spent some time treating psychiatric inpatients while training for my job. This movie treats psychiatric inpatient experience with great delicacy, and the grittiness of an actual ward is not present. However, the omission of many of the worse behaviors of people in general, and psychiatric patients in specific, helps to humanize the protagonist's fellow inpatients instead of providing the distraction that showing a potential "freak show" of bizarre behaviors that its inclusion could have easily caused (particularly to the non-medical audience). This device helps to further the intended plot arc of the movie, helping to develop it and its characters more thoroughly, and I believe adds more to the movie, and its story, than it takes away.

The acting, scrip and actors all work well in this quirky comedy. Worth the watch.

I think it's about time someone made a movie like this where a suicidal/depressed person does seek help, is supported by family and friends and finds that the system, though imperfect, can help you sort out your turmoil. REALLY not sure why this is labeled a comedy. More light drama with a serious look at real issues. Some wrote that they thought the boy revealed about himself as "self indulgent" was not a great resolution. I have suffered depression and suicidal ideation as well. Honestly, much of depression is from self pity and self indulgence so to speak. I have real problems which dont need to be aired here. However to come to a realization at a young age that you can self perpetuate your own depression is a HUGE step. Great touches on all psych issues without over exposure. Having been a health care provider, it is not that they "don't care". They are there to keep perspective and to help people realize how resilent they actually are. If health care workers involved themselves on every level of each one's issues, they would be suicidal themselves! I thought healthcare was reflected accurately, not aloof. Some went the extra mile. Some held back. Everyone is different. Bottom line....a call for everyone to wake up to seeking help. Know its ok to call the hotline, and to share your story. Kudos to the storyline for showing a positive outcome when not everyone does. But good things CAN happen

see also: Almost Famous.Reasonably decent story set in a mental hospital. No stand-out performances but not a dud either. Formulaic and the romance story line, while cute is pure fantasy. The talents of top notch comedians Aasif Mandvi, Zack Galifianakis, and Jim Gaffigan seem wasted here. Appreciate how it destigmatizes mental health care.

Note: There are a few spoilers in here. So please do not read if you haven't watched the film yet. Or please do read if you just want to know what happens.I think it's safe to say that this was Zach Galifianakis' breakthrough performance. He has always been able to play his usual character. How awkward can he make a situation without being murdered? The hilarity isn't just in his performance but in the reaction of others. It's in his comedy and is shown through his portrayals of other characters in various films such as The Hangover and Due Date. When I started watching this film, that's what I was expecting, but I found that I was pleasantly surprised by his performance through this film. He was the perfect foil to the young protagonist.One thing that I did like about the film was that it portrayed depression from a different perspective. Some people feel that depression is all or nothing. You've either hit rock bottom or you're just on the surface like everyone else. Craig, from his own outward appearance and mannerisms, seems completely fine. He's smart, willing to explore the world, but scared of the possibilities of failure and his inability to overcome his own fears. His explanation of why he was afraid, a domino effect of one tragedy after another concluding to being lonely and homeless, was brilliant. It gave me flashbacks of high school and what I feared the most. Afer all, it's a double edged sword. There's the fear of what happens after you fail as well as after you succeed.Unfortunately, that was the one thing that kept the film enjoyable for me. I think what I was looking for was a character who is not only relatable but realistic. And realism for the audience is in the eye of personal experience, but I felt left out of Craig's revelations. For example, in the beginning he mentions a few of his classmates and their list of accomplishments and finally when it comes to him, underneath his name there is nothing. I could definitely relate to it. In his different experiences while at the psychiatric ward, he realizes he loves art and creates wonderful paintings. In a performance of "Changes," he stuns everyone else. He even helps his own roommate, Muqtada, come out of the room after simply mentioning that there's more out in the world to experience. It's obvious that he is noticed through motivating others to "live" just like he wants to. It's great, but that's when the break in realism happens for me. Of course, through these characters, there is a reflection of him in each of them. Each person he helps, he's breaking free a little bit more and more. With Muqtada, it was the last chain he needed to break free into the real world. Its symbolism is great, but it's lost on my own feelings toward the film.A few characters within the film fell flat. Noelle is a perfect example of this. She is the girl Craig notices in the psychiatric ward, and they take a liking to each other immediately. However, after watching the film, I felt that she was a part of his world just to include future tension between Craig and Nia (who was also a very flat character). And please don't judge me for this, but it's Pixies, not The Pixies (yes, I had to include that somewhere).Is this film worth seeing? Despite my own criticisms toward the film, I think this film is definitely worth seeing. However, it isn't a repeater. It won't be in my collection that I could comfortably watch again and again on a desert island. But for something a little uplifting and funny? Definitely.

I think this film is a good addition to films that look at mental illness and its treatment and the fears and stigma that go along with it ,it is not too heavy unlike more challenging films such as cuckoos nest ,I think it is a good film to show young teens who might be dealing with depression and the need to fit in and make some sense and meaning out of life and find their place in the sheme of things .an overall positive feel good movie ,if only everyone who goes into hospital could come out feeling ready to deal with life .

Super movie. I bought the DVD and have been watching it a couple of times. Good acting, super cool story and especially the musical pieces are quite refreshing. A teenager has himself commited into the psych ward thinking he would be there for one night, instead of the mandatory minimum of 5 nights. He meets a large number of other adult patients with their own stories. Check it out because it is worth it. The movie received 2 nominations.

A cute film which is sensitive and an exploration of a young teen's emotional confusion whilst creating strong audience empathy... It shows the struggles of most teenagers and raise a few chuckles along the way, a great film about teenage adolescence and perfect for the coming of age genre. However in some places it seems to be a bit slow t it doesn't distract from the story line

Really worth a watch. Helps to portray mental health in a different light and is pretty realistic, also has strands of humour used throughout, and in appropriate places which can be hard to do with such a stigmatized area. The key characters are great, really fit their roles well.

i have seen the movie about two times and i got the book to it just a day ago coz i liked the movie so much. can't wait to read that and i also cant wait to rewatch this movie. this is the first time i will be seeing behind the scenes and other cool stuff